A False Belief

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.

Romans 7:21 (NASB)

During a meeting with his church leaders—and before even revealing the purpose of the gathering—the pastor asked them: "Which of you has stopped sinning since being appointed as a spiritual leader?" Exchanging glances, they all assumed the pastor intended to appoint the one who hadn't sinned as his assistant. They all claimed not to have sinned. Some cited the Bible as an aid in identifying sin, while others highlighted the role of the Holy Spirit in helping them avoid it; all, that is, except one. When the pastor asked him to rate himself on a scale of 1 to 10, he gave himself a 7, explaining that he was still struggling to keep from sliding toward an 8.

The two errors these leaders made were believing that a spiritual role would prevent them from sinning and seeking to please a man rather than God. This amounted to spiritual hypocrisy. Holding an active spiritual position or possessing unwavering faith cannot shield us from sin. Conversely, relying on the Holy Spirit and deeply studying God's Word helps us flee from sin; without this, nothing can stop us from sinning. Why? Paul gives us the answer when he says that even when he seeks to do good, evil remains attached to him. He does not mean he is incapable of doing good, but rather that, whatever he does, evil is always present in his thoughts. It is a nature we can never fully eradicate as long as we live in this corruptible body.

Have you ever believed yourself to be spiritual enough, or to know the Bible well enough, to avoid falling into sin? If so, you are better able to understand Paul's words. You are walking a spiritual path with God, and your regular meditation on the Word helps you grow in faith and in a personal relationship with Him; yet, the very idea that you might not sin constitutes a flaw within that spiritual experience. For the Bible tells us that if we claim not to have sinned, we make God out to be a liar. Thus, believe it or not, we are all vulnerable to sin; the only way to avoid it is to call upon the Holy Spirit. He will help us find the way to flee from it as quickly as possible and keep our distance. God is faithful to help us achieve this.

May the grace and peace of God be with you.