The Spirit is Willing but the Flesh is Weak

Mark 14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

If you are a believer, you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent to us after Christ died and rose again. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. Therefore, having the Holy Spirit living in us, it grieves our Spirit when we sin.  Christians are not always living righteous lives, even though we want to be. Paul seems to have schizophrenia as he describes the struggle between the spirit and the flesh.

Romans 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Romans 7:18-19 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

Our spirit and flesh are in conflict!

Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

From the beginning, we have been wicked!

Gen.6:5-6 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

Eph.4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander; along with ever form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Lord, I pray this for all Christians that they would be forgiving and would love each other. I also ask for us to driven to deep faith in You alone, in the knowledge that You are faithful and just! Amen

But what about the unrepentant sinner who does not have the Holy Spirit indwelling in them? Do they have a moral compass, to discern right from wrong? In a sense they do because when God created man, He put in him a sense of what is true. But with this rebellion comes judgment! Even from a child, you knew what was naughty, but with wild abandonment, you did it anyway! Even as a child, you would wonder who made the earth and all that is in it!

Romans 1:18-22 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood by what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Salvation in Christ:

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.