My Battle

We continued our discussion from a couple weeks ago in small group tonight. We ended up mostly discussing tonight, spending less time in the Word, but it was good discussion though.

Sinful nature vs. life of Spirit... Round 2

We referenced the God-breathed message of Romans 7. Boy, do I feel like I can relate with that passage lately. "I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." Nasty sin nature! I wish I could have a surgery to remove it!

I want to follow Christ. To live in Him. To live for Him. Why do I still struggle in some areas? It is so frustrating sometimes! I want to be His servant.

"So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."

I love Romans 12. [This is one I have taped somewhere in the house.] It says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." That's what I need. A renewing of my mind. Is that a daily thing? Like taking up my cross? Or should it be a once and for all thing? Because right now, I'm feeling like it needs to be a daily thing.

Simultaneously, though, my mind, a slave to God's law, conflicts with my sin nature.

I think it's interesting how Romans 7:25 talks about being a slave to God's law. Then, 8:1-2 talk about being free thanks to the law of the Spirit.

Hmm... More to come, I'm sure.




P.S. I decided to study the Old Testament since I haven't done a great job of it thus far. I'm starting at the beginning. I'm trying to go through it in a meaningful way, writing down my thoughts, interesting information, or questions along the way... I'll probably blog about that every so often too. I don't have a timeline since I've been trying to read through in a meaningful way. It'd be nice to get through in a year, though. Is that too much time to give myself? I will say that I started on Saturday, and I am already to Genesis 8. We'll see how long this project lasts.

Continuum or Not...

We had a really good conversation tonight at small group. It centered around Romans 8:1-17. Sinful nature -or- Spirit of life. Here are some of the truths we discussed. . .

• In this physical body, my sinful nature never leaves me. It never decreases. Instead, as we grow and follow Christ more and more, we listen to our sinful nature less and less. The sinful nature of a person whose heart is disconnected to God, though, can increase.

• We are all born with a sinful nature. [Our small group leader humorously said we are all spiritual crack babies.] There's no escaping it. Adam (who wasn't born into sin) was deceived and caused sin and death to fall on all man. Jesus also wasn't born with a sinful nature (because Joseph wasn't his father), but Jesus was fully man, so he could be tempted (like in the desert).

• Living according to the sinful nature means living in death. You are a slave to the law of sin and death. You can't do what's right.

• Living according to the Spirit of life means no condemnation. We are renewed in mind, spirit, emotions, and relationships. We are saved, awaiting the glorious day when we are made whole.

There was one part of the discussion that was difficult for me to wrap my head around though. I'm going to have to do some more thinking, praying, studying about this, I think.

• I understand and believe that in faith there is no gray. You believe in Him or you don't. You follow Him or you don't. You seek after Him or you don't. There are God's truths and there are lies. I am saved or I am not. Live for Christ or die to sin. Tonight, we talked about that you either live in the sinful nature or you live in the Spirit of life.

Shouldn't there be a continuum of sorts here? That's my initial thought. I mean, I can be following God one moment, totally working for Him, and the next moment I can totally be in the wrong in the way I respond to someone. Shouldn't there be gray? Our small group leader suggested that the continuum, then, would be in listening to the Spirit. In one instance I am listening and following the Spirit more (or better) than the other instance. This makes sense.

Hmm...

Good conversation. Can't wait to continue it next week.

The Battle

I did not act out of love tonight. This is the scripture that came to mind during my time in the Word...

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.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched [wo]man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Romans 7:14-25

"In your anger do not sin" (from Psalm 4:4); Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Ephesians 4:26-27

I pray that the Lord would continue to shape me as a woman of God. Form me. Renew my heart. Continue to show me His love, His truths.  I am so, so thankful that He loves me regardless of my nastiness.

I should be like Jonah said of the Lord, "slow to anger and abounding in love."