ZA MAGAZINE // seek truth.

The Apostle Paul spoke for each of us when he wrote: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 8:15)

He continued: “So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.”    (Rom. 8:17,19,21)

I am convinced that we have each felt this same sentiment in our own lives. We strive to live right; to live in a way that would be pleasing to God and edifying to others, yet we often do the very opposite of what we truly wish to do. When we desire to be loving, we are anything but. When we attempt to be kind, peaceful, and merciful, we are rude, insensitive, and unforgiving. Most importantly, when we aim to live righteously towards God we fail and live impurely. Paul feels us on this one! He wails: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 8:24)

Who will deliver us from this body of death? Does Paul have an answer, or must he depressingly declare that no one can deliver him, none can save him, and that nothing can be done to rescue him from his evil nature? For those that don’t know yet, Paul does have an answer, and it is good! His answer is that Jesus Christ has come to erase our evil acts and aid us in resisting those same evil acts in the future! Paul states that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Rom 8:1-2) In other words, because Jesus has come to rescue us from sin, we are then free from our old ways that kept us doing evil consistently.

So, if we are free from our old ways of sin, then why do we share Paul’s feelings of his inability to follow-through on doing good and his propensity to commit unrighteousness again and again? If there is no condemnation to those in Christ then why should we feel similar when we read of Paul’s battle with his evil nature?

Why? Because although we have been changed from the old ways of sin to new ways of doing what is right, we often permit ourselves to slip back into the former way because it is our human nature and it is easy! Allow me to use a story to explain my point.

I once heard a message preached by a young woman that described a painting that she had created. She shared that the painting captured the exact moment when a bird was being set free from its cage - the cage door was swung open, the bird, looking as if it were full of life, was about to fly free, and near the scene hung a ribbon with the words “Forever Set Free” across its fabric. This artist preacher went on to rejoice that we each have been set free from our sins, just as was exemplified in her painting, yet she also warned us to review our current state of freedom. “Are we living in true freedom,” she asked, “or have we put back on the chains that we used to wear and allowed ourselves to become slaves to our old master again?”

Are you living in freedom? Have you rescinded into your old ways again? Paul firmly challenged the Christians in Galatia to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not again be held with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5:1 MKJV)

Let me remind you that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection have given you freedom from sin and power over your evil nature! You do not have to slip back into your old, unrighteous self. In fact, you can live powerfully, fully, and abundantly in Jesus! Jesus has given us every tool and asset in order to live right and be shielded from bondage, so let us each walk in victory each day, overcoming temptation and pressing on in the Lord.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!” Galatians 5:1 NIV (exclamation mine)