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I Do That Which I Wish Not To Do

by Roland Crim
12/15/18
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We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:14-20 NIV

When we turn our lives over to Jesus Christ, our hearts and souls are reborn to a spiritual realm which we did not possess in the past. Yet we still remain within our earthly flesh. The flesh shall never be spiritual, as it is prone to its desires. We thus face an inner battle. The reborn heart and soul constantly fight against the evil desires of the flesh. As we are sinners, there shall be times when we succumb to the desires of the flesh. This is sin. If we belong to Christ, our heart and soul will then feel guilt and remorse. We know that we have done that which is evil in the sight of the Lord. We must return to our Lord with a repentant heart, seeking to be reconciled to Him. Do not allow the feeling of guilt and remorse after sin depart from you. That initial feeling of guilt and remorse is essential for the Christian. The evil one will attempt in many ways to deceive you, telling you that you are OK and there is no need to have such feelings. This is a trap. Do not set your foot into that trap. God put within the reborn individual a mechanism that allows us to know that we need reconciliation to God after sin. Consider yourself blessed to be so endowed. So, when you do that which you do not wish to do, but instead do that which you hate, you will know it is the reborn you still being confined to the earthly flesh. Remain in Christ. Your future lies with Him beyond the realm of earthly flesh.