IT IS NO LONGER I THAT SIN

12/13/23

Romans 7:20 is perhaps a puzzling verse to some.  What does it mean ? “ Now if I do what I do not want to do it is no longer I who do it but it is sin that  dwells in me.”  A true Christians mind , their human spirit,  is greatly desiring to obey God to fulfill the law with Gods love as Jesus did.   Even having the Holy Spirit does not eliminate sin instantaneously but sin is overcome as we live our lives in Christ.  1 John 1:10 “If we say we have not sinned we make Him a liar and His truth is not in us.”  Hebrews 12:1 (focus on this part of the verse) “and the sin which so easily ensnares us” .  1 Peter 4:18 (focus on) “And if the righteous scarcely be saved…).   All true Christians are engaged in spiritual warfare because our flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit.  Galatians 5:17 ,  Romans 7:15,  Romans 7:18 .  Our human spirit is joined to the Lord and is one spirit with Him, however we are weak because of our flesh in which is no good thing.  This is why God will not glorify the fleshly body but replace it with a body composed totally of spirit.  Romans 8:8  If we have the Holy Spirit we have the helper, we can repent and ask for forgiveness and God sees our faith and pours upon us His grace and covers us with His righteousness.  This is why we have the final victory because Jesus already won it.  God knows the thoughts and intents of our human spirit and He will know if our desire is to obey Him but because of the weakness of the flesh we actually go against our inner desire to obey and that is why it is no longer us that sin but sin that dwells in us.  Therefore,  Philippians 2:13 we become Gods work, 1 Corinthians 12:6 .  We must continue in the faith and grace of the gospel message and where sin abounds Gods grace abounds much more and mercy will triumph over judgment.  Yes, we are very weak now but in the resurrection that will change,  1 Corinthians 15:43 , raised in glory and power.  God looks at what our inner will and desire truly is and knows us.  Proverbs 20:27   Remember these things next time the sin in you sins .