Expert: Brenda Martin - 3/7/2006

Question
you once made this statement to me : Well it is a constant battle to serve God, the bible tells us for instance; Paul waged a war every day with his fallen flesh, he said his mind was telling him one thing, but his heart was telling him another, so that is not unusual.

i  feel like that most of the time. can you give me more information on paul and his situation thank you!!

Answer
"PAUL WAGED A WAR EVERY DAY WITH HIS FALLEN FLESH, I FEEL LIKE THAT MOST OF THE TIME. CAN YOU GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION ON PAUL AND HIS SITUATION?"

God understands how powerful sin is. His Word describes sin as a potent force that has man in its deadly grip. Just how strong is sin's hold? In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul explains: We are “under sin,” as soldiers are under their commander (Romans 3:9); sin has “ruled” over mankind like a king (Romans 5:21); it “resides,” or is “dwelling,” within us (Romans 7:17, 20); its “law” is continually at work in us, in effect trying to control our course. (Romans 7:23, 25) What a powerful hold sin has on our fallen flesh!—Romans 7:21, 24.

Our inheritance from Adam has produced ‘weakness of the flesh.' (Romans 6:19) And so Paul warned: “The minding of the flesh means death.” (Romans 8:6) Such “minding of the flesh” means being controlled and motivated by the desires of the fallen flesh. (1 John 2:16) So if we are trying to please God, there is a constant conflict between our spirituality and our sinful nature that relentlessly exerts pressure upon us to carry out “the works of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:17-23; 1 Peter 2:11) After describing this painful clash within him, Paul exclaimed: “Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death?” (Romans 7:24)

Because of having been a former persecutor of Christians, Paul did not consider himself fit to be called an apostle and acknowledged that he was such only by God's undeserved kindness.

Being imperfect, Paul experienced a continual conflict between his mind and the sinful flesh. (Ro 7:21-24) But he did not give up. He said: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow.” (1Co 9:27) Paul always kept the glorious prize of immortal life in the heavens before him. He viewed all the suffering as nothing in comparison with the glory to be received as a reward for faithfulness. (Ro 8:18; Php 3:6-14) Therefore, evidently not long before his death, Paul could write: “I have fought the fine fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith. From this time on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness.”—2Ti 4:7, 8.

Here is that passage of scripture perhaps you can relate to it—

ROMANS 7;15-25----“For what I wish, this I do not practice; but what I hate is what I do. However, if what I do not wish is what I do, I agree that the Law is fine. But now the one working it out is no longer I, but sin that resides in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, there dwells nothing good; for ability to wish is present with me, but ability to work out what is fine is not [present]. For the good that I wish I do not do, but the bad that I do not wish is what I practice. If, now, what I do not wish is what I do, the one working it out is no longer I, but the sin dwelling in me. I find, then, this law in my case: that when I wish to do what is right, what is bad is present with me. I really delight in the law of God according to the man I am within, but I behold in my members another law warring against the law of my mind and leading me captive to sin's law that is in my members. Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death? Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, then, with [my] mind I myself am a slave to God's law, but with [my] flesh to sin's law".

Paul was an outstanding example of spirituality. Yet, even Paul couldn't serve God without error. It was only with God's help that Paul could be faithful as a Christian. Fortunately, God neither demands nor expects absolute perfection from any of us. “He himself well knows the formation of us, remembering that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:14)

The apostle Paul is rightly considered a model of Christian living yet he had a constant fight against his weaknesses Romans 7: vividly describes this conflict, or, according to verse 23, this “warring.” Paul fought without letup, for he knew that sin is unrelenting.—1 Corinthians 9:26, 27.

Some members of the Christian congregation of ancient Corinth had formerly been habitual wrongdoers. The Bible says that they had been ‘fornicators, adulterers, men who lie with men, thieves, greedy persons, drunkards.' But it also says that they were “washed clean.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) How? They were strengthened to stop their wicked practices by accurate knowledge, Christian association, and God's spirit.

Paul and the Christians of Corinth did not minimize their sinful tendencies. Instead, they battled them, and with God's help they triumphed. Those first-century worshipers became morally beautiful, despite their surroundings and imperfect inclinations.

Paul's imperfection repeatedly hindered him from carrying out God's will as he desired, but his attitude—the way he thought and felt about God and His law—was exemplary. Ours can be too.

Remember, Adam and Eve were wilful sinners. They chose to disobey God. In contrast, we are born in sin. We have no choice. No matter how hard we try, we cannot completely avoid sinning. (1 John 1:8) At times we may feel like Paul;- “Miserable man that I am!”—Romans 7:21-24.

Yet, because of the ransom, we have hope! Jesus is the seed by means of whom, as God promised, “all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves.” (Genesis 22:18; Romans 8:20) Jesus' sacrifice opens the door to marvellous opportunities for those who exercise faith in him.

When a Fleshly Weakness Persists

“In my flesh, there dwells nothing good,” wrote the apostle Paul. (Romans 7:18) Paul knew firsthand how difficult it can be to struggle against the desires and weaknesses of the imperfect flesh. However, Paul also had confidence that he could prevail. (1 Corinthians 9:26, 27) How? By trusting implicitly in Jehovah. That is why Paul could say: “Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death? Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24, 25) What about us? We too have a battle against fleshly weaknesses. As we struggle to deal with such weaknesses, it is easy to lose confidence, becoming convinced that we can never succeed. But Jehovah will help us if we, like Paul, truly rely on Him and not just on our own strength.

When a fleshly weakness persists, we can show that we trust in Jehovah by imploring him in prayer. We need to ask, even beg, Jehovah for the help of his holy spirit. (Luke 11:9-13) We can specifically ask for self-control, which is part of the fruitage of God's spirit. (Galatians 5:22, 23) What should we do if we have a relapse? By all means, we should not give up. Let us never weary of praying humbly to our merciful God, asking his forgiveness and help. Jehovah will never reject, or turn away, a heart that is “broken and crushed” by the weight of a guilty conscience. (Psalm 51:17) If we supplicate him with a sincere, contrite heart, Jehovah will help us fight temptations.—Philippians 4:6, 7.

All the best
Brenda