And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’ s love. Romans 8:38
How often do you struggle in your Christian walk? Do you feel condemned when you fail to obey God’s word? As believers, we will have one foot in heaven and the other here on earth. We are free from the penalty of sin through Christ, yet we will battle our flesh every day over sin. We will be battling temptation. WE are justified in Christ, and every day being sanctified.
Read Romans 7:14-25. Paul seems to be in real conflict over sin. Let’s break it up a little. The trouble is not with the law, but with me (verse 14). In verse 15, it says I want to do what is right and I don’t do it. My awareness that I’m doing wrong proves that the law is good (verse 17). Can we be free from sin totally while here on earth?
At one time sin was tyrannical in Paul’s life. The law has an uncanny capacity for reminding us of what we once were, and of how captivating that old life can still appear. Our hope never shifts back to the law. We must daily focus on Christ. Another question Paul asks is do we understand our behavior?
As long as believers live in this world as men and women of flesh and blood, they will face a constant tension. The conflict between their sinful nature and their new spiritual life. Paul wrote to the Galatians, “The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other so that you do not do what you want” (Galatians 5:17). In 7:6, Paul described conversion as being “released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit.” This growing awareness is itself a work of God’s Spirit, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).
Now focus on verses 17-25. At times it will feel like a tug a war inside of our heads. We want to do what is right, yet our flesh desires the bad. God’s love for us does not change because we are struggling. We want to show love, kindness, goodness, peace, etc, yet there are times when we just don’t do it. There are times when we are critical of others. When we acknowledge the power of sin and the flesh or the sinful nature, we then can lean into God’s strength and overcome the sin. No matter the season we are in, the struggle is real. We need to continually surrender to Christ and live in Him.
I love Romans 8:1. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. I find this verse so comforting. There is no condemnation from the Holy Spirit. Maybe conviction but not condemnation. Being convicted of sin leads us to God in repentance. We do not embrace condemnation because Our God doesn’t do that. That is of satan. Jesus sets us free from condemnation. We are free to follow the Holy Spirit and not our flesh or sinful nature. We have the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and grace. Thank you for your patience with us and your truth. I pray that we will know and understand your truths on how to not be condemned.
In Jesus Name
Amen
