"IT WAS SIN!"

Romans 7:13-25                                      (ESV)
"13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! "IT WAS SIN", producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I DO THE VERY THING I HATE.
16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
17 So now it is no longer I WHO DO IT, BUT SIN THAT DWELLS IN ME.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, BUT NOT THE ABILITY TO CARRY IT OUT.
19 For I DO NOT DO THE GOOD I WANT, but the EVIL I DO NOT WANT IS WHAT I KEEP DOING.
20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
22 For I delight in the law of GOD, IN MY INNER BEING,
23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to GOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD! So then, I myself serve the law of GOD with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."



If memory serves me correctly, Flip Wilson is credited with coining the phrase "the devil made me do it".  I'm not sure that a comedian should be someone who we should base our theology, but the phrase could have been used in the scriptures above.  Now it has since been taught that the devil doesn't make us do anything, but the Apostle Paul implied something different.

Although Paul was, in my book, one of the strongest Believers that ever lived, he was still human and had 'SIN THAT DWELLS IN ME'!  It has always humbled me that Paul, Mr. SuperChristian in my view, would write about his weaknesses for all of Creation to read about?  Surely me reading about his sins would not assist me in walking a stronger walk with JESUS, would it???

The Apostle Paul was USED BY GOD to GLORIFY GOD!  In Acts 9:15-16 Ananias is told by JESUS "Go, for he (Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of MINE to carry MY name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of MY name."  Paul's "weaknesses", or "failures", were used to demonstrate how GOD can use even the our worst moments for HIS Glory!  We shouldn't set out to glorify our sins, but we should always remember that when GOD sees us, HE ultimately sees the blood that JESUS shed for us on Calvary!

WE ARE ALL SPIRITUAL BEINGS.  When Adam and Eve chose evil in the garden of Eden, they could have said "IT WAS SIN" that made us weak!  VERY FEW of us want to admit that we are vile enough to SIN against a HOLY GOD.  But in Romans 14:11-12 scripture records "As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to ME, and every tongue shall confess to GOD."  So then each of us will give an account of himself to GOD."!  We can do it now and live for HIM, or we can do it at the Judgement and take our chances!  One thing is certain, "IT WAS SIN" that held JESUS on the cross and "IT WAS SIN" that will be judged on that day!!