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The Amish Voice 3
that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it
is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin
that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is,
in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is
present with me; but how to perform that which is
good I find not. For the good that I would I do not:
but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do
that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin
that dwelleth in me” (Ro.7:15-20).
4. The flesh fails to keep the law. This has been clearly shown
in the previous point. No person keeps the law all the time: the
flesh causes us to fail, and no matter how much we try, we
cannot do everything the law says—not all the time. What then
is the answer?
The Spirit of God is the answer; being led by the Holy Spirit
will free us from the flesh and from the condemnation of the
law. What does this mean? It means that the Holy Spirit frees us
to live as Christ lived. The active energy of life, the dynamic
force and being of life—all that is in Christ Jesus—is given to
the believer. The believer actually lives in Christ Jesus. And the
Spirit of life which is in Christ frees the believer from the fate
(law) of sin and death. This simply means that the believer lives
in a consciousness of being free. He breathes and senses a depth
of life, a richness, a fullness of life that is indescribable. He
lives with power—power over the pressures, strain,
impediments, and bondages of life—even the bondages of sin
and death. He lives now and shall live forever. He senses this
and knows this. Life to him is a spirit, a breath, a consciousness
of being set free through Christ. Even when he sins and guilt
sets in, there is a tug, a power (the Holy Spirit) that draws him
back to God. He asks forgiveness and removal of the guilt (1
Jn.1:9), and immediately upon asking, the same power (the Holy
Spirit) instills an instantaneous assurance of cleansing. He feels
free again, and he feels full of life in all its liberating power and
freedom. He is full of the “Spirit of life”—a life that is now and
forever.
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death. For what
the law could not do, in that it was weak through the
flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh” (Rom.8:2-4).
ILLUSTRATION:
With a little imagination, we can take a peek into our hearts and
see the struggle between the flesh and Spirit being acted out:
The scene is a field with two opposing teams tightly
gripping a rope. On one side is a team that could pass for
sumari wrestlers. On the other end of the rope is you; yes,
just you. In the middle of the rope is a smelly pit of slime.
As you begin to survey the situation, it doesn’t take long to
reach this conclusion: You will not be able to resist the pit
which lies before you. The opposing team, or the
temptation to go it alone, is ready to pull you in. You need
help and you need it now. “Holy Spirit! Fill me now. Hold
this rope with me as I hold onto You!”
Put a real face on what we have just seen. Fred was a fine
Christian man. He had a wife and a child who were gifts
from God. In a weak moment, Fred was tempted to break
his word to his wife and child. A woman where he
worked “needed” him. Fred was such a good listener, so
every time she got a chance, she filled his ear with her
problems. The more Fred listened, the more dangerous
the situation became. Before he knew what was
happening, the snares were set and every step Fred took
was presented a threatening temptation, a temptation that
could devastate him and his dear family.
Fred felt trapped! The more he struggled with this, the
deeper he sank in despair. “Lord, I feel so weak. Please
help me to resist—for the sake of my family. For Your
sake, give me the strength to resist.” At that very moment,
a vibrant light entered Fred’s heart and a strength that
was not his own took over. In a very dramatic moment,
Fred jerked the rope in his heart and pulled temptation
into the pit and walked away a free man—a man who
walked away in the Spirit.
Don’t be left holding your rope alone. Walk in the Spirit . . . and
pull!
2. THE WORKS OR ACTS OF THE FLESH (vv.19-21).
The works or acts of the flesh show just how strong the flesh is.
Note a fact of extreme importance: the flesh in itself is not
sinful. The flesh or human body is given by God; it is for God’s
use. In fact, when a person is converted to Christ, his body
QUESTIONS:
1. Can you think of an example when you lost the tug of war
and were pulled into the pit? What were some of the results
of your losing that tug of war? What would you do
differently today?
2. Do you think it is possible to control the power of the flesh
in your life without God’s help? What kind of help does
God offer you?