For what I want to do I do not do Part II

Romans 7:15 "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."

Part II

Galatians 5:17
New Living Translation
"The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. Moreover, the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions."

What can we take away from this very difficult chapter in Romans:

The road for those "in Christ" is marked with suffering. Often this is thought of in terms of external suffering but Romans 7, Galatians 5:17 reveal to us a suffering that occurs within our inmost being. A friend approached me one morning at work concerned about his wife's intense struggles to do what was right and not give in to her sinful desires. He said I am worried she is not a Christian. The red flags went off in my mind wandering not about her but about him. The very thought he did not understand the intensity of our internal sufferings battling to put to death those old sinful desires made me concerned about him not her. Paul fought all the way to the grave "to do what he ought to do." While our sin-bearer was nailed to the cross and his footsteps secured our righteousness, it is by "grace through faith in Christ alone have we been rescued." There is an eternal exchange that occurred, my sin put on Christ, His righteousness covering me, "IN HIM Alone." This exchange is applied to us by the Holy Spirit who unshackled our unbelief and brings the light of the gospel, new birth, a new spiritual life so that we might "Know Him." While the Holy Spirit remains in us and it can be said, "Christ in US" the process of growing "In Christ" is just that, a process. While we are sanctified "in Christ", being conformed into the image of Christ is a process, which Romans 8 sees as, completed, it is a sure thing. However that sure thing requires a continual dying by us, which climaxes at our physical death. As Jesus was raised, so shall those "in Christ" be raised. At death, our soul is freed from that old nature and at Jesus Christ second coming our new body, a resurrected body will be given to each who is "in Christ" and our salvation completed. Until then our internal suffering will continue, battling internally that old nature.