A Christian’s Struggle with Sin
Even Paul — apostle, missionary, author of much of the New Testament — admitted he kept doing the very things he hated. His honesty about sin is one of the most comforting passages in all of Scripture.
Paul was an apostle of Jesus, and he even struggled with sin and in doing the right thing. In Romans 7:15-19, we see how he talked about his struggle with sin:
“I do not understand the things I do. I do not do what I want to do, and I do the things I hate. And if I do not want to do the hated things I do, that means I agree that the law is good. But I am not really the one who is doing these hated things; it is sin living in me that does them. Yes, I know that nothing good lives in me—I mean nothing good lives in the part of me that is earthly and sinful. I want to do the things that are good, but I do not do them. I do not do the good things I want to do, but I do the bad things I do not want to do.”
It is common for Christians to struggle with sin as non-believers do. Sin among people can involve common challenges like doubt, temptation, and anxiety. However, Christians have their identity in Christ. His death and resurrection freed Christians from the penalty, power, and ultimate consequence of sin. He also broke death’s dominion over their lives and their spiritual separation from God. Because of Jesus, a person is no longer a slave to sin. Sin has less control in a sinner’s life.
Paul knew the struggle of sin; he experienced and confessing that by saying, “I do not understand the things I do. I do not do what I want to do, and I do the things I hate. And if I do not want to do the hated things I do, that means I agree that the law is good. But I am not really the one who is doing these hated things; it is sin living in me that does them.” Sin is powerful. It can control us. But for those who have Jesus as their savior, sin has less control in their life. God provides His people with help from His Holy Spirit so they can be convicted of sin and change their lives and actions.
A person can do good with their new nature and help from the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Romans 8:4). As a result, they can delight in the law of God and do God’s will like Paul, but sin is still the problem. Even though Paul describes the struggle of sin a person has, Jesus has more control over sin. We can be reminded that He gives people a new life that is free from sin even when we want to do what is right but still end up sinning.
Prayer of the day:
Dear heavenly Father,
We are sinners because the first humans sinned in the beginning. According to the Scriptures, we need help from the Holy Spirit to prevent us from sinning. If we sin, we have Jesus to help save us from the consequences of sin. Sin dwells in us but Jesus’ death and resurrection freed us from the eternal effects of sin.
In His great name we pray, Amen!