“²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin”  Romans 7:22-25

This is where so many Believers are today.  They love God, seek God…they truly delight in the law of God but there is another law in their members which wars against the law of their mind.  The religious oath they have made to themselves to not do the do nots of Christianity has brought them back into captivity to the law of sin.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

These “o’ wretched” ones, as we all have been or currently are, and I speak of those who truly love the Lord; those who hate their sin but are in bondage, delight in the ways of the Lord on the inside but they are bound by sin.

Some religious would tell them they are not saved…but then again, they would also tell Paul he was not saved either.  These are the same religious who say the Jesus of the Bible, the only begotten Son of God, is legalistic and that “their Jesus”, another Jesus, is the Savior of the world.  Then again other religious would insist the bound ignore their sin, do not confess their sin.  According to this foolishness that would be a “negative” confession so they would rather lie to God about their problem as if it did not exist.  Not only is this foolishness but it is superstition which is actually rampant in the church today.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul is showing us in Romans 7:22-25 that the “o’ wretched man’s” (the Apostle Paul’s) war was between his flesh and his mind.  The laws of his mind, which include ANY religious laws we place on ourselves to overcome, brought him into captivity to the law of sin…the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  The Apostle Paul, just as many today, was walking after the flesh at that particular time…and I must quickly remind the reader, he was saved.

“³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3-5

Regrettably, many stay busy minding the things of the flesh when God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn the very thing we are warring against…sin. Unbelieving, religious Believers who do not believe the Atonement, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, actually has the power to free the Believer from the law of sin, will quickly proceed with various methods and vain philosophies to do that which the Lord Jesus Christ has already done…overcome sin and death.  This victory Jesus Christ afforded whosoever will believe is for US…not Him.  He IS God and has ALL power and dominion.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Walk not after the flesh, constantly warring with our members…walk after the Spirit and rest.  Placing our faith solely and exclusively in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, with Jesus as the Source and His Cross the means by which we receive EVERYTHING from God, we remain in Him and free from the law of sin and death.  There is rest for the weary soul.  THIS is the fight of faith we fight daily…not warring after the flesh.  THIS is why we are determined to know nothing else among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  HE is our rest, our peace, our comfort and our joy.

Tired of the fight?  Consider the fight…fight the good fight of faith; Jesus Christ and HIm crucified.

-Donna Clark Warren