It is important that we take into account our evil deeds before God before it is too late. If we love the Lord, then it should no longer a part of who we are to even serve sin any longer, but the Lord God Almighty. However, each one of us knows the vice that we are tied down to, while being held in bondage to sin. Some people are addicted to alcohol, smoking, other drugs, pornography, while other people are living in a sinful relationship, including homosexuality. This can also include fornication, which is having sexual relations with the same or opposite sex outside of marriage. It can also be adultery, which is lusting after another person or even having relations with someone that is married. Other types of sins may be idolatry and worshiping Mary, while disobeying God’s second commandment. The Bible’s laws are for us, in order to keep us on the straight and narrow path, and lead us apart from sin. They also convict us of our sinful lifestyle. Paul said, 1“for when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” (Romans 7:5,6) Truly, God’s laws help us understand that we are in sin, if are disobeying them. However, when we are delivered from our sins, by the blood of Jesus, we are raised into newness of life. Our desires are no longer to walk in the lusts of the flesh, but to be made righteous and holy through the Holy Spirit in our lives. Our whole heart and mind changes when we decide to go all in and follow Jesus for salvation.
Once we repent and allow God to change us from within, we are able to understand the bondage that we are under, in order to be set free. Even what Paul said here will resonate with the person, whom the Jesus has cleansed and made whole. It reads, 1“and the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.” (Romans 7:10-13) And so while we were in darkness, we thought God’s laws were bad. And by knowing them, we knew how much of a sinner we were before the Lord. However, now that the light of Christ is in us, we can see how good God’s laws and commandments really are. This is because they woke us up to our sins and raised us up to follow Jesus. We were sorrowful, but it was necessary in order to let the Lord come into our lives fully. Now, if you are still under the bondage of sin, you will understand where Paul was coming from when he said, 1“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24) I once felt this way as well, but now, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25) for forgiving me and building me up with His armor. I am no longer tied down in willful sin, but can walk uprightly for God each day. You can also and it starts with crying out to God in prayer. Give Him your life and you will be saved.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that You will put Your Spirit inside of us now, that we may walk in Your holiness and no longer serve sin. I know how sorrowful my sins have made me over the years and they could never outweigh what appears to be good on the outside, with what is evil on the inside. I have surely come to know this over the years, Lord, and no longer wish to be tied down in sin of any kind. The guilt that comes from it is too heavy to bear, and therefore, I ask that You become a shield to me from the enemy. Lead me and any other person that is being tempted and tried right now, into Your light and out of the darkness. We don’t wish to be under the cloud of the evil one any longer, but in Your arms forever. We understand that the world we live in is full of darkness, but we can shine bright before those that are lost, that more light will come in. Never will we be able to banish all the darkness, but how amazing would it be oh Lord, if more people decided to stand up in faith for Your cause. Surely, a royal army would be made, as the Holy Spirit is upon us all. So let us walk in faith and do as You command. If there is any sin in my life or a person’s life that desires to follow You, convict us of these sins that we may become Your holy vessels. Surely, our bodies are Your holy temple, and I wish that my life and others will demonstrate this on a day to day basis. My time to follow You and to worship You is not just at church, but every day. You are my rock and my salvation. I’d rather have Your presence in my life than any of the luxuries of this world, for You are my greatest delight and I love You more than anything. May there be less of me and more of You. I trust in You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Romans 7 (KJV)
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
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.
