Nobody knows the true me.

Nobody knows the true me. Romans 7:13-25.

Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. Romans 7:13 (NKJV)

The defeat of humanity is not the rules that govern it but the punishment for sin. To sin is to separate from wholeness. It divides a person into two separate people, one that wants to do good and one who seeks after something harmful to them. Paul is bringing to our attention that the Law is not bad; it is breaking the Law that is bad and that is harmful to us.

Christians are constantly challenged by good people who object to being called a sinner. The problem being, is that most people are truly good people and do not want to be considered as a bad person who sins. Yet inside of all of us are two separate influences that tug at us. These are the influences of good and evil.

The problem with the Law, a law, or a standard, is that if we break any part of them, we can consider ourselves unable to perform it and in reality we failed it. That is the mark that sin leaves on us. It is like taking a white wall and splattering a few small drips of black paint onto it. Sure you can look at it and say it is a white wall, but truth be known, it is a flawed fall, it is not pure white.

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. Romans 7:14 (NKJV)

If we can be truthful with ourselves, we will admit that there are times where we were not the best person and rendered to others treatment much the same. The problem is we forget, but we all know that our life is about control; we must control our urges, abstain from being in the wrong place, and partaking in too much of a substances. The reason for this self restraint is that deep inside we know that our tendency is to miss the mark of a perfect life and that being subject to our sinful nature we fail.

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. Romans 7:15-17 (NKJV)

Transforming the blame of our actions to others or something other is an easy way to suppress the truth so that we can get by. Therefore, the statement exists that says, "The devil made me do it." Yet more commonly we will hear ourselves say, "You made me mad," or even, "It's your fault that I did that." The truth is that we did something we did not want to do and it hurts us to think of ourselves that way.

People spend big buck to understand why they act the way they do and yet they still want to think of themselves as good people. Where they may be good at times, the fact exists that they are bound by unholy desires. The things they do not want to do, they do and the things they want to do, they do not do. We cannot walk away from our sinful natures; we are bound to them.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. Romans 7:18-20 (NKJV)

Any self help group, doctor, psychologist, pastor, or Christian will tell you that the first step in recovery is to admit that you are what you are. The person struggling with alcoholism is an alcoholic; the drug abuser is a drug addict and according to our subject, if you have committed a sin, you are a sinner. The problem is getting people to admit their problem; yet if they do, it opens the door for help, change, and a new life.

I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to 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. Romans 7:21-23 (NKJV)

Christians are also accused of trying to be too holy and where that can be very obnoxious, their inner self is fighting against their fleshly desires. To shut off the sinful desires, they turn into isolationist and legalists which God never intended them to be.

Where God desires us to be holy as He is holy, He knows that we struggle and made to us the offer that if we do sin, He will be faithful to us and forgive us, if we confess our sin. Then if we are willing to admit our sin, God promises to cleanse us from the unrighteousness that we do. This is a great offer, yet in our minds we will war continually with it.

Some people are very conscious of what they think and do; they live in self condemnation and are ever persuaded that they are different than other people. They walk in a shame filled dark cloud and under that cloud they can see no deliverance. This is what God wants to liberate people from and if you just admit your sin and that you are a sinner, you the process of cleansing can begin. The truth is that though they feel unique, they are just like everyone else. Yet you have the power to change by God's help.

Throughout our societies people have picked up self help books, latching on to different organizations and practices, seeking to be enlightened, wanting to be better people. Yet the Bible is the best book for help and because people make mistakes, they walk past the best source of understanding themselves. Where we established that we all make mistakes, this mistake is the largest a person could make.

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24-25 (NKJV)

"Oh wretched man that I am!" The very cry of the person hitting rock bottom, yet that is where many will have to go before they will look up for a helping hand. This is the other part of the truth about us; until things get bad, people will stay in their rut and walk along the path that they have walked for years. Yet to change your direction takes change now and can happen before sin abuses your body.

Who will deliver you? What organization or self help book will you try? Whatever you answer, if you did not answer Jesus Christ then you too will have to travel your road until you face the truth that God loves you and sent His only Son to die the penalty of your sin. He has the power to forgive, cleanse, and change your life for good. That change can happen now if you will pray in your heart, admitting your sin and asking Him to cleanse you from your unrighteousness.

What then? What if you have done this, what are you supposed to do now? Now seek righteousness through the Bible, His church, and through knowing others who have recognized also that they could not defeat the sin in their own life. Reach out to Jesus and to those He is helping, for we are all sinners and we need Him too. Together He will direct our path forward.