When Adam surrendered his choice not to sin by sinning, there was a breaking in human nature that we have inherited.
Even though we can say “no” to particular sins, it is not possible for us not to sin. How can we say “no” to individual sins, but even with the help of the Holy Spirit, we still sin?
We don’t realize how deeply embedded sin is. Sin entails everything about us—the way we think and the things that motivate us against our will.
Have you ever blown up at a loved one? All of a sudden—boom!—it was over before you got the chance to think about it. Until we get our resurrected bodies, our bodies are going to be fighting us.
Think of the two greatest commandments: Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. There has not been a moment in 40 years of being a Christian where I have ever fulfilled those two basic commandments.
People say, “I’m no Hitler,” but they’re not Jesus either. Jesus is the standard, not Hitler. We are a long way from Jesus. We put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, not in ourselves. We need to throw ourselves into the arms of the Holy Spirit to help carry us through the struggle of this life against the flesh.