Battle In The Flesh

WHILE WE WERE LIVING IN THE FLESH, OUR SINFUL PASSIONS, AROUSED BY THE LAW, WERE AT WORK IN OUR MEMBERS TO BEAR FRUIT FOR DEATH. Romans 7.5

When we were children, during family devotions, our parents used to skip reading certain portions of the Bible that were ‘adult x-rated stuff’ (we didn’t know it then). Being inquisitive and naughty like all children, we used to read them secretly. That was how we came to learn about ‘sodomy, homosexuality, lesbianism, incest and even bestiality!’ The Bible teaches us God’s laws, commandments or instructions that forbid the common sins as well as these queer ones. The apostle Paul explains in today’s text how the law works to our disadvantage before our conversion. The passions of our fleshly nature are aroused by the knowledge of sin through the law and tempts us to indulge in them! The righteous laws of God bring sin and death to the unbeliever!

But thank God the knowledge of the commandments of God works differently and brings righteousness, life and blessings to the believer! It is the lack of knowledge that causes us, the people of God, to perish! (Pro 29.18). Last Sunday, I was teaching a class of men, both young and old ones, “Holiness – overcoming temptation”. The day’s lesson was focused on “overcoming sexual sins”. I said that one of the main reasons for our falling into different kinds of sexual immorality is because of our ignorance of the law or because we do not what all constitutes such sins!

I told the story of a grown-up girl who attended a seminar in “Holiness – overcoming temptation” held by Bruce Wilkinson in a hotel. During the course, the girl happened to meet Bruce and tell him how she enjoyed the sessions. She said that she was there with her boy-friend of five years, who was not a Christian and not a participant. Naturally Bruce asked her, “So, you are not a Christian?” To his utter amazement she said she was! She was active in her church and taught in Sunday School!

When Bruce showed her from the Bible that she was disobeying God’s clear commandment not to commit ‘fornication’ (sexual acts between unmarried partners), she quickly admitted, “Then what I am doing is sin!” My church and my leaders never taught me that it is a sin! I never knew!

You and I sometimes commit sins because we do not know God’s law – what is right and what is wrong. Many young believers begin to date early and commit fornication like their worldly counterparts because they are not taught that it is sin. Older ones indulge in pornography through magazines and the internet because they are not sure and have no conviction that it is sin. Even pastors get trapped in this modern evil! Lustfully looking at nakedness in ‘person or picture’ is sin. There are many Christians who do not know that greed is idolatory; anger is murder; lust in thought and flirting is adultery; gambling is not trusting God; drinking, smoking and drugs are sins for it destroys the body which is the temple of God (1 Cor 6.9-11).

Pray with me: Dear Lord, help me to learn like David to hide Your law in my heart so that I will not sin against You (Psa 119.11). Let me be like Joseph of old, who knew God’s law and hence stood firm and did not sin against God! Amen.