The Struggle is Real by Elizabeth Orengo
Today’s passage shows us the very human side of the Apostle Paul. He is considered one of the most influential leaders of the early Christian church. He was crucial in spreading the gospel to the gentiles during the first century through is missionary journeys. And he started dozens of churches. That’s not a bad resume. Some would say, he’s someone we should look up to as an example of a good Christian, right?
Let’s see – he was influential, he could preach the gospel so good speaker, he was a self-starter or entrepreneur, definitely a leader, so yeah, by those qualifications, he’s pretty good.
But let’s not forget before he met Jesus, he was Saul of Tarsus and his primary occupation was persecuting Christians. Hey, nobody’s perfect.
That’s why today’s passage always strikes home with me. Because it’s REAL! I see myself in this passage. I know the sermon title is cliché but it’s true – the struggle is real! What struggle? Well, life!
As I’ve mentioned before, I was born and raised in the church. I’ve never really strayed or rebelled against the church. I may have gone a few months over the course of my [ahem] years of not attending because I was “in between” churches but I never considered myself “unchurched”. So when I read this passage and see that someone like Paul who commands with such authority, who starts churches, who calls people out, who is bold and confident to preach the gospel anywhere his feet takes him actually STRUGGLES with SIN then I think to myself – WOW, if this guy who in some religions is known as a Saint can have issues, then I‘m not in bad company!
That’s why this passage in Romans is often referred to as the Christian Experience because it talks about the Christian life. It talks about the struggle only Christians have – that push and pull between wanting to do what is good (following God) and doing what is bad (sin). You see, non-believers don’t have this struggle. Because of sin (through Adam), we were already at odds with God – so sin is not the non-believers problem. Once we are converted, once we change and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, that’s when our struggle with sin begins. We are now fighting between doing what we know we should do as followers of Christ and fighting against what our flesh wants us to do. This is what Paul is talking about in chapter 7.
What I like is that he’s not talking about it from a lofty, pulpit, preachy place – he’s talking in the first-person. He’s speaking of his experience as a Christian in verses 14-25. Paul is describing his own personal struggle with sin. What?? Paul struggles with sin? The Apostle Paul?? That can’t be right!? Me, yes? I can’t speak for you, but ask yourself, do you struggle with sin?
Now you may think, “I’m a good person. I may make little mistakes, tell the occasional white lie, but I don’t SIN.” Well, look at this way. The fact that you categorize them as “mistakes” and “lies” already means you know they are wrong – you are already struggling with yourself. That means the Holy Spirit is working in you, course correcting you to stay on the right path. That inner voice – that’s the struggle. If you weren’t a believer, that inner voice wouldn’t be there, that struggle wouldn’t be there.
Let’s go to the text. Verses 14-17:
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
Like all good leaders, Paul is trying to problem solve. Is the law (the Law of Moses) the problem or is it me? Let’s get to the root of the problem. Well, it can’t be the Law – that’s holy, righteous and good. It came directly from God! So, I have to be the problem! Then we see his frustration with himself! And this is where I see myself so often! I know what I’m supposed to do and yet I don’t do it!!
It’s like exercising. We all know we should exercise daily. And we may start off with good intentions on January 1. We get our gym memberships or buy some home equipment and new workout clothes and we’re excited and motivated. Week one we’re feeling good, the endorphins are in high gear. Week two we skipped a few days because we worked late, we went out, we wanted pizza for dinner, or [insert your own excuse here]. Week three we find more excuses and our struggle continues.
That’s how I see this inner struggle we have with sin. But Paul does something in this text that adds a new element and kind of takes the guilt off our shoulders.
Our desire as Christians is to want to do that which God’s Law defines as good. We don’t want to do what the Law calls sin. I picture this like a tennis match where I’m the ball bouncing from one side of the court to the other – I want to do the right thing (whack), but I don’t (return), but I want to do right (whack), but I mess up again (return)…how do we stop the insanity?!
Paul describes this as being weak in the flesh which is why we are overpowered by our sinful nature! Verses 18-20:
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
If Paul struggled with his sinful nature, what hope do the rest of us have of conquering it? This problem is serious! So much so that Paul refers to himself as “a miserable person” or in some translations “wretched.” He even likens his struggles to being a slave to sin. This nature is so powerful, he’s being controlled by it! Have you ever felt controlled by your sins? Verses 21-24:
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
Let’s step back for a minute. Have you noticed a theme throughout the text? There’s a whole lot of “I” going on in here!
“I want to do”
“but I don’t”
“I do what I really”
“I, I, I, I, I”!
Where is God in all this struggling?
Where is there some Proverbs 3:5 trust & understanding?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
I do this a lot, too. I try to solve my issues on my own. I think too often that God has bigger things to deal with that I should be able to deal with my own issues. Since I know I’m doing wrong, I should be able to course correct on my own. I know that causes a lot of the struggles I face and it’s not necessary.
The desperate struggle in our life as Christians to do what is right under our own power – I’ll say that again – under our own power – leads to complete frustration and failure – even the Apostle Paul says this is his experience! So, I ask again, is there hope? Are we meant to keep struggling endlessly? No, we are not; there is HOPE! That hope can be found in Jesus Christ!
Verse 25:
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
My friends, until Christ comes again and we are transformed, we are going to struggle between doing what is right because we have become children of God and what is wrong because of sin. But don’t despair. Look to the Cross. This is where we will find forgiveness and strength and healing. Remember, when you struggle and fail – not if, but when – you’ll be in good company. His name is the Apostle Paul and he didn’t do so badly. Amen.
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