The War.

One of the big issues I have had to face as a Christian is the remnant of sin in my life. And I understand that the word "sin" gets passed around so much in Christian culture as to lose all meaning - so what I talk about here are the things that I see and recognize in my own life that are of negative impact to my faith and spirituality, or things that I understand have no benefit to me.

There are two big things that contribute to the problem I have with this remaining (and sometimes frequent) sin: 1) Understanding the situation(s) I find myself in, and, 2) The resentment I have for my ability to continue to sin against God.


The Situation of Sin:

“I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.” (Psalm 38:18)
“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” (Psalm 51:3)
“Who can say, ‘I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin’?” (Proverbs 20:9)

We are sinners. There is no doubt about it. But what causes our sin, and why are we so easy a target?

“…And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7)

Here we see sin waiting for us – biding its time to ensnare us and take control of our lives. We are warned to rule over it, lest it own us. But sin is not just something that waits for us. It is also something that lives within us – our very nature in the flesh.

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)

“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (Galatians 5:17)

We are against God because we are enslaved to our flesh and its desires. However, this is not a condition that must remain.

“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh…” (Romans 8:3)

God has taken sin, flesh, corrupt desires, and enmity against him completely out of the picture. Instead of the natural consequence of a life lived for sin, against God – namely death (physical and spiritual) – he offers another choice:

“I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:22)


The Continuance of Sin:

I believe in the sovereignty of God in the lives of all people. In the Christian life specifically, I believe that God plays a “real-time” role in our lives, using his limitless power to move and shape who we are, what we face, and who we become. Because of this belief, I have the understanding that nothing happens in our lives that is either out of God’s control, or was not ordained by him.

I also believe in the magnificence of God - that when His glory is truly seen and comprehended, nothing else can compare or offer anything more joyful, satisfying, permanent, or valuable.
So in regards to this I have to wonder how it’s possible for sin to persist in a person explicitly saved from and dead to sin by the work of God (through the cross) and how with a clear view of God’s glory (because of the cross) that anything would seem equal or more enticing.

So I look to Paul and his struggles for comparison and guidance.

“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)

Paul recognized that he had struggles in his life. He also saw the times when he fell to those struggles and the consequences. But further in this chapter we are revealed to something:

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (Romans 7:18)

But this seems impossible. The first (and arguably greatest) missionary for the Gospel of Christ – a man who saw His glory firsthand – does not have the ability to resist and conquer sin? How are we ever supposed to accomplish such a task?

We are not.

“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

The only hope we have for glory. The only chance we have for sanctification. The only source of power for holiness is the Holy Spirit working inside of us. The power of Christ within us to be a spring of eternal life that fills us over. It is the power of the risen Christ that dwells within God’s chosen that present them as clean.

But this does not happen immediately.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

It is a promise of God. It will happen. But we must continue to fight the fight of faith and lay hold of the hope that comes from God. Only in Him will we find our strength to persevere – and only in Him will we find the reward that we persevere for.