Why do we do what we say we will NEVER do—again?

Why do we think thoughts that we swear we are done thinking, thoughts that we will NEVER think—again?

Why do we do OR say OR think—Anything—that we vowed we were finished doing, saying, and thinking?

We are brand-new in Christ Jesus, after all, & how can we continue in our old ways when Jesus now fills our heart?

Why?

WHY?

Oh my . . . WHY?!!!

The great theologian, Martin Luther, tells us why.

“Nothing is easier than sinning.”

The great physician, Jesus Christ, tells us why.

“For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.

For each tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks that which fills his heart.”

(Luke 6: 43-45)

Humans most definitely have a conflict of two natures.  We were born that way.  We grew up with those two natures warring within our bodies, and these two natures go to battle daily.  Which side (which nature) wins the DAILY BATTLE depends upon one single important fact, one that Jesus Christ, Himself, explains.

“that which fills his heart.” (Luke 6: 45)

Once we give our heart to Christ, we become brand new.

Once we give our heart to Christ, we turn a complete 180 degrees from following the ways of this world & the prince of this world—Satan.

Once we give our heart to Christ, we turn completely around and begin walking daily with the king of kings—JESUS CHRIST, our SAVIOR.

Once we give our heart to Christ, we have no reason to continue in sin.

Once we give our heart to Christ, we have no reason to DO, to THINK, or to SPEAK anything EVIL or anything SINFUL—EVER AGAIN—BUT STILL WE OFTEN DO!

Why?

WHY?

Oh my . . . WHY?!!!

• Why would we ever do what we do not wish to do?
• Why would we ever think that which we do not ever wish to think?
• Why would we ever speak any words that we do not ever wish to speak?
• Why would we ever act in ways that do not reflect Jesus Christ to others who walk this earthly soil with us?

Remember. Martin Luther, tells us why.

“Nothing is easier than sinning.”

Jesus Christ spoke of trees, both the good and evil trees.

Jesus spoke of the fruit those trees bore, both the good and evil trees.

Jesus spoke the truth!

Jesus spoke of the treasure that we allow to pour forth from our being.

In the Bible, we learn of a man, one just like us, one who understood what it was like to struggle with doing & thinking & speaking what reflects Jesus to others.

See with me the way the Apostle Paul explains this bodily struggle that wars within each one of us within his letter to the believers who lived in Rome.  Now, hang on tight and read slowly so that we see what Jesus was really speaking when He spoke of the “good” and “evil” trees.  The Holy Spirit of God led the Apostle Paul to write—

“For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.

For what I am doing, I do not understand;

For I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.

But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.

So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh;

For the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.

For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.”

(Romans 7: 14: 20)

We have a choice to DO, to THINK, & to SPEAK whatever we wish.

Every day, Every person has choices.

Every single day—moment-by-moment—24-hours of possibly 1,000 decisions!

If we do the very thing we do not want to do, then Paul said it was not us but “sin which dwells in me” [in us].

We know that sin is NOT EVER from God, for only GOOD comes from GOD!

There is no one who is good in himself; Goodness only comes from Almighty GOD!

Paul continues to explain in his letter to the Romans what each one of us need to see.

“I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.

For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members [sin inside our bodies].

Wretched man that I am!

Who will set me free from the body of this death?

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

(Romans 7: 21-25)

If we stop reading Paul’s letter to the Romans at these words, we will not completely understand the truth God wishes us to see.

If we stop reading at the end of chapter seven, then we may walk away—hopeless.

So, we read on, seeing what the Holy Spirit of God wants us to see—How we must do battle with this warring of two natures—DAILY!

“So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did; sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

(Romans 7: 25 to 8: 1-4)

Why?

WHY?

Oh my . . . WHY do we continue sinning, even once we have believed?!!!

WHY oh WHY do we continue sinning, even once we have accepted the free gift of God’s Salvation offered to us?!!!

YES, WHY do we continue sinning, even once we have received the free gift of God’s Salvation offered to us through the shed blood of His Only Son Jesus Christ?!!!

We know why!

“Nothing is easier than sinning.”

Paul tells the believers at Rome how to STOP DOING what they DON’T WISH TO DO.

Paul tells the believers at Rome how to STOP SPEAKING what they DON’T WISH TO SPEAK.

Paul tells the believers at Rome how to STOP THINKING what they DON’T WISH TO THINK.

“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die;  but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. . . .

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!”

(Romans 8: 12-15)

Why?

WHY?

Oh my . . . WHY do we continue sinning, losing the battle—every single day?!!!

Let us return to the words of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who tells us how we can win this battle raging within us.

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks that which fills his heart.”

(Luke 6: 45)

Following Jesus is a daily walk with HIM.

Following Jesus is a falling down, a prayer, a daily asking for His forgiveness, and a daily allowing our Father God to pick us up, every single day.

Following Jesus is learning how to live out the NEW IDENTITY we have received through Jesus.

Following Jesus is learning how to LIVE by relying upon the Word of God.

Following Jesus is learning how to LIVE by relying upon the Holy Spirit of God as our Guide.

Following Jesus is learning how to LIVE by walking through life with other believers, encouraging one another, not judging one another, and praying for one another.

Following Jesus is learning how to LIVE by the very Word of God.

Learning how to LIVE is something we begin anew every single day because God’s mercies are brand new—Every Single Day!

Thank You, God, for Your beautiful gift of Your Mercy & Your Grace.

Thank You, God, for saving the Wretched man that I am!

Humans most definitely have a conflict of two natures, & those two natures war within our bodies daily.

Which side (which nature) wins the DAILY BATTLE depends upon one single important fact—“that which fills his heart.” (Luke 6: 45)

We became brand new. once we give our heart to Christ, and we now have a brand new heart.

• Once we give our heart to Christ, we have no reason to continue in sin.
• Once we give our heart to Christ, we have no reason to sin—EVER AGAIN!

Thank You, God, for Your beautiful gift of Your Mercy & Your Grace.

Thank You, God, for saving the wretched men, women, boys, & girls that we are!