"The Very Thing I Hate.”

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15 ESV)

We are saved sinners. What a quandary that is, and exactly what does that mean? What that means is that, despite our salvation through the blood of Christ, we still carry our sinful nature. Does that not mean that we still sin just like before we were saved? Well, I hope not. What I mean is, before we were saved in Christ, the depth of our sin was unacknowledged. We bounded blissfully and yet grossly in our sin, caring only for our lust and worldly desires.

Now, as we are aware of our sins, we hopefully despise them as we should. We repent of our sins, meaning we change our minds about how damaging and disobedient they are before God, and we strive to no longer to commit them. But we are still human, flawed, and the desires of sin still reside in us. This is exactly what Paul is talking about in today’s verse. We do what we do not want to do; we sin. We sin instead of doing the very thing we want to do: remain obedient to God.

We find ourselves in a difficult situation, as Paul also wrote, “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” By no means are we to sin freely; we work to leave our sins, which we will be unable to do on our own until we are permanently and eternally with Christ.

So, what are our options? We rely on Christ, yet not just Christ. We also rely on our brothers and sisters. Bearing your sin to another is not easy. It should not be done haphazardly. It is revealing something we see as devastating to another, and it requires trust.

Trust can be established in many ways, through time and through our gradual understanding of the truths that lie in another. Often, God makes a way for us. The Holy Spirit places us with another when they themselves are open and honest about their sin. This does not happen often, but it does. Ultimately, when the Spirit is upon you and you need help with a recurring sin, God makes a way.

Paul wrote, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14). For those saved in Christ Jesus, sin may remain in our nature; however, it does not have dominion over us. Christ Jesus has dominion, and He has power greater than sin, He defeated it. When we sin, in our repentance we are forgiven because Christ has already borne that sin. It has been paid in full, and no wrath holds us in jeopardy.

 We are in Christ and Christ is in us. John wrote these verses, which I hold to be great: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

In our Christian walk, we are being formed and pruned in our faith. We bear the fruit of love and devotion for Christ. It comes to us naturally, and it is always a blessing. As John said, we are clean because God has given us the Word, and we have heard and believed. Gifted with His righteousness, we are nothing without Christ; we cannot do anything without Him.

In our sin, we can feel defeated, like a failure, and unworthy of Christ's love. But, my friend, you are forgiven. Do not give up; that is exactly what the enemy wants you to do. Turn and cling to Christ. Repent, ask for forgiveness, and trust in the Lord. Trust; disbelief is the greatest sin for a Christian; it is turning your back on the cross. When you feel that sin coming upon you, worship God for whatever you love about Him the most: His love, mercy, grace, power, or His majesty. It is hard for the soul to sin in the midst of worship.

Christ saved you, and nothing can pluck you from His hand (John 10:28). If you do not know Christ and want to be freed from the slavery of sin, seek Him now. We at In Messiah can provide you with the scriptures that show salvation through Christ alone.

Grace and Peace.