Why Do We Still Struggle With Sin?

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.” (Galatians 5:17)

Why do we as Born Again Christians still occasionally struggle with sin?

I believe this is one of the most important questions of our time, and one that must be examined, dealt with, and answered by God's Word.

One of the key words in Galatians 5:17, is "against." 

Our flesh (sinful human nature) lusts against the Holy Spirit, who now indwells our hearts. And the flesh also lusts against our new spirit that God put in us at rebirth, when we were born again by the Holy Spirit. 

For more on the Spirit indwelling us see: (Ezekiel 36:25-27, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8:11, Colossians 2:9, 2 Timothy 1:14, Ephesians 3:17).

Galatians 5:17 helps give me a clearer understanding of what Paul was saying in Romans chapter 7 when he said:

“But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells.” (Romans 7:17-18)

'It's not the new spiritual "me" who is sinning—it's my old sinful nature that still dwells in my fleshly body that does it.'  -It's the flesh that lusts against the Spirit—and against my new, born again spirit—that causes this internal struggle within me.

It's the 'old me' warring against the 'new me.'  

One of the other key words in Galatians 5:17 is "contrary."

“And the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another…”

This word "contrary" means, "opposed to, against, adversary."

I would think all followers of Christ can relate to that internal struggle. My flesh (the old sinful nature) is an adversary to my new spirit that God placed in me, and is opposed to the Holy Spirit who now indwells me.

Here's a passage from Romans chapter 8 that further clarifies this for me:

“For to be fleshly minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the fleshly mind is an enemy against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8)

The opening sentence is also translated, "For the carnal mind is death." 

Carnal literally means, "Human nature; flesh—as opposed to spirit."

The old sin nature constantly warring against our new spirit is a spiritual tug of war.

But it's not a battle that we cannot win, because we have a choice; we can choose to serve the flesh, or we can choose to serve the Spirit.

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:12-16)

The Devil cannot "make you do it." He can't force you to sin. The Bible says God "provides a way of escape" whenever we are tempted by the tempter. (Romans 10:13)

You can choose to not "let" sin reign in your mortal body. You can choose to not "obey" sin that dwells in your flesh. Paul said he fights his own fleshly body to bring it under subjection:

“Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

The key is; you need the resurrection power of Jesus that lives only in born again followers of Christ, to win these moment-by-moment struggles with the old fleshly sin nature. Jesus said:

"Without Me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

You have to know and believe that in Christ, you can do all things as He strengthens you.

• In Christ, you can put off the 'old man' (flesh/sin nature). (Ephesians 4:22)
• You can put on the 'new man' (new spiritual inner man). (Ephesians 4:24)
• You can walk in the Spirit, and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)
• In Christ, you can manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit: (Galatians 5:22-25)

Jesus said:  "I have come that they may have life—and have it more abundantly!" (John 10:10)

He is not talking about humongous paychecks and luxury cars here. 

Jesus is talking about the abundant life of love, joy, peace, and purpose, that He came to live in, and through us. To advance His kingdom. To preach the Gospel to the poor. To heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim freedom to the captives. And recovery of sight to the blind. To set free those who are oppressed. (Luke 4:18)

But, as we are often quick to forget—we have an Adversary—who is opposed to God fulfilling His purposes in us.

The first half of John 10:10 says: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

Seriously. Who doesn't love the part that says Jesus has come to give us life, and life more abundantly!

But it's so easy to ignore the first part that says our Adversary, the devil (the thief) only comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy.

Where did you think your opposition was coming from?

Somehow, Satan can put evil thoughts in our minds and then tries to convince us it's our fault. He is the Tempter, and somehow has the ability in the unseen realm, to dangle the seductive carrots that he knows each of our 'old fleshly selves' would love to devour. He is the Accuser of the Brethren, and somehow he knows how to sow penetrating seeds of discontent, blame, bitterness and resentment in the minds of God's people, to cause us to not forgive each other. He's been causing division in marriages since day one. Just look at the divorce rate among "Christians" today. -He's been pretty effective at what he does.

But we are not ignorant of his schemes.

We are at war.

However, you cannot defeat the devil in your own strength.

But you can stick close to Jesus—the Author and the Finisher of your faith. You can pray with the gift of faith that God gave you. You can, as a child of God, bring the name, power, authority, blood, and finished work of the Cross of Jesus Christ between you and the spirits of division, accusation, betrayal, infirmity, and lies.

Paul wrote:

“For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but mighty in God for demolishing strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

We have spiritual dynamite for demolishing the strongholds Satan tries to use against us, in his battle for our new hearts that God placed in us. 

Our weapons "Mighty in God" are:

• Full access, 24/7/365 to "Abba" our Father—God
• Prayer—in the name and authority of Jesus Christ
• The indwelling Holy Spirit of God in us
• Faith—which is a gift from God
• The Word—the Holy Scriptures
• Our Christ-like love for one another
• Fellowship with other believers—united in one accord.
• Worship—singing praises to God who alone is worthy
• Putting on the Whole Armor of God—(Ephesians 6:1-18)

And when any of us do sin in our flesh, we have an Advocate with God the Father—The Lord Jesus Christ.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Amen.

Know who you are in Christ.

Through the spirit of adoption we can cry out, "Abba, Father!"  God said He will bring to completion, the good work that He began in us.

Don't let your Adversary the Devil—the Accuser of the Brethren—try to tell you that God doesn't love you. Don't listen to the Father of Lies who is trying to tell you that the new heart God gave you is still desperately wicked. Satan was a liar from the beginning. All he knows how to do is to lie, deceive, accuse, and to steal, kill and destroy.

But praise God, "Greater is He who is in you—than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

—Jesus Christ is our very present help in time of need.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.