One of the most difficult issues to understand is why we continue to sin as Christians, yet each of us knows that we do. Paul reminded us in Romans 7 that we would not understand sin if it were not for the Law, the Ten Commandments and corresponding laws of the Old Testament (Galatians 3:24). Yet as we can see from the writings of Paul, we are no longer under the Law, but instead, we are now under grace (Romans 6:14).
God taught us through the Law, so we would know sin and the ramifications of sin. Before we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, we were slaves to sin. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit, we were unable to say no to the requests of sin in our lives. In ancient times, the galley slaves chained to the boat had no ability to leave that boat, and whenever the captain, their master, told them to row, they obeyed or faced death. Our pre-Christian days in sin resemble that analogy. Yet as believers, we are no longer bound by sin. Now it is a choice, as God has set us free!
When we approach sin as Christians, the Holy Spirit sends out a reminder to run away, just as Joseph did when Potiphar’s wife made advances toward him (Genesis 39:12). Certainly, we don’t always listen, and our bad choices cause much pain. Sin always has ramifications, hurting us and others along the wayside. Certainly, we feel like we have let God down when we fail, and additionally, are keenly aware that we just added another burden to the shoulders of Jesus to carry on Calvary. Just because He was crucified many years ago doesn’t mean our present lives do not have further impact on His suffering, as Jesus carried ALL the sins of the world.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:16-18
In comparison to being under the Law, being under grace gives us the ability to obey out of love for God, rather than out of fear of the consequences. Without the Holy Spirit, we can try as hard as we can not to sin, but we will fail over and over again. Yet it is not about us giving it our all; instead, it is about God giving it His all! That’s grace, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense, getting what we don’t deserve, in the greatest gift from God! Grace should be the motivating factor in our response, as having had a great burden removed from our shoulders, and placed on the shoulders of Jesus, our love for Him should be immense!
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Romans 6:15-16
Many carnal Christians continue in their sins. For if Jesus forgives them, what does it matter? Churches are filled with people who get drunk on Saturdays, and sit in the pew on Sundays. Additionally, many people professing Christ continue in their sexual sins, ignoring the laws that any sexual relations outside of marriage are against God, accepting the world’s judgment of what is right instead of God’s Law. Certainly, we all have blind spots and the Holy Spirit sees those with great ease. In His perfect time, He points them out to each of us. Just because the Holy Spirit is in us does not mean that we are in the Holy Spirit! Yet here is the big catch: if you are not feeling convicted of your sin, then you are not His! The battle lines are drawn in our own bodies, as our hearts serve the Lord, but our minds continue to struggle. God desires for us to attack those thoughts before they become actions.
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:5
Some Christians get confused, thinking that because we are not under Law but under grace, God changed, or at the very least, His requirements changed. God cannot change! He is perfect, and has no need to change. We changed! In the days of the Old Testament when believers were under the Law, they did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of them. When Jesus returned to heaven after His resurrection from the dead, He left the Comforter with us to convict us of sin and point us to Jesus! What a powerful gift!
When we reflect upon the great gifts that God has given, taking away the sin weighing us down, living inside of us with constant conviction not to sin, and granting us eternal life with Him, we should walk in absolute joy! With corresponding love to our God that gives, we should begin to address and conquer the habitual sins of our lives.
9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
1 Timothy 1:9-11
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:22-25
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