Remaining Sin in the Believer #1

Romans 7:18, "For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature."
Romans 7:21, "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me."
Romans 7:24, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

One of the most painful discoveries a true Christian makes is this: though he has been genuinely converted, though he loves Jesus, though he longs for holiness and hates evil--he still finds sin living within him. The believer expected that after conversion, temptation would weaken, pride would die, unbelief would disappear, and obedience would become effortless. Yet instead he finds another law at work within his members--a constant warfare between the flesh and the spirit.

This inward conflict is one of the clearest evidences of spiritual life. Dead men do not fight sin. Unconverted people may feel occasional guilt, but they do not wage continual war against the corruption of their own hearts. But the true believer groans beneath the burden of remaining sin. He mourns over coldness in prayer, wandering thoughts in worship, selfish motives in service, pride in success, impatience in trials, and unbelief in the promises of God. The very sins he hates most, are the sins he finds closest to home.

The apostle Paul himself cried out, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Romans 7:24. Here was a mature apostle, caught up into the third heaven, used mightily by God--yet painfully conscious of indwelling corruption. Holiness does not make a man less aware of sin--it makes him far more aware of it. The nearer a man walks with God, the more he sees the plague of his own heart.

The Christian carries within him two opposing principles. The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. Galatians 5:17. The old sinful nature has not been eradicated.
It has been dethroned, but not destroyed.
Sin no longer reigns, but it still remains.
Like a defeated enemy hiding in the shadows, it constantly seeks to regain influence and power.

How humbling this is to human pride. The believer soon learns that he is not sanctified by natural strength, human determination, religious activity, or self-discipline alone. He discovers that apart from continual dependence upon Jesus, he is capable of falling into grievous sin.
Peter boasted of his loyalty, yet denied his Master three times before morning.
David was a man after God's own heart, yet fell terribly when he ceased watching and praying.
Noah became drunk.
Lot compromised.
Hezekiah became proud.
The strongest believers carry a corrupt nature within them until death.

This remaining sin serves many wise and holy purposes in the hand of God:

It keeps the believer humble. Nothing cuts down self-righteousness like the painful awareness of inward corruption. The Christian learns that his acceptance before God rests entirely upon the righteousness of Jesus, not upon his own spiritual attainments. He is driven continually back to the cross.

Remaining sin also teaches dependence upon divine grace. The believer learns that he cannot fight one sinful thought, resist one temptation, or produce one holy affection apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5. Every victory over sin becomes another testimony to the sustaining grace of God.

Remaining sin also makes Heaven precious. The Christian longs for the day when he shall finally be free from every sinful desire, every wandering thought, every inward corruption. Here on earth:
Holiness is always imperfect.
Repentance is imperfect.
Love is imperfect.
Faith is imperfect.
Worship is imperfect.
But in glory the believer shall be made completely like Jesus.

1 John 3:2 says, "Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is."

        (The above article was AI generated.)