I started writing this post a week ago because I was really drawn to this passage in Romans.  I seem to always open up to this passage when I am struggling with the same sins I always struggle with.  Instead of just using my blog as a confessional, I wanted to have something more to say, so I waited.  I found the answer to what I was waiting for this morning at SKIN (my accountability group/Bible study).

What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary. .. For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?
Romans 7.15-24 (MSG)

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Romans 7.24 (TNIV)

If you are human, and you have convictions, you’ve probably experienced what Paul is writing about here.  We know what we aren’t supposed to do.  We still do it.  After the fact, and sometimes even while we are in the act, we become repulsed by our own actions, knowing that we don’t want to do what we know we shouldn’t do.  Those feelings of guilt creep in and we say “that was the last time.”  And when another “last time” catches us by surprise, we question whether it is even possible to stop.  On top of that, we fool ourselves into thinking one of two things.  Either it’s ok because everyone else does it, or no one can help because no one else knows what it’s like to deal with it.  At that point we’ve lost the battle and consistently fall into the same sins.

“Who will rescue me from this body of death?”

Go ahead and say your Sunday school answer… Jesus.  For a few of you it might be enough to say His name and stop sinning, but I think most of us need more than to just say His Name.  While there is power in His Name alone, that power manifests itself in our lives in many ways.

The way that I have been experiencing is through accountability.  While I still struggle with some of the same sins that have plagued me for a long time, I have found that through their support I have resisted the temptation more often than not.  The key though is consistency.  If I miss a week from my accountability group, I find that I more easily trip on something small and fall into my sin pit.  In those moments I realize that the I’ve neglected the opportunity to feed on His power.

This morning we talked about the armor of God.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6.14-17 (TNIV)

Compared to a Roman soldier, you can see how each object protects us and even goes on the offense, but what happens if a Roman soldier is standing alone against an army?  It is similar in my own spiritual battle.  When I am taking on the attacks alone, I fall, but with the strength of my army, I can stand more firm.  They also help me check to make sure my armor is on straight.

So to close I ask you two simple questions:

Are you going into battle alone?
Who is helping you check your armor?