The Struggle

The Conflict in Us

"So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin."  Romans 7:14-25


The Book of Romans is a must read for all believers, new and seasoned. I even believe there will come a time when our overly politically correct society will label this book intolerant and ban it all together, so we need to read it constantly and keep its message in our hearts. In the passage above, the apostle Paul is suggesting he too is struggling with sin -- like anyone of us; doing what he ought not to be doing and not doing that which he should be doing.

The reason he laid out in the passages preceding this one, in chapter 7. And the solution, thankfully he also gave us in the passages that follow in chapter 8. All of which is suggested reading for all believers.

The answer though, in case you are wondering is simple -- Life in the Spirit. But may not be easy, especially to those who are used to being independent and think of themselves as self-made success stories -- yes much like Paul when he was still called Saul.

Without the Holy Spirit though, we new creations are like brand new cars with limited fuel, oil and other much needed fluids. And sadly too many believers do not know or fully understand, that driving that car without fuel, engine oil, transmission and brake fluid, and coolant will only get them so far.