Romans 7:15-19 (NKJV) For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
The law of God revealed to man what sin is and the knowledge of sin. However, the law being a schoolmaster is not able to make man perfect or enable him to overcome the sin nature. The sin nature passed down after Adam and Eve sinned against God. Therefore, there is a constant struggle between wanting to do good because the law requires it, and our conscience telling us that it is important to be good. Unfortunately, the flesh of men is weak and therefore, we succumb to the sin nature that works in us and we fail miserably by sinning against God.
Before we accepted Christ, there was a constant condemnation in our hearts because we were unable to do the right thing which we wanted to do. We were living in sin and struggling with sin when we know the law because of the in-built conscience in us that tells us what is right and wrong. We did what we liked in this world rather than doing what was right. The law of sin and death is working in the hearts of people. There didn’t seem to be a way out of this misery. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory and expectation of God.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
The Bible tells us very clearly that the lives of an unbeliever and a believer are worlds apart. No matter how good-natured a man is, he is still a sinner and there is not one sinless man on earth except Jesus Christ.
This is the struggle of every man and there is no solution except for a Spirit-filled life in Christ Jesus.
Sermon Series: We are Heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Christ
人的挣扎
罗马书7:15-19 因为我所做的，我自己不明白；我所愿意的，我并不做；我所恨恶的，我倒去做。若我所做的，是我所不愿意的，我就应承律法是善的。既是这样，就不是我做的，乃是住在我里头的罪做的。我也知道，在我里头，就是我肉体之中，没有良善。因为，立志为善由得我，只是行出来由不得我。故此，我所愿意的善，我反倒不做；我所不愿意的恶，我倒去做。
神的律法向世人揭示了什么是罪以及对罪的认知。 然而，律法既无法使人完全，也无法帮助世人除去罪恶的本性。 在亚当和夏娃触犯了神的戒律犯了罪，罪性因此而被遗传下来。 因此，是出于律法的要求而想去行善，还是出于良心告诉我们行善很重要，这之间一直存在着不懈的争斗。 不幸的是，人的肉体很软弱，我们常常屈服于在我们里面起作用的罪性，于是得罪了神，黯然败落。
在我们接受耶稣基督之前，内心一直在受到控告，因为我们无法靠自己去做我们想做的正确的事情。 我们生活在罪中，当我们因着内在那告诉我们分辨是非的良知而知道律法，我们就在罪中挣扎。我们做了我们在这个世界上喜欢的事情，却不是做对的事。罪和死的律在人的心中运行。 似乎没有办法脱离这种悲惨的生活。我们都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀辜负了祂的期望。
以弗所书2:1-3 你们死在过犯罪恶之中，他叫你们活过来。那时，你们在其中行事为人，随从今世的风俗，顺服空中掌权者的首领，就是现今在悖逆之子心中运行的邪灵。我们从前也都在他们中间，放纵肉体的私欲，随着肉体和心中所喜好的去行，本为可怒之子，和别人一样。
圣经非常清楚地告诉我们，信与不信的生命有着天壤之别。 一个人无论天性多么善良，他仍然是一个罪人，除了耶稣基督，世上没有一个无罪的人。
这是每个人的挣扎，除了拥有一个基督耶稣里面圣灵充满的生命，别无他法。
讲章系列：我们是神的子民，与耶稣同为后嗣