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So far, Paul’s letter has walked us through acknowledging our sin, believing in Jesus Christ for our salvation, dying to sin and putting on our new life in Christ, symbolized by baptism. But no matter how many things you do “right,”, you still sin. You watch shows that turn your eyes away from God, you listen to music that sends a conflicting message to God’s love, and you wrestle with anger or selfishness.
You’re not alone. We all want to do what’s right but fall back into old patterns and old sins. Paul experienced it, too: “The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate."
A slave is bound to his master. He can do only what his master allows. In our old selves, we were slaves to sin. Sin told us to do wrong, even if we wanted to do right; we were virtually powerless to choose.
Yesterday we read, “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin." Jesus gives us a new self, and in that new self, we are no longer slaves to sin. Yet we still sin! Maybe you feel hopeless that it will ever be different. Paul felt the same: “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?”
The answer is this: Jesus already has. Through his death on the cross, we no longer live under shame. The Holy Spirit gives us new life, empowering us to walk in freedom and hope.
Pray: Dear God, I fail again and again and again. I want to do right, but I still sin. You are faithful to forgive! Help me to live in such a way that reflects your goodness and love. Amen.