◄ What Does Romans 7:22 Mean? ►

Believers that are living in the flesh, are submitting to the old sin-nature which cannot please God. The old sin nature (the old man in Adam) and the works that emanate from the flesh, cannot delight in the law of the Lord nor can they rejoice in the truth of His Word, for the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. The old sin-nature is at enmity with the new, born-again spirit of God, and the new life in Christ is at enmity with the old self-life.

However, believers that are living in spirit and truth will submit their life to the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. The new, born-again life (the new life in Christ, where works emanate by means of the spirit) delights in the Word of God.

The inner-self has to be born - not of flesh nor of the will of man, but by the Spirit of God. The inner man (the new life in Christ) joyfully delights in the law of the Lord and rejoices in His Word.

The former flesh-life is a slave to sin and displeases God, but the new inner self (the new life in Christ), is a slave to righteousness. John tells us that this new life in Christ cannot sin; this new life always delights in the light and life of God's law, and rejoices in the truth of His Word of grace.

As believers we have a choice: 1. To live by means of the flesh, which results in wretchedness of heart because the new-life in Christ is in constant conflict with the old sinful nature.  2. To live in spirit and truth, discovering the freedom we attain by submitting our new, born-again spirit to the Holy Spirit of God. Then the inner man delights in the law of the Spirit of life Who has set us free from the law of sin and death.

God does not seek to change our old sin nature, but purposes to transform our new life in Christ into His likeness, as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, I delight to do Your will. Thank You for Your Word of truth, which delights my inner being as I read and study it. May I grow in grace and not submit to the enticements of the flesh. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.