© 24 Colin Melbourne
The Human Dilemma
- Are you struggling with compulsive sin?
- Does your resolve collapse in the face of temptation?
- Do you persist in doing what you condemn, and resist what you know you ought to do?
If so, you’re not alone: It’s how we’re born into this fallen world.
We arrive on Earth with sin as our default setting.
Babies Are Under Grace
Our Creator doesn’t condemn babies; it was our first parents, Adam and Eve who caused the sin problem: They are to blame.
That’s why the LORD allows babies a period of grace until the Age of Accountability. He permits a limited sense of fellowship (see Rom. 7:9 KJV) with them until they are old enough to decide right from wrong, about the age of 5-7 years old.
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Romans 7:9 KJV
Do you recall your innocent carefree years? Ask Father to remind you how it was before you first sinned.
All Have Sinned
Then each of us becomes responsible for our choices and sins, so inevitably we become completely separated from Almighty God’s Presence. Isaiah 59:1-3 KJV;
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
Neither you, nor I, can quibble with God’s eternal words.
Just Can’t Help It
That’s how we grew up, doing wrong came naturally to us because it was our intrinsic nature, inherited from our ancestors, who sold out to Satan, instead of obeying God’s words. Romans 7:5-25 KJV;
For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 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. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans Chapter Eight
The Holy Spirit continues to explain in detail, in the following glorious redemptive chapter, the answer to this human paradox (see Rom. Ch.8)
But nobody can comprehend the Glory, of the New Covenant in Romans 8, until they are first truly born of God, and walking in harmony with the LORD.
Full of the Word and His Spirit
Once you’re Born of God, simply stay Filled with His Spirit, you’ll walk in His Spirit, and your flesh nature will be under complete control, by the grace of The Word of God, and the power of the Holy Ghost filling you. Galatians 5:16-17 KJV;
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
That is why the LORD exhorts believers not to be complacent and slack, like the Foolish Virgins awaiting the Bridegroom, but rather be Overflowing with His Spirit of Life, and walking warily in the midst of this wicked, doomed world, Ephesians 5:15-19 KJV;
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Summary:
To overcome sin:
- Get saved the Holy Bible way, by heart faith in The LORD Jesus Christ.
- Once saved, become filled with the Holy Ghost.
- Walk in God’s Spirit by staying filled and following His leading closely.
Choice Power
Finally, realise every step you take is your responsibility and choice, moment by moment until you see Him Face to face. So, walk wisely, in step with The LORD, making Him smile, not frown.
He leads: It’s our constant choice to follow… or not.
© 24 Colin Melbourne
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