WHEN I WOULD DO GOOD

“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”

Romans 7:21

I too, like Paul, find this law, which became an edict from God Almighty as a result of Adam’s transgression, very much alive and well. To deny this vital gospel truth is to say that a believer has no inclination to sin, that the sins of the flesh are eradicated and that all believers have essentially attained, or will attain, perfection in the flesh, or as some would put it we are bing “progressively sanctified”. The Word of God declares that those who are regenerated by the Spirit of the Living God have two natures - The one we were born with, the Adamic, fallen, sinful nature, which we will have until we die - The Divine nature (2Peter 1:4), which we receive when we are born from above. Every thing this flesh does is sinful. It is self-centered, self-glorifying, and therefore corrupt in it’s very nature and purpose - “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing…” Romans 7:18. The greatest conflict the believer has in this life is between the carnal nature and the new man, which is “Christ in you, the Hope of glory”. The Thrice Holy God will never receive anyone or anything other than His blessed Son and what He has done. It is by His merit that we are saved and it is by His merit that we persevere. The Lord Jesus Christ is in His people and they are in Him. This is our sanctification! - “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” 1Corinthians 1:30. The eternal good that believers do, the good works that we are ordained to walk in, the things that are performed by believers that honor God and His Son, are not the works of the flesh! Impossible! It is the work of His blessed Spirit in them - “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” Philippians 2:13. This is what the Bible teaches. And furthermore, I looks to me like any believing sinner would know this by experience, as Paul did. Yes, I am without sin - Christ put it away by His sacrifice. Yes I am a filthy, stinking sinner that can do no good - I am yet in this body of flesh.

Tommy