Spiritual Battle Against the Indwelt Sin by the Spirit

February 9, 2013 - Romans 7:14-18

7:14		我 們 原 曉 得 律 法 是 屬 乎 靈 的 、 但 我 是 屬 乎 肉 體 的 、 是 已 經 賣 給 罪 了 。
7:15		因 為 我 所 作 的 、 我 自 己 不 明 白 ． 我 所 願 意 的 、 我 並 不 作 ． 我 所 恨 惡 的 、 我 倒 去 作 。
7:16		若 我 所 作 的 、 是 我 所 不 願 意 的 、 我 就 應 承 律 法 是 善 的 。
7:17		既 是 這 樣 、 就 不 是 我 作 的 、 乃 是 住 在 我 裡 頭 的 罪 作 的 。
7:18		我 也 知 道 、 在 我 裡 頭 、 就 是 我 肉 體 之 中 、 沒 有 良 善 ． 因 為 立 志 為 善 由 得 我 、 只 是 行 出 來 由 不 得 我 。

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.

Paul, though being an apostle, still admits that he is un-spiritual according to his sinful nature - the realm where sin still indwells. This indwelt sinful nature in his flesh still prompts him not to do what is good according to the law, but do what is contrary to the law. This kind of conflict occurs not only in Paul's but in all believers' inner souls as well.

My Holy Spirit, I know that my spiritual journey is still a spiritual battle in the area of this inner conflict in my soul. Compared to my early Christian life, I am now more not in fighting against the temptation of those sinful passions or desires, but in overcoming the more subtle temptations from the urges or drives of my inner soul. These urges come from my tendency to serve or relate with people according to my temperament of achieving the works so as to get people's approval. This tendency still causes anxieties, worries and other dissatisfaction. My dear Holy Spirit, I know that You are the source of my liberation from this conflict, just like what Paul had experienced before. I open my life to You Spirit and pray that Your continual works in my life through the power of Gospel and love of my Lord shape me to live out a life of liberation and praise for God.