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.
Romans 7:18 (NIV)
We all struggle with sin, trying to avoid it. But no matter how hard we try, we still find ourselves committing it in one way or another. You may wonder if Jesus Christ died to deliver us and free us from the grip of sin, why do we have to continue to struggle with sin? This is exactly what Paul is trying to get across to us in this passage. No matter how much we want to do good and please God, the flesh, which is our tendency to indulge our desires, always leads us deeper into sin.
When Paul says there is no good in him, he does not mean that he cannot do good, but rather he implies that he cannot conform to God’s moral law, that he cannot submit completely to His precepts; for his desires, his lusts, always end up taking over. He has the will to please God by obeying His word but he must fight against his inner desires which are identified by his flesh. It is important to understand that this fight against sin is reserved only for those who love God with all their heart and who seek to please Him.
You obey the word of God, you apply it day after day to your life, you pray without ceasing not to sin, but nothing changes. You are not the only one to tell yourself that despite all your efforts to live a holy life, nothing changes. It is human nature. We are all faced with this same situation. However, there is a solution. This solution is the Holy Spirit. If you submit yourself to His will and seek His presence in all your decisions and actions, He will guide you according to the truth and will reveal to you what you must do or say in each circumstance of your life. If you see that nothing changes yet, it is because there is something that you must correct in yourself.
May the grace and peace of God be with you all.
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