Sin in the Body but Hope in the Spirit

Your struggle is my struggle, and my struggle is yours. No matter the depth of either, they have the same markings of human sin in search of hope. The good news is that forgiveness and hope are not as elusive as you may believe. Hope is clearly visible in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans [8:1-2], “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

If you feel that you cannot find forgiveness, and hope for a better life in your circumstances, despite Paul’s unequivocal statement, consider this. Every human creature from Jesus’s mightiest disciples to those who take overt pride in their sinful ways, experience sin in the body. Try as we might, sin exists in the body. But allow me to offer you an important distinction between sin in the body and hope in the Spirit.

Let’s start with Mosaic law of the first covenant which provides a guide for living our lives “in the body.” It is sad to say that no one, save Jesus as God incarnate, has fully fulfilled Mosaic law throughout their life. In other words, to repeat my point above, all of us are sinful. Does this mean we succumb to this universal truth and lose all hope of pleasing God? No! We continue to strive as best we can to fulfill the first covenant, but we find hope in the second, an eternal future in the Spirit of Jesus.

Paul goes on to tell us in Romans 8:5, “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their mind set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the spirit have their minds set on what the spirit desires.” So, the response to our sin is to seek what the spirit seeks as our earthly guide that reconciles us to Jesus Christ.

Have you accepted Jesus as your savior? If so, you already have the spirit within you. If not, do it now: simply say the words that you accept Him as your savior. The easy next step is to tell him that you are a sinner and to ask his forgiveness. Ask Him to bless you with the holy spirit and the spirit will indwell you with eternal life. Too easy? Then, you are working too hard. Just relax and accept His love.

Beginning with verse 9, Chapter 8, Paul tells us, “You are [now] not controlled by the sinful nature [of the body] but by the spirit, if the spirit of God lives in you. But if the spirit of God lives in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.” He goes on to further distinguish between the mortal body, which is dead to sin, and the spirit which is alive in the resurrected Christ.

In summary, we are all dead to the mortal body of sin. But we are eternally alive in the spirit. This distinction has always given me hope. I still sin. I still ask forgiveness, even though on occasion, I find myself feeling there is no use trying. I then remember the pure and true spirit that is within me and cling to the promise that all is not lost. Though I will never discipline my body to forego sin, my spirit will never forsake me.

Accept that you are sinful but do not let that rob you of your hope. Hope is in the spirit, dim though it may feel at times, it will never be extinguished. To nurture your spirit, read the bible. Why not start with the book of Romans, which some refer to as the “Constitution of Christianity.” Find a Christian community and develop Christian friendships. Have frequent conversations with God, tell him everything on your mind and heart. Finally, in the midst of your worship, do not be afraid to seek professional help if you think it can aid in your recovery.