Why am I like this, constantly repenting from my sins and still finding in me the will to sin? Why like a dog do I constantly return to my vomit? What is wrong with me? Why can’t I keep permanently clean from sins fast grip: the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life? I have confessed these sins severally, yet, I find myself still caught in the web of hatred, bitterness, envy and gossip. Why am I like this? Why like a pig do I keep falling back to the filth? Why can’t I keep clean 24/7? What is wrong with me? I have fasted, kept away from people, done everything within me to escape from sin, yet, I am bound steadfast. How can I be set loose? If this is your testimony, then listen carefully. You are in a trap, like all natural human beings; a trap of Satan and sin. “How?” You may ask. Now listen to this.

First, you need to know that since the fall of Adam, man has inherited a nature that knows no other thing than to sin. Every man is born with it. Could you watch a two year old child pick what is not his own, beat the mother or spit at adults and you will stand convinced that he needs no trainer hence, Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God?  Rom 3:9b &10 reports that all are under sin and there is none righteous – no, not one. It is this sinful nature then that makes you do all that you do. Sometimes the deeds may appear good, yet, the motive and the foundations are wrong. You may confess all the sins, make New Year resolutions, lock yourself up, fast, pray etc. Yet, you find yourself committing sin again. I tell you however, before you are through with confession, your feet have gone back to the mud. The truth, my friend is that you have an inward inclination to sin; there is a power within that draws all “natural” men to sin. Thus, as soon as the power stirs up, you just find out that you must commit sin. Even if you struggle against it, the truth is that something is wrong within so you can’t do otherwise – you have the nature of a sinner. Except you are delivered, your life goes on in a vicious cycle of sinning and being forgiven and then sinning again.

Then, what is the way out? You need forgiveness for what you have done, but far above that, you need deliverance from your lower nature – the natural self that loves sin. In Romans 6:2-4, we are told that the power of sin over our lives gets broken when we become Christians. “How?” This is a likely question. Ultimately, when we come to Christ, we become Christians. We become a part of Jesus Christ and through his death, the power of our sinful nature gets shattered. When he died, our old sin-loving nature also died and gets buried with him. When he resurrected and was brought back to life again, we were given his wonderful new life! Romans 6:6-7, confirms that our old desires were nailed to the cross with him. That part of us that loves to sin was crushed and fatally wounded, so that our sin loving body is no longer under sins control, no, we no longer need to be slaves to sin. We are deadened to sin, hence, we are free from all its allure, and its power over us is dead! It is no wonder then that the Bible says in 2 Corinthian 5:17, “If any man is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature, old things are pass away, behold all things are new”. The cross of Christ has settled my debt and his blood has cleansed and evacuated the old nature.

What is my own duty then? As a justified person who has been declared not guilty (Rom. 3:24-26), I am expected to walk in the spirit daily so that I do not fulfil the desires of the flesh (Gal.5:16). Moreover, to avoid being condemned, I must remain in Christ and not walk after the flesh, but after the spirit (Rom. 8:1). This is a daily requirement.

The question then is where have you failed and not made progress since you believed? Well, check your life today and rededicate your life to Christ. Remember that he who puts his hands on the plough and looks back is not fit of the kingdom (Luke 9:62). Stop now and make a mend before it is too late.

V. C. Onu