Strange struggle. The unregenerated man knows no such struggle. His carnal mind is enmity against God and his law. He willingly sins with his whole heart. He loves his sins. Only the regenerated knows this wretched struggle.

The most contradictory things are said of him. What I do I do not allow, or recognize. What I will to do I do not do. What I hate is what I do. Most mysterious of all, what I do I do not do but sin in me! This all concerns the law as the revelation of that which is good, spiritual, holy, and just. In that sphere this man wills the good but does not do it; does what he does not approve; hates what is evil and does it; and strangest of all, he no longer does what he does but sin in him.

Look at your works in the light of the law of God and its demand of absolute perfection. Then you must say about them, what I have produced I do not even recognize; what I have accomplished I do not approve. They are so tainted with sin; they are filthy rags.

The deed began in the regenerated heart throbbing with love for God and the neighbor. But unholy thoughts intruded; I mingled in some self-praise; I defiled the deed. Whereas I willed the good, I did the evil. The evil that I hated I did. This is true of all that I produce; I instantly and terribly defile it. Willing the good, I produce the evil; I do what I hate; I do not do what I will.

Strange experience of the regenerated. I consent to the law: I acknowledge with the heart that the law in its demand is good, holy, just, and righteous. Engrafted into Christ, Christ comes by his Spirit and abides in my heart. In my heart, my deepest spiritual existence, I am in Christ and indwelt by his Spirit. I have been born of God, and I sin no more in my heart.

Yet I have that heart in a body of death. In that body of death—in my soul, mind, will, eyes, ears, feet, hands, legs, tongue, and whole body—are powerful operations of sin. In me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. My heart is renewed, but the rest of me is full of sin. The good that I in Jesus Christ by the power of his Spirit will to do I do not accomplish.

This perfect man in Christ Jesus wills the good and hates the evil. The perfect man does what he wills not to do, and he hates it. He does not will it to be so. That is his victory. The believer in his spiritual struggle does not sin with his heart. His heart is not in it. He hates his sin. It is not him but sin in him.

What a wretched man! Willing the good, hating the evil, not approving of what he does. Who will deliver him?

I thank God through Jesus Christ. Hating his sin, he takes it daily to Christ. He takes his stand by faith in Christ’s perfect atoning work and perfect obedience. He seeks forgiveness for all that he does. There is no condemnation to him who is in Christ Jesus. He is perfectly righteous in Christ and an heir of eternal life. He casts off confidence in what he does, constantly praying for the grace and Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!