How to Perform
Scripture Reading: Romans 7:14—8:2
“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I,” Romans 7:14–15.
How to Perform
Father, we thank you for the return of innocence and purity by the shed blood of Jesus, for the work of the Redeemer who lives. We thank you because you are strong and able to provide for us when we are in lack, able to make a way where there seems to be no way, able to put laughter in our souls when we are sad, and able to revive us when we have fallen.
We thank you for the atonement plan and redemptive work that save us from our wretchedness. Father, we are grateful that although we are not able to perform godliness in ourselves, we are able to accomplish godliness because we are able to do all things through Christ our Redeemer who strengthens us.
In Romans 7:14–15 Paul recognizes the sinful nature of man. “If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin,” Romans 7:16–25.
Romans 8:1–2 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” This is a deep truth and a deep revelation. The apostle Paul is saying he has will- power, but his will fails him. I encourage you to understand that your performance of good things, in holiness and righteousness, in working with God, cannot be based on will-power. Paul says he does not lack will, yet struggles to perform that which is good. He analyzes his condition and says the evil that by his will-power he does not want to do, he does.
The way to have dominion over sin, to be delivered from your carnality, from the body of this death is the way of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why in Romans 7:25 Paul thanks God through Jesus and then says, “So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” He is able to say that his mind is in Christ and there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ who work not after the flesh. Paul is not giving us excuses to continue in our carnality. He says there is no condemnation to one who does not walk after the flesh, one who does not fulfill the directives of lust and desires of their carnal nature, but after the Spirit.
The way to perform the good things you desire is to take a spiritual path. Paul continues, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death,” Romans 8:2. The spiritual life is not a lawless life. It is a life with Christ Jesus, where there is law and order, where there are regulations meant to preserve you. These are laws of the Holy Spirit. Many of us are operating in the spiritual without the law of the Spirit of life. Only when we operate in the Spirit of Christ are we free from the law of sin and death. I pray also that God will wake us up to learn how to perform the good things we should do. How many of us wake up thinking we are going to do good today but our flesh overrules? If we begin to walk in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, we will make good decisions, and move toward performing that which is good.
Prayer Points:
Today, I pray that you serve the law of the Spirit of life, which will set you free from the law of sin and death. I pray that you will find no condemnation because you do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit of life. If you have not asked Jesus into your heart, pray with me now, “Lord Jesus, I accept you as my Lord, my Redeemer, and my Saviour. Give me the grace to walk after the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and perform that thing which is good.” Amen.
