"the motions of sin" (Romans 7:5). When we submit ourselves by doing these things we have assisted God in making the new person. We're a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)! As a result of being "born again" (John 3:3) Christians have their slate wiped clean (Romans 3:25). God "forgets" what is done in the past, and so must we (Philipians 3:13).
As a new creature, we get to start all over. Although Jesus died for all our sins (1 John 1:9), we still have liberty to sin forthwith (Galatians 5:1). We are not bound by rules and regulations, but in our freedom we are not to be let ourselves be slaves again to sin (Galatians 2:4). If we become encumbered again we are in great spiritual trouble. Our very souls are at stake (2 Peter 2:20).
With that said, I found it fairly easy to cease and desist with observable sinning. Almost immediately I quit the foul language (I didn't even curse before I was born-again), the drinking of alcohol, the telling of off-color jokes, the stealing, the watching of adult movies and the reading or looking at prurient literature. I was a "new creature" so I attempted to be "new" to those who were watching! These things are the "easy" part of being a new creation, but it's the things unseen to which I hang on to, "the flesh". My members, even my tongue, have been cleansed, but my mind lagged behind. The things of the heart which destroy the spirit are still there. Yes I have the freedom to drink, smoke, curse, etc., but those are the things with which by ceasing them, I show the Lord the love he deserves!
I had little trouble quitting things because that is my reasonable service to do. Many Christians, of course, can't even quit the "easy" sinning. It makes one wonder where the things unseen are! My own things of the heart are a constant struggle, and if you're honest, they are for you too! Paul had the same problem with "the flesh" which we have (Romans 7:14-20). Paul, a righteous man, was still a slave to sin!
There are things of "the flesh" with which Christians still struggle:
Galatians 5:19 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."No, we're all not guilty of all these sins, but most of us manifest many of them and covertly do others! The one which most Christians fail to overcome is "strife". Of course "wrath" is an outcome of "strife", but it's strife which is the root sin. Of course we still wrestle with all the things of the flesh inside, but they pale compared to strife! "Strife" is the anger (wrath) associated with being confronted with disagreeable issues. It's becoming "enraged" rather than understanding or forgiving. A judgmental heart becomes enraged. Some judge others for the same things with which they still struggle. Sometimes even the strife with another is the self's attempt to transfer inner guilt or inappropriate actions to another person!
"Strife" is the outcome of loving the self more than others! As Christians the only tool we have to show our love for God is loving others. When we strive with others, especially friends, we fail to show God that we love him. We all did awful things and still do! However, Jesus, because of his love still loved us so much that he shed his own blood and died on the cross for us (John 3:16). A basic value of Christians should, no... must, be loving others. If we strive with others we are missing the mark!
Now let's be honest! Even those of us who have pride in "not doing things" hide another thing: we have animosity toward others. We are accusatory and act as if we have never had sin in our own lives. Let one person do one wrong thing against another, and the Christian has "road rage". The Christian pulls out his mental handgun and shoots to kill! He or she kills the friend who they are to love by being unforgiving and even accusatory! I would hate to be the accused in a court with Christians such as these on the jury! The evidence against a person is when they perform the sin. If a person is tempted, it's only Satan who sins, but the jury convicts the tempted as if they did the act! That's not a demonstration of justice nor love!
However, the Christian has an obligation to stay away from sin, and that we fail to do! We all fail to "enter not into temptation" as we're told to do. We watch and pray for Satan to flee from us:
Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."Staying away from temptation is being beyond reproach. When accused, if we enter not into temptation, there is not a case to be had. The "spiritual Grand Jury" has no premise on which to indict! In fact, by not exposing ourselves to temptation, we can never be tempted, let alone accused!
Those who are discerning are beyond reproach. That's what I believe, but sometimes my judgment is poor and I fail to practice that well. Satan is a strong adversary, and he attacks Christians who are strong harder than those who're under his spell already. We're never too strong to not be under attack, but we can put a wall up to help us endure!
James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."The submission is our living sacrifice and when we cut off the flesh, the devil will flee! By hanging on to any strife, wrath, etc. Satan has a place to strike just as if there is fornication or any other sin which we harbor.
James 4: 11 "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge."In short put that strife aside. James wrote here a restatement of the Golden Rule!
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