A New Nature
Scripture
13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 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. 19 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. 20 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.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 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. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 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 7:13-25).
Reflection
I’m a huge animal lover. Who can resist a smile for a puppy wagging its tail while waiting for a treat? Who isn’t awestruck when they see an eagle take flight and soar through the air? I was working with an instructor when his friend’s dog approached us. Smiling, he petted the animal as he said, “Who’s a good girl?” “Nice!” We hear these words of affirmation all the time from a caring owner. But my instructor’s words got me wondering… Nice? Did he really know her? She might have been very difficult or headstrong with her owner—really not all that nice at times.
It’s funny how we want to assume every dog is a good boy or girl. But even the best animals have been affected by the fall. Once I was visiting someone watching over a beautiful, large dog, and I noticed he couldn’t reach a carrot piece underneath a chair. I was trying to get it for him when he snarled at me and stared me down. He thought I was taking away his food when I was trying actually trying to help. Sure, he was usually a really nice dog, but when he thought something was being taken away from him, things were different.
It’s like that with our sinful nature. When things are going the way we want them to, when we are getting what we want, we have no complaints—we act nicely, the way we should. But when are hungry, tired, or tested in some way, our sinful nature is revealed; our proclivity for sin readily finds expression. It happens to all of us. We can identify with Paul’s words when he says, “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” (7:19).
Paul saw his nature as being a slave to the law of sin. We, too, see how sin can enslave us: when we lie, we know we should tell the truth, but then we keep on telling more lies to cover up the first false statement, the second, and so on—and then we’re chained to our lies. But Paul knew that he had been freed and he thanked God, who delivered him through Jesus. Jesus accomplished what the law could not do; the law exposed Paul’s sin, Jesus delivered him from it. What Paul could not do for himself, his Lord was able to do.
No doubt, like Paul, we want to do good. Like Paul, let us daily surrender our lives to Jesus as he lives out victory through us. Jesus died and rose again so that victory can be ours through him. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you that you’ve rescued us from the law of sin and death. Thank you that you’ve freed us from the chains of our sinful nature. Please give us clean hands and pure hearts to serve you well. Amen.
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown