The Believer's life-long struggle against sin

The Struggle against sin reveals our Identity in Christ (Rom 7:14-21)

Explanation: Much debate has spent over the millennia as to whether this passage addresses a lost person or a saved person. Such language as “I am carnal, sold under sin” (v. 14); “in me dwelleth no good thing” (v.18); and Paul’s cry, “O wretched man that I am!” (v. 24) has led some to view this description as a lost person. However, the reality of this individual’s struggle against sin, having a desire to do what is right, finding delight in the law of God (v. 22), and serving the law of God (v. 25) leads many to see Paul in his redeemed state, yet struggling against the lusts of the flesh.

I believe that Paul is addressing the condition of a mature saint, secure in his identity in Christ who at the same time is being honest about his life-long struggle with the power and influence that sin still exerts on and through his physical nature. The reality of the Christian life is that believers do not achieve perfection in this life. Salvation is actually a process over time for most believers.

When a person yields his or her life to Christ, the penalty of sin is immediately removed forever. Those who are in Christ Jesus will not suffer condemnation (John 5:24; Romans 8:1). When a person is saved, he or she is ready to leave this world for the next. Nothing else is required for entry into the Eternal Kingdom of glory (cf the thief on the cross)

Most believers, however, continue to live in this world for some length of time. During this time, however long it lasts, we go through the process of Sanctification - growing in personal holiness. At the beginning of our faith journey we are sealed and made secure by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14). We are indeed new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). Unlike salvation, sanctification involves a process over time - our growth in holiness is not immediate. In this phase of salvation, the believer is being protected from the power of sin.

The third and final phase of salvation is glorification. When we are in the presence of Jesus in glory we will be forever removed from the presence of sin. When Christ returns He will completely eliminate sin from existence and it will trouble us no more! What a Blessed Hope! Maranatha!

Argument: It is to this second phase of salvation that Paul deals with in our passage. Paul is giving his personal account of his struggle with sin as a mature Christ follower. If the Apostle Paul struggled against the power of sin, we can expect no less.

It is important to note the language of struggle. Lost people don’t struggle like this against sin. Oh, they may have their conscience bother them if they steal something or hurt another person, but they do not have the desire to please God by meeting the righteous requirements of His law (cf Romans 8:4).

So, what does it mean to say that the believer is protected from the power of sin? If believers fall short on occasion, and we do, then one could ask. “is the protection plan at fault?” While some might ask that question, the problem is not with the Protector - Jesus IS the all-sufficient Savior. No, the problem is that we still have to deal with the remnants of sin in our fleshly existence.

This is what Paul means when he says, “that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I” (v. 15). Paul is saying that he does things that he does not want to do (he still sins). He also says that the right and good things he knows he should be doing, he does not always do. He declares that he does things he hates.

This is the struggle that identifies a follower of Christ in his or her earthly existence. The more we understand the Holiness of God, the more we are disgusted with our own thoughts and deeds. As John MacArthur puts it, “the closer we get to God, the more our sin bothers us”

Application: Reflect on your own life and assess your struggle against sin. First, ask yourself: Do I struggle with sin?” If the sin you commit does not bother you at all, you probably need to check on your relationship with Christ. Remember, lost people don’t experience this struggle because they do not see themselves as sinners.

Second, if you are in the midst of the struggle - take hope. This is not abnormal for you - this is the normal experience of all believers. The desire for personal holiness is given by God and we take hope in this truth: “He which hat begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6)

Believers do not give in to the struggle against sin because of their identity in Christ. (Romans 8:22-23)

Explanation: It is very important for believers to understand that it is normal to struggle with committing sins because we remain in the flesh. It is important to understand this is a life-long process and that we will never achieve sinless perfection in this life. Our growth in holiness will be marked by setbacks when we yield to our sinful desires.

It is not valid, however, to cave in to the temptation to sin. The person who says, “well, since I can’t achieve sinless perfection in this life, and since eventually I am going to sin, I might as well go ahead and get it over with and give in to sin.” The person who thinks and lives by this standard reveals that his or her life has not been transformed by the power of Christ. No, we will never be sinless. but a genuine believer is one who does sin less

Illustrate: Supreme Court justices are appointed for life. Some individuals who aspire to the office are very guarded with their legal decisions prior to being appointed. They don’t reveal their deep-seated convictions because they don’t want their true position to be stumbling blocks in the confirmation process. Once they are appointed, they reveal their true identities, sometimes to the regret of those who had them appointed.

Argument: Our actions reveal our true identity. A person who professes Christ and then continues to live in sin without any regard to bringing shame on the Name of the Savior reveals his or her lack of relationship. The genuine believer, secure in his salvation, continues in the attempt to do that which pleases the Savior. The genuine believer has the inner desire to please God. As Paul declares, “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man” (v. 22). This is not a natural desire; it is a supernatural desire placed in us by God Himself.

Believers CAN achieve victory in the struggle against sin by yielding to Jesus our Deliverer (Rom 8:24-25)

Explanation: There is hope in this life. Yes, the struggle against sin is real; yes, the struggle against sin is life-long. But, and this is very important, we can achieve victory in this life! Sanctification is the process of growing in holiness. Genuine believers are being conformed to Christ-likeness in this world.

Argument: The specific path is different for each. There will be a believer who lags behind you in sanctification just as there are those who are farther along. Some believers mature quicker than others, but all are moving in the same direction. Our focus is to be the focus Paul shared in his letter to the Philippians when he said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14)

Application: So, the question is this: how do we obtain the victory over the power of sin? We do it by yielding ourselves to the Lordship of Christ. We do it by dying to self interest and following the things of Jesus. We live it by continually recognizing our complete and total dependence on Jesus who declared, “apart from Me you can do nothing.”

We do not achieve victory through will-power or a 30 day plan for a better you. We do not achieve victory through human strategy or working harder. We surrender our wills to His that He may receive the Glory that is His.