Inner Conflict - Paul

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. 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.

Romans 7:18-19

The recent ESPN miniseries The Bronx Is Burning tells the story of the 1977 New York Yankees, a team whose inner turmoil threatened to tear them apart before reaching their full potential.

Filled with strong personalities such as Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, manager Billy Martin, and owner George Steinbrenner, the Yankees nearly imploded on several occasions. In the end, however, their superior talent won them the 1977 World Series.

Like the 1977 Yankees, we face our own inner conflicts between our desires to live godly lives and our inability to do so in our own strength. The apostle Paul understood that conflict well.

As a spiritual man, Paul loved God and desired to follow the law of God perfectly. As a fleshly man prone to sin, Paul found himself unable to always do what he knew was right. He was equally unable to always avoid doing what he knew was wrong.

Can you identify?

In his letter to the Romans, Paul revealed his genuine conflict over his desire to obey God perfectly and his inability to do so. He knew that he hadn’t achieved sinless perfection. He was keenly aware of his own imperfections and wanted more than anything to have victory over sin.

Paul knew what we need to know: We are sinners who must daily tap into God’s grace and forgiveness.

When you finally stand in Jesus’ presence, you will have absolute and eternal victory over sin. Until then, you will find consistent success in avoiding sin only as you walk daily in the power of the Holy Spirit.