The Blog

Paul finds two things: (1) that in an unwatchful moment he still falls in an area over which he already has light (conscious sin); and (2) that sometimes he has fallen short of the Christian standard and realized it only after he has fallen (unconscious sin). The one who is not interested in total perfection does not have such a struggle, for he stopped at Romans 5. It is one who seeking total victory over sin (Romans 6:14), who finds this struggle and says to himself, “Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this sinful body that brings me into spiritual death again and again?” (Romans 7:24). Those who do not acknowledge such a struggle are being dishonest about their inner lives. This is what gives us great hope that even when we have fallen in a moment of weakness, although that is a sin that we must repent of, and forsake, and ask Christ to cleanse in His blood, yet it is something that we would have consciously chosen. Because we continue to hate such acts of sin and mourn over them, one day we will get victory over them as well.

Personal Reflection:
How did Joseph demonstrate the fear of God?