Scripture: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” – Romans 7:18
Examination: The apostle Paul was a faithful Christian, yet he struggled with sin. Romans 7:15 records his words, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” This dichotomy of being saved, yet continuing to sin concerned Paul, and he addresses it in this chapter.
Application: Did you know that Christians still sin? It’s true. Unfortunately, due to the silent judgement of many in the church, it is difficult for the errant Christian to believe that forgiveness is possible. Not only that, but some believers harbor such tremendous guilt from their sins committed after their salvation that they doubt God will ever forgive them. This kind of thinking comes from the pit of hell, and Satan uses it to drive division between God and His children.
First of all, it is important to remember that everyone sins whether they are saved or not. It is part of our carnal nature. Even the best of believers cannot life a perfect life. The Bible has several examples of godly individuals who make fleshly mistakes. Moses, David, Peter, and others could certainly echo Paul’s words in Romans 7:20, “Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”.
The truth is Christians make mistakes, but sins such as divorce, abortion, same sex relationships, adultery, pornography, and other “hush-hush” acts are regarded by the church as so deplorable that believers who find themselves involved in these types of sins never believe they can truly be forgiven or loved by God or His followers. This is a tactic upon which Satan capitalizes. When Christians are so consumed with guilt, shame, and fear, they do exactly the opposite of what they should do… they leave the church. And when they leave, the only place they have to go is into a lost world that offers no peace.
Salvation does not make us perfect. We still live in a sin-cursed world in flawed bodies that war against God’s righteousness, and we are most definitely capable of succumbing to temptations. Our hope lies in the truth that God doesn’t just save us from our sins, then sit back and watch us stumble our way through this earthly life. God is actively working in each one of His children to make us more like His beloved Son (Romans 8:29). Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” God will not stop His work in us until He calls us home. Philippians 2:13 states, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
It is so important to remember that God knew everything we would do in our lives, and regardless of that knowledge, He still loved us enough to create us, draw us to Himself, and actively work in our lives to make us more in His image. Philippians 2:12 states, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” This verse does not mean we need to work FOR our salvation. There is nothing we can do to earn that, but it does mean that we are to continue striving to live according to God’s work, and that takes hard work!
When a Christian is involved in any kind of sin, the first thing to do is repent and seek God’s forgiveness. I John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Every single time. When Jesus died on the cross, He shed His blood to atone for every sin that could ever be committed. There is no sin that is so great He cannot or will not forgive. All we need to do is ask Him.
Secondly, it takes time and support to learn how to combat sin and live godly lives. That is one reason why we go to church. It is from the Bible that we learn exactly what God desires for our lives and how to live for Him. Sometimes, a person gets saved, but is not “discipled”. That was my situation. I was saved as a young girl, but not raised in a Christian home. My church was more in the “get them saved” business, but not in the “train them in the ways of the Lord” afterwards. I made a lot of mistakes in my life, and it had been a struggle for years to understand that while I am forgiven, I am still a work in progress. As I mature in my faith, God reveals more and more about the changes I need to make to live a life more pleasing to Him. Growth in Christ doesn’t automatically happen. Proverbs 22:6 gives a directive regarding this. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” When there is no further growth after salvation, a Christian becomes stagnant in their faith and easy prey for Satan.
Thirdly, once a person is saved, they are held firmly in the hand of God. John 10:28 states, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” There is nothing a child of God can do to make God let go of him or her. There is no sin so great that God will shake His head and release His hold on us or allow us to jump out of His hand. Instead, His Holy Spirit works very hard to convict us of our sin and lead us back to repentance and restoration. Consider the following verses:
Psalm 51:10-12 states, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Think about the truths of these verses.
- To create a clean heart refers to being forgiven of sin. Initially, it happens at the moment of salvation, but it is an on-going process.
- To renew a right spirit refers to conviction by God’s Spirit AGAIN. “Renew” means to reestablish or make like before. This indicates that sin entered into a life that was clean (forgiven), but now needs to be “re-cleaned” due to the presence of sin into our lives.
- To be restored refers to bring back to that state of cleansing and forgiveness. “Restore” indicates returning to a previous situation or state. In this case, the psalmist seeks a return to the joy that was felt upon salvation.
This psalm clearly expresses the heartfelt repentance of a believer. It offers the assurance that when Christians sin, it is not evidence that their salvation was “not real”, but rather confirms two things. First, there are continued challenges of living in a sinful body in a sinful world. Secondly, Satan is relentless. He targets God’s children. The unsaved are already where Satan has them, and they are not under any convictions about their sins. However, the saved are ALWAYS being attacked. The goal of Satan is to destroy our relationship with God as well as our testimony to the unsaved. Therefore, if a Christian believes the lies of the devil and never seeks restoration with God, Satan is well-pleased.
The tremendous guilt and shame that accompanies the knowledge of past sins prove the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s life. After all, it is only the believer in whom the Spirit of God dwells. 1 Corinthians 6:19 states, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” Sorrow and conviction of sin are direct works of the Holy Spirit in the believer, revealing the need for renewal and restoration to the Father.
Often, this Christian has prayed continually for forgiveness due to the tremendous guilt and shame he or she carries. The feelings of unworthiness generate a belief that God has turned away, and when that is coupled with the fear of more rejection from the church if anyone finds out about this past sin, it compels the believer to suffer silently forgetting that God never abandons His children and always is ready to forgive. Remember, Jesus said, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20).
Sin is sin, and we’ve all sinned. Maybe not to the degree that humanity rates sin, but remember, there is no degree of sin that is acceptable to God. Jesus made this clear in John 8:7, “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” As the family of God, we need to love one another without judgment, but with understanding and readiness to help renew and restore those who struggle with sin… past or present. Jesus clearly explains, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12).
Memory Verse: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32
Stretching your thoughts:
1. How can you rid yourself of judgmental thoughts toward other believers?
2. If a Christian is continually tormented by their past sins, what advice would you give to help him or her find peace in their soul?
Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidd'st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot,
To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
(from “Just As I Am” by Charlotte Elliott)