We are chained to our sinful nature

Article for June 28, 2026

      Romans 7:21–23 ²¹So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. ²²For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, ²³but 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.

      If it feels good, then do it.  Sounds like a good statement, however most forget to interpret what is a good feeling.  You see there are many things that might feel good while you are doing them.  The question is, what did you feel before you did them, and how will you feel after you did them?

      We hear it is wrong and we see others do it and say they did not suffer from doing it.  But they did not talk about how they felt before they did it or of what they felt after doing it.  If you feel this is not right to do before you do something should you not do it?  And if you do it, even though it felt good while you were doing it, and then it felt bad after you did it; should you repent and not do it again? 

      What if you feel guilty after you did it?  Or what if you had to live with the fear that you might have to suffer a consequence after you did it?  You’ve seen some do it with no consequence, and others who paid severely through the consequences their actions caused by doing it.  What choice does one have, when one is trapped by the fleshes desires.  Should you do it?

Romans 7:24–25a ²⁴Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵Thanks 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.

      Which priority should we abide by?  The priority of the flesh or the priority of the spirit?  We live in the priority of the flesh and our decision making, is a product of the personal desires and satisfaction ruled by the flesh.  The flesh is made up of the physical desires that modify the emotional desire rather than truly satisfying them.  That is why we get addicted to sin.

      What would life be like if our priority came from the spirit?  The spirit influences the emotions and the emotions would influence the flesh.  With the spirit, our decision making becomes the will of God.  Seek first the will of God and all things will be added onto you.

      Putting God first gives us joy and happiness.  Then, what ever happens, and even when the worse happens, it does not take away from the joy of the spirit.   Our joy is that God gives us comfort and confidence that He will help us through both the good and the bad.

      Yes, we are sinners and through our flesh we do serve the law of sin.  Yes, we are saints and through the law of God we serve with the help of the Holy Spirit.  We are, after all, the children of the Almighty Creator.

      Matthew 11:25–26 ²⁵At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

      The faith of a child is to look up at their parent with trust, faith, and love.  What the parent gives the child is love, protection, and supplication of those things we need.  Joy and happiness are things every child needs, and if you are a child of God then because of Jesus Christ you also deserve this joy and happiness.

      Those who are governed by their reasoning may think they are wise and understanding.  Those who depend on God’s wisdom and understanding know grace and mercy as their friends.  And, what a friend we have in Jesus.

      God’s gracious will is to save those trapped in the flesh and wanting to escape the flesh’s wrath.  God does not want to throw us into the fire, rather God is trying to save everyone from the fire.  It is almost as if we live our lives on the edge of a narrow cliff.

      Have you ever tried to navigate a narrow cliff blindfolded?  I would think it would be very scary as well as difficult.  You try to hug the uneven wall and slowly inch your way along not sure if there is a ledge for your next step.  But Christ is there to offer you help, and your answer to him is, “don’t worry, I got this.”

Matthew 11:28–30 ²⁸Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

      We are chained to our sinful nature.  Christ is standing there with the key to free us from our bonds.  We look up to Christ and say, “I’ll be right with you as soon as I free myself from these chains.”  Christ is still standing there with the key to free us from our bonds, and He sees we are not paying attention.  Christ puts the key in the lock and turns it.  Some say, “see I did it,” others still struggle not realizing they are freed, and then one says thank you Lord.

      Thank you Lord because I could not have broken those heavy chains without you.  The yoke is easy for Christ, and the burden He carries is light.  It is the joy of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit that lightens the load of saving those whom they lead to faith, trust, belief, and love through our God’s love.  Amen.

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May