And when Jesus tells them "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak", that statement had tremendous doctrinal implications in the later Pauline epistles which deal with the two natures (Romans 8:3,13,7:24,25 Galatians 5:24,25, 16,17).
Dear Chica:
I have to ask you. What is better? To stop sinning? Or to be a slave to your sin? If you had the opportunity to please God and to stop sinning, wouldn't you want to keep an open mind to the Scriptures on such a topic in order to do the highest good in order to please your Lord? I know I sure would. The question is: Why don't you? What possible reason could be holding you back? For why would you want to be a slave to sin? Why would God want us to be a slave to sin and evil? This is why I have a hard time understanding your motivation and position (In addition to your ignoring of the verses I have put forth). Romans 6 contrasts that you can either be a slave to sin or you can be a slave to righteousness. Think about that for a moment. If you are a slave to something, that means there is a master at the end of that thing you are a slave to. In other words, if one is a slave to sin, then they are slave to the devil because the Scriptures say that he that commits sin is of the devil. If one is a slave to righteousness, then their Master is God. For the Scriptures also say that he that does righteousness is of God.
In regards to the verse that says that the flesh is weak but the spirit is willing: Well, if you focus a laser beam on only that portion of Scripture that you want to see, then surely that is all you are going to see. However, if you were to look at the context, you would find that Jesus said that they should pray so as not to be led into temptation. So if there is no temptation (because you prayed to be led out of temptation)... how are you going to sin? For why else would you pray to be not led into tempation? Is Jesus lying? Did he really not mean you would be led out of temptation?
As for Romans chapter 7: Paul was talking about his experience as a Jew trying to obey the Law before he was a Christian. We know this for a fact because Romans 7:14 says he is sold under sin and in Romans 8:2 he says he is free from sin. So which is it? Can he be both as a Christian? No. That would be silly. A Christian is not sold under sin. They are free from sin. For sin has no more dominion over them if they are truly in Christ. For at the end of Romans 7, Paul gives us the solution to the struggle with the Law that he once had. He is not saying he had the solution already when he was struggling. The solution is in being in Jesus Christ and walking after the Spirit so as not to be under the "Condemnation." What is the "Condemnation" according to the Scriptures?
John 3:19-21 says,
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
Also, when you quote Romans 8:3
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: "
You also have to look at verse 4, too.
"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:4).
Did you catch that? It says the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us. So we are to let righteousness be fulfilled in us. How? By walking after the Spirit. Walking after the Spirit will make a person to do righteous things according to God's Word. It will not lead them down the path into sinning on occasion.
Also, how many sins did Adam commit in order for sin and death take place?
And Paul says that which he shouldn't do he does and that with he should do he doesn't.
The believer who stumbles in his walk with the Lord regrets it, confesses it, wishes to never do it again and seeks to appropriate God’s power and grace to avoid it. He doesn’t consider how much he can sin and still be considered a Christian. Rather, he considers how he can avoid even the appearance of sin in the future.
Some on here have said that you don't have to feel sorrow or regret when you confess or repent. But anyways, the problem I have is that you think the believe will forever be a slave to his sin when Jesus did not speak favorably of such an idea. In John chapter 8 Jesus said to the Pharisees, if you sin you are a slave to sin. Jesus said to the woman caught in the act of adultery to sin not. Jesus did not give her any allowance to sin on certain occasions (Because she was weak). Jesus did not say.... well.... try not to sin even though you cannot overcome such a thing. Jesus did not say that. "Do not sin" Means exactly that.
Anyways, I say this with love according to the truth of God's Word.
May you please be well.
And may God bless you.
Sincerely,
~ Jason.
