The Problem of Sin in Us

In today’s reading, Paul addresses the problem of sin in us. As human beings, we have sinful passions and desires. Perhaps we can remember a season in our life when we were driven by them. Paul reminds us through his letter to the Romans, “sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us to bear fruit for death” (Romans 7:5). If we read this verse alone, we might assume the law is bad since it bears fruit for death, but it’s the flesh—our sin—that’s corrupted. The law helps to expose the sin in our life. Exposing our sin is one thing, but it’s another to overcome it. Christ not only paid the price for our sin at the cross, but He gave us the power to overcome it! We belong to Him who was raised from the dead, and we are released from the old law that once held us captive. Through serving Christ in the newness of the Spirit, we can bear good fruit for God (v.6).

Now that we’re free from sin and desire to do good, why is it still a fight to not let our sinful passions and desires drive us? It can be frustrating and downright maddening to want to do good when our flesh continues to fail. 

Are you struggling with your thought life or a particular sin? Do you find yourself battling the same sin over and over? The apostle Paul empathizes with us when he writes, “For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate….For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it” (vv.15,18). 

When we’re tempted to walk down a path of guilt and shame concerning our sin, let us remember that sin inhabits all of humanity and that our flesh opposes the Spirit within us. Psalm 53:3 says, “All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.” Without Jesus, we cannot do good. We simply cannot overcome our fleshly desires on our own and bear good fruit. The burden and weight of sin are too heavy for any of us to carry. The struggle is real, but God’s love and saving grace offer life and peace. 

As we live by the Spirit and keep in step with him: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will be the fruit of our faithfulness (Galatians 5:22–23).  

Though we have the problem of sin, we have a solution in Christ. Ask the Spirit to shine a light on your desires and uproot anything that is not bearing good fruit. When we miss the mark and sin, may we remember that nothing can separate us from the love of God.