HOW can we battle this stealthiness which comes by way of the world, and its evil? Here is some insight:
ROMANS 7: 15-25...
15+++I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.
16+++And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good.
17+++In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
18+++I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
19+++For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.
20+++And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21+++So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
22+++For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.
23+++But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.
24+++What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25+++Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Compared with the holy rule of conduct in the law of God, the apostle found himself so very far short of perfection, that he seemed to be carnal; like a man who is sold against his will to a hated master, from whom he cannot set himself at liberty. A real Christian unwillingly serves this hated master, yet cannot shake off the galling chain, till his powerful and gracious Friend above, rescues him. The remaining evil of his heart is a real and humbling hindrance to his serving God as angels do and the spirits of just made perfect. This strong language was the result of St. Paul's great advance in holiness, and the depth of his self-abasement and hatred of sin. If we do not understand this language, it is because we are so far beneath him in holiness, knowledge of the spirituality of God's law, and the evil of our own hearts, and hatred of moral evil. And many believers have adopted the apostle's language, showing that it is suitable to their deep feelings of abhorrence of sin, and self-abasement. The apostle enlarges on the conflict he daily maintained with the remainder of his original depravity. He was frequently led into tempers, words, or actions, which he did not approve or allow in his renewed judgement and affections. By distinguishing his real self, his spiritual part, from the self, or flesh, in which sin dwelt, and by observing that the evil actions were done, not by him, but by sin dwelling in him, the apostle did not mean that men are not accountable for their sins, but he teaches the evil of their sins, by showing that they are all done against reason and conscience. Sin dwelling in a man, does not prove its ruling, or having dominion over him. If a man dwells in a city, or in a country, still he may not rule there.
The more pure and holy the heart is, it will have the more quick feeling as to the sin that remains in it. The believer sees more of the beauty of holiness and the excellence of the law. His earnest desires to obey, increase as he grows in grace. But the whole good on which his will is fully bent, he does not do; sin ever springing up in him, through remaining corruption, he often does evil, though against the fixed determination of his will. The motions of sin within grieved the apostle. If by the striving of the flesh against the Spirit, was meant that he could not do or perform as the Spirit suggested, so also, by the effectual opposition of the Spirit, he could not do what the flesh prompted him to do. How different this case from that of those who make themselves easy with regard to the inward motions of the flesh prompting them to evil; who, against the light and warning of conscience, go on, even in outward practice, to do evil, and thus, with forethought, go on in the road to perdition! For as the believer is under grace, and his will is for the way of holiness, he sincerely delights in the law of God, and in the holiness which it demands, according to his inward man; that new man in him, which after God is created in true holiness.
This passage does not represent the apostle as one that walked after the flesh, but as one that had it greatly at heart, not to walk so. And if there are those who abuse this passage, as they also do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction, yet serious Christians find cause to bless God for having thus provided for their support and comfort. We are not, because of the abuse of such as are blinded by their own lusts, to find fault with the scripture, or any just and well warranted interpretation of it. And no man who is not engaged in this conflict, can clearly understand the meaning of these words, or rightly judge concerning this painful conflict, which led the apostle to bemoan himself as a wretched man, constrained to what he abhorred. He could not deliver himself; and this made him the more fervently thank God for the way of salvation revealed through Jesus Christ, which promised him, in the end, deliverance from this enemy. So then, says he, I myself, with my mind, my prevailing judgement, affections, and purposes, as a regenerate man, by Divine grace, serve and obey the law of God; but with the flesh, the carnal nature, the remains of depravity, I serve the law of sin, which wars against the law of my mind. Not serving it so as to live in it, or to allow it, but as unable to free himself from it, even in his very best state, and needing to look for help and deliverance out of himself. It is evident that he thanks God for Christ, as our deliverer, as our atonement and righteousness in himself, and not because of any holiness wrought in us. He knew of no such salvation, and disowned any such title to it. He was willing to act in all points agreeable to the law, in his mind and conscience, but was hindered by indwelling sin, and never attained the perfection the law requires. What can be deliverance for a man always sinful, but the free grace of God, as offered in Christ Jesus? The power of Divine grace, and of the Holy Spirit, could root out sin from our hearts even in this life, if Divine wisdom had not otherwise thought fit. But it is suffered, that Christians might constantly feel, and understand thoroughly, the wretched state from which Divine grace saves them; might be kept from trusting in themselves; and might ever hold all their consolation and hope, from the rich and free grace of God in Christ.
9+++And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.
10+++Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
11+++Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
But God comforts those who are cast down. We should look above and beyond all means and instruments, to God, as the author of all the consolation and good we enjoy. Sorrow according to the will of God, tending to the glory of God, and wrought by the Spirit of God, renders the heart humble, contrite, submissive, disposed to mortify every sin, and to walk in newness of life. And this repentance is connected with saving faith in Christ, and an interest in his atonement. There is a great difference between this sorrow of a godly sort, and the sorrow of the world. The happy fruits of true repentance are mentioned. Where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed. It wrought indignation at sin, at themselves, at the tempter and his instruments. It wrought a fear of watchfulness, and a cautious fear of sin. It wrought desire to be reconciled with God. It wrought zeal for duty, and against sin. It wrought revenge against sin and their own folly, by endeavours to make satisfaction for injuries done thereby. Deep humility before God, hatred of all sin, with faith in Christ, a new heart and a new life, make repentance unto salvation. May the Lord bestow it on every one of us.
Ah, how low I feel when even err comes sneakily, because I WISH to be self-controlled in every matter, YET, I know that is not quite possible, especially since the wicked ruler of this realm works so diligently to affect one, and all, and even more so for those whom have given themselves TO CHRIST JESUS! So, what do I do? I PRAY for HIS guidance, direction, protection; I repent; I PRAY to understand err fully that I may better resist, and overcome it, and I LEARN from my mistakes, and those which came upon me from out of nowhere...
In this, we must forgive ourselves, as we aim to better understand ourselves, and what triggers us! For instance, one of my triggers is people whom are deceptive; I have to watch myself around them, which I am getting pretty good at, but later, I vent, and this is where I err, as I get caught up in the emotionalism, and say things unnecessary, when I could be PRAYING, for them, and myself; not that I don't, but not until after I have said what I cannot hold inside because it bursts in me, even though I AM able to resist doing so in public, and so on. I get frustrated because I am trying to be good, and do good, and what isn't good REALLY makes it tougher. Sounds like something to be worked through, yah?..
I KNOW I am not perfect, and DO NOT pretend to be, as that will come later, when THE LORD has finished HIS transformation of my being! I just WISH I could exist ALWAYS in the ways I KNOW HE HAS CALLED us to, but as Paul says, we are at odds with ourselves in knowledge, and in this race. I get angry with myself more than anyone else, though I REALIZE that since I am NOT yet perfected, I AM going to face obstacles, challenges, and so forth, BUT that DOESN'T mean I just go with the flow, no, it means I am aware, awake, and consciously improving what I need to...
While I am learning to tame my tongue, even if I have to bite it real hard, there are certain THOUGHTS during this or that which seem unfit, and which ought to be controlled, or even, retrained, because they ARE doors to more err, and distract me, as well as distraught me...
There are some who are feel that HOLY sorrow is wrong, and that physical, visible JOY is the right way to express THE LORD in us, but know what?, sorrow IS part of the growing INTO the being HE HAS MADE us TO BE! Without sorrow, is there, honestly, contrition? And, the more you see of the world, and the errs therein, plus those we yet have ourselves, sorrow IS present, BECAUSE we understand TRUTH, and HOW we SHOULD be!!!
As we go along IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, as long as we are willing, and participating, while ever gaining knowledge, we are on THE PATH, and so, we retain our FAITH, and continue in FAITHFULNESS, despite our slips, and trips! We INVOKE THE LORD, CHRIST JESUS for assistance, as we go forth in self-control, and goodness, in the best of our understanding, and capacities! EVERY single err OUGHT to inspire us, and teach us to be, and do better; NOT for show, or to gain favour, instead, because we ARE co-partners TO THE COVENANT, THE HOLY SPIRIT, and HIS WILL, and citizens OF HEAVEN!!!
LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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