Have You Heard Of The Law Of Sin?
There are a lot of strange laws in America. Did you know? In Alabama you can’t wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church. In Georgia you can’t keep an ice cream cone in your back pocket on Sundays. In Idaho giving your sweetheart a box of chocolates weighing more than 50 pounds is illegal. Click here for a website with more strange laws.
With that kind of an introduction you might think I’m joking when I say there is a law of sin. But I’m not! Consider what Paul says in Romans 7:21-23.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Understanding The Law Of Sin
Let’s unpack what these verses are saying.
- Our sin nature or inclination to sin is like a law. Clearly Paul means this as a metaphor. Laws tell us what to do and influence our behavior. Just like good laws guide our behavior, the law of sin tries to guide us. Its goal is always evil behavior.
- The law of sin is within each of us. It’s always close at hand, ready to wield its influence. It can attempt to influence us anywhere or anytime.
- We often encounter the law of sin when we purpose to do good. This proves it doesn’t control us. We still desire to do good and head down that pathway. Yet often when we purpose to do good the law of sin rises up against us.
- The law of sin never ceases its efforts against us. Even when we are delighting in the law of God we can be attacked. We can be praying, reading our Bibles or in church when it tries to influence us.
The first step in solving any problem is admitting we have it. In yesterday’s post we talked about tracking our inner spiritual health. That begins by paying attention to what is going on in our hearts. Don’t passively accept impure thoughts. Don’t allow anger or fear or worry a place in your heart. The first step in defeating the law of sin is recognizing when it attacks.
Today think about what you are thinking! Begin to discern what is pleasing to the Lord Ephesians 5:10 and reject that which is not!
Do you have a question or comment? Please leave it below.
