Tag: Sin Dwells in Me!! Romans 7-8

Romans 7:17-20

So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. 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. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Tag:  Sin Dwells In Me!!!

We all struggle with sin.  Even the deepest, of all believers, struggles with sin.  The verses just prior to those posted above show that even the Apostle Paul struggled with sin:

Romans 7:15

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

In these verses posted above, Paul gives us the reason we sin:  Sin dwells in us!!  Yes, sin has been defeated (Romans 7:6).   Yes, sin has no condemnation over us (Romans 8:1).   Yes, we are set free from the power of sin and death over us by being “in” Christ Jesus (Romas 8:2-3).    But, all that does not complete “remove” sin in our lives.  So, we will continue to sin.  In fact, Paul goes on to say that we will sin, even more, when we attempt to defeat sin by living based upon some “law” concept ... doing certain things (right) that are laid out by mankind ... or, even trying to keep God’s Law, by our own efforts.   God has set us free from the power of sin and death by FAITH in Christ Jesus.   We are not to “try harder” to defeat sin.  We are stop “trying” and keep “relying” on Him who saved us.  Sin “dwells” in us.  That will not stop until we are in glory with Christ.  But, we have to make sure that even though it is in the “house” it does not become master of the house.   We do that by allowing the Sprit of God to change our mind.  Note:

Romans 8:5-8

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

We can’t please God in the “flesh” (trying harder).  We can only please God by allowing the Spirit of God to produce fruit in our lives (relying through believing the Spirit of God will be master of the house).