Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (vv. 10-17)

It is easy to read the Bible and think of it as a series of commandments that we must keep. In fact, many Christians force themselves to do certain things because they believe God will be pleased with them.

In the past, I tried to keep the words written in the Bible, only to realise that I did not have the will or the ability to keep them. We taste the goodness of God, yet our flesh is weak. We eagerly seek God’s wisdom and strive to live a moral life before Him. Yet we also devise evil schemes that may hurt others. We act selfishly and deal treacherously with those around us.

And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (vv. 40-41)

Paul’s admonitions help us refocus on how we should live as Christians. At the same time, as we strive to obey them, we realise that we do not truly love God or others. The essence of the Law is love. We love the Law as it is good. However, we also hate the Law. Paul also realised this paradox.

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold into bondage to sin. For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, that the Law is good. But now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. (Romans 7:14-20)

Can we ever be separated from our evil nature? The answer is yes. We have been bought by God and no longer belong to those who will perish eternally. We were nothing, and we are still nothing, because there is not a single law that we are able to keep.

It is the Spirit who educates and trains us. We will be perfected in every way. For that reason, we eagerly await the Kingdom.

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:21-25)