ICS Daily Devotions
The Struggle of Man
Romans 7:15-19 (NKJV) For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
The law of God revealed to man what sin is and the knowledge of sin. However, the law being a schoolmaster is not able to make man perfect or enable him to overcome the sin nature. The sin nature passed down after Adam and Eve sinned against God. Therefore, there is a constant struggle between wanting to do good because the law requires it, and our conscience telling us that it is important to be good. Unfortunately, the flesh of men is weak and therefore, we succumb to the sin nature that works in us and we fail miserably by sinning against God.
Before we accepted Christ, there was a constant condemnation in our hearts because we were unable to do the right thing which we wanted to do. We were living in sin and struggling with sin when we know the law because of the in-built conscience in us that tells us what is right and wrong. We did what we liked in this world rather than doing what was right. The law of sin and death is working in the hearts of people. There didn’t seem to be a way out of this misery. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory and expectation of God.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
The Bible tells us very clearly that the lives of an unbeliever and a believer are worlds apart. No matter how good-natured a man is, he is still a sinner and there is not one sinless man on earth except Jesus Christ.
This is the struggle of every man and there is no solution except for a Spirit-filled life in Christ Jesus.
Sermon Series: We are Heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Christ
