I want to follow God, but there is a part of me that rebels

I find the story of the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter seven amazing. He is writing a letter to the Christ followers in Rome, but it is clear that he has played out what he puts on paper in his mind.

 

He begins the discourse by discussing the law code (The Message Bible).

 

He talks about what an inspiring work of God is and how it points to sin.

 

But then his tone changes as he speaks about sin getting its hands on the law code, dressing it up as something it certainly is not.

 

“Don’t you remember how it was? I do, perfectly well. The law code started out as an excellent piece of work. What happened, though, was that sin found a way to pervert the command into a temptation, making a piece of “forbidden fruit” out of it. The law code, instead of being used to guide me, was used to seduce me. Without all the paraphernalia of the law code, sin looked pretty dull and lifeless, and I went along without paying much attention to it. But once sin got its hands on the law code and decked itself out in all that finery, I was fooled, and fell for it.

The very command that was supposed to guide me into life was cleverly used to trip me up, throwing me headlong.”

Romans 7:8-10 The Message

 

I recently watched an era-piece show about a religious group tasked with training Native Americans. Their job was to drive the “wild” out of them so they could accept Jesus.

 

Corporal punishment was used to accomplish the task. This Native American girl rebelled at every attempt to “help” her by driving out the wild in her.

 

After beating her within an inch of her life, she complied.

 

She killed those responsible for beating her when she recovered from her wounds.

 

The law code was simple: We have all sinned and come short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23)

 

The answer was equally simple: confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Wrapping the law code in corporal punishment enrages the young girl to commit murder.

 

I understand it was an actor following a script and a director’s instructions, but it paints a vivid picture of what the Apostle Paul is talking about.

 

 

The Apostle Paul has carefully played this out in his mind. Using a conversational writing style, he tells his readers that he anticipates their response.

 

This is significant because it means the Apostle is talking from experience, not religious discourse.

 

“What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.

So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.

But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help!

I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it.

I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.

My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.

I truly delight in God’s commands,

but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.”

Romans 7:15-20 The Message

 

The Apostle says, “I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.”

 

Can you relate to that? I know I can.

 

I want to follow God and obey his word, there is a part of me that covertly rebels.

 

The regenerated spirit part of me is eager to follow God’s word.

 

However, the unregenerated soulish (carnal) part of me (the part the Apostle tells us to crucify in another place) rears its ugly head and takes charge.

 

Consequently, I sin.

 

What do you do?

 

The answer is simple—you repent.

 

I can hear your response (using the Apostle Paul’s technique): I am to repent if I repeat the same sin.

 

Of course.

 

Jesus told the Apostle Peter to forgive someone 490 times if they ask for forgiveness. The point isn’t to have a counter you click every time they ask, but you understand that their heart is dealing with them (which is a good thing), so you forgive them.

 

The longer I walk in this close personal relationship with the Godhead, the easier I think it should be to overcome these struggles.

 

Instead of feeling like a (Star Wars) Jedi master, I feel like the padawan learner.

 

Remarkably, Jesus lived this life without sin. But he knows what temptation is all about. So, when you bring a repentant heart to him, he is ready to forgive you.

 

I have the sense, as I write this, that someone needs to hear it, embrace it, and allow the forgiveness of Jesus’ blood to wash over you.

 

I don’t sense this often, but it is strong enough to put into words.

 

So, to you, I say, ask for forgiveness. Say, Jesus, let your life-cleansing blood wash over me.

 

Remember, you cannot lose for winning!

 

 

A close personal relationship with the Godhead is needed now more than ever.

 

A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.