The normal Christian life is one beset by a life-long battle against ongoing sin. One writer describes this as being restrained by a ball and chain. This means the experience of most mature Christians will be the same as expressed by Paul: “the wretched man I am!”. However, the key to Christian assurance is to grasp the great achievement of the Lord Jesus, namely through his death on behalf of sinners. There is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus. This glorious truth liberates us and re-energises us for the battle against sin. It is vital for every Christian’s confidence in the gospel.
The Christian’s freedom: death demanded, prisoners liberated
Romans 7:21-8:4
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but 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. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks 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.
Life in the Spirit
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
