Gal 05v17 Ye Cannot Do The Things That Ye Would

"YE CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT YE WOULD" Galatians 5:17

There is a terrible, unceasing struggle in my sou1. Being born again by almighty grace, I have a new heart and a new will, a new, heaven-bent nature created in me by the Spirit of God. I long for and seek after righteousness. Above anything in the world, I want to be perfectly free of sin and conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the desire of every saved sinner. But I cannot do the things I would. I find a law in my members that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. I find in my soul iniquity, transgression, and sin far more hideous and ignominious than the profane acts of ungodly men. Lying, theft, drunkenness, adultery, and murder are only isolated acts of evil. But my sin is ever before me! I want to pray; but there is too much selfish worship God in the Spirit; but there is too much pride in my worship to call it worship. I want to be completely free of all earthly care, trusting God in all things; but there is too much unbelief and selfish resentment toward God's providence to call my faith faith or my submission submission. I want to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and my neighbor as myself; but there is too much concern for self and love for self to call my love love.

Like all believers in this world, I am a man with two natures, two principles, warring against one another continually; and those two natures are the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh is evil, only evil and ever seeks evil. The Spirit is righteous, only righteous, and ever seeks righteousness.

This constant warfare between the flesh and the Spirit makes me do three things: (1) I denounce all personal righteousness, for I have none, and confess my sin. (2) I trust Christ alone for all my righteousness before God. And (3) I live in hope of that day when I shall drop this robe of flesh and be like my Savior, holy, blameless, and unreproveable before God.