Smoodock's Blog

We left Romans chapter six saying that we are set apart for God’s use, and we belong to the choice we make. The problem often is, however, I keep making all the wrong choices. So where does that leave me? Well, Paul talks about this in chapter 7. I may begin the day feeling pretty good with the best of intentions, but then I hit a snag. I try not to let it bother me, but as sure as God made little green apples I blow it again …and again. If I am a Christian, why can’t I lick this thing? How do I get out of this mess I got myself into?

In all honesty, my new life in Christ is no snap. Just because I am saved by amazing grace doesn’t change the fact that I came to Christ as a sinner, and I still sin. I may be forgiven, and I may be justified, but I am no different from anyone else. I sin. Paul claimed he did too (Romans 7:14). He did what he hated, and what he wanted to do he left undone (Romans 7:15). The inescapable fact is that **by myself** I cannot do what is right. Knowing the rules—golden or otherwise—doesn’t make me able to obey. I keep falling into the snares of sin. My old nature is still within me and keeps trying to keep my new nature in Christ from taking over. There is no peaceful co-existence here. There is a real war going on within every Christian. So, what’s the answer? Is this what Christianity is all about—forgiven, justified and sanctified (set a part for God), but expect disillusionment, because personal victory is a relatively rare occurrence?

Well, no, this is not really the case at all. Paul gives us the answer in chapter eight. We are given the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). The problem is many Christians fail, because they don’t even know they have the Holy Spirit within them. Probably even more Christians fail, because the concept of the Holy Spirit within is only that—a nice idea or a theological cliché that doesn’t have anything to do with real life situations.

As a Christian I keep facing choices between sin and obedience. The fact that I am aware of these choices, and the fact that I am concerned, shows that I want to win this inner war. No doubt, you could say the same for yourself. I believe the heart of my problems is, though I want to live for Christ, I want to run the show myself. You see, that too, is my old nature or the old man within, and if I let myself be controlled by my old nature, in reality I am just seeking to please myself, not God. However, if I follow after the Spirit I find myself doing those things that do please God (Romans 8:5). The really surprising thing about this is, when I wind up pleasing God, I also please myself too. Christ conquers sin, and I win the war within!

All this is pretty much according to Fritz Ridenour’s book: “How to be a Christian Without Being Religious.” I just want to keep saying this, because we are going through his book on Romans, so the basic way I am putting all this, though much in my own words, predominantly reflects his phraseology.

In any event, the Christian way of life cannot be summed up by a Sunday stroll with Jesus. It is an everyday commitment. It is a daily surrender to the will of the Spirit within. This is not a mere concept, but a living Being within me—the Spirit of Jesus and the Father. The victory in daily living is gained by yielding to the will of the Spirit. It also brings me joy when I do, because this is one of the fruits of walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), just like guilt is one of the fruits of walking in sin. The point of the whole thing is, hey, I can face the future unafraid. I have more than religious precepts; I am related to the living God—we’re friends, and friends stick together. I am no longer alone. He is with me, and my problems are his problems too. Praise God!