Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Romans 6:16 (NIV)
As Paul says, sin is a law and those who obey that law not only become its slave, but also cannot free themselves from its bonds. They can try with all their might, it will be a wasted effort. They will fail every time. Yet there is a way to be delivered from the law of sin, and that is the grace of God in Jesus Christ. However, even if grace is available, to be delivered, the person under the law of sin must renounce their fleshly desires.
This law affects not only unbelievers, but also carnal Christians. As long as you cherish your fleshly desires and refuse to walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit, your efforts will be in vain and will only serve to glorify your personal achievements. You will try to serve the Lord and please Him, but it will do you no good. The way you live religiously will lead you to believe that you are making spiritual progress, but that is not true.
Do not exhaust yourself fighting against the law of sin. Trust the Holy Spirit who is there to convict you, guide you according to the will of the Father, and comfort you when you fall. God knows that we cannot do it alone, even if we must make the decision to renounce sin ourselves. To maintain this renunciation, we need the active help of God's spirit in our lives. You are not alone in your struggle against sin, the Holy Spirit will accompany you.
May the grace and the peace of God be with you all.
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