“For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”[Romans 7:17]
I Know that I am not alone with Paul in this sentiment. Every Christian I know has felt this way at one time or another. As Christians we long to be like Christ to please our Heavenly Father, yet we find ourselves wondering why we are so slow to catch on.
We must realise that progress is a process. The defininition of process is;{A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result}. The good news is, that while progress is ours the process belongs to Christ. All we have to do is know the promises in God’s Word, believe them, and stand on them. “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”[Romans 4:3]
God’s Word says “… sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.”[Romans 6:14] “For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”[Philip. 1:5-6]. You see it is not by our power that we are made righteous, but by His Power.
I suppose I should warn you that the process is not always painless. For we are ” Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.[2 Cor. 4:10] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.[2 Cor. 4:16]
Even Christ had a difficult journey while on this earth; “Though He were a Son, He learned obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him;[Hebrews 5:8-9] “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. [Hebrews 4:15-16] and “… we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”[2 Cor. 3:18]
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”[Philip. 2:12-13] “And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”[Rom. 12:2]
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”[I Thes. 5:23-24] And may the Lord deliver you from every evil work and preserve you for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.[II Tim.4:18]