Thrive Creative Journaling Devotional Bible - Flipbook - Page 22
ROMANS 8 . . . page 1404
Struggling with Sin
14So the trouble is not with the law, for it is
spiritual and good. The trouble is with me,
for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15I don’t
really understand myself, for I want to do
what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do
what I hate. 16But if I know that what I am
doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that
the law is good. 17So I am not the one doing
wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in
me, that is, in my sinful nature.* I want to do
what is right, but I can’t. 19I want to do what
is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is
wrong, but I do it anyway. 20But if I do what
I don’t want to do, I am not really the one
doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
because you belong to him, the power* of
the life-giving Spirit has freed you* from the
power of sin that leads to death. 3The law of
Moses was unable to save us because of the
weakness of our sinful nature.* So God did
what the law could not do. He sent his own
Son in a body like the bodies we sinners
have. And in that body God declared an end
to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a
sacrifice for our sins. 4He did this so that the
just requirement of the law would be fully
satisfied for us, who no longer follow our
sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
5Those who are dominated by the sinful
nature think about sinful things, but those
who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think
about things that please the Spirit. 6So letting your sinful nature control your mind
leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7For
Dear God,
the sinful nature is always hostile to God.
It never did obey God’s laws, and it never
will. 8That’s why those who are still under
Show Your daughter the
the control of their sinful nature can never
areas of her life where she
please God.
9 But you are not controlled by your sinis misusing the freedom You
ful
nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if
sacrificed Your Son for her
you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And
to have. Give her complete
remember that those who do not have the
Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong
freedom from the sins
to him at all.) 10And Christ lives within you,
controlling her life.
so even though your body will die because
of sin, the Spirit gives you life* because you
In Jesus’ name, amen.
have been made right with God. 11The Spirit
of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives
in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus
21I have discovered this principle of life—
from the dead, he will give life to your mortal
that when I want to do what is right, I inevita- bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,*
bly do what is wrong. 22I love God’s law with
all my heart. 23But there is another power* you have no obligation to do what your sinwithin me that is at war with my mind. This ful nature urges you to do. 13For if you live
power makes me a slave to the sin that is still by its dictates, you will die. But if through
within me. 24Oh, what a miserable person I the power of the Spirit you put to death the
am! Who will free me from this life that is deeds of your sinful nature,* you will live.
dominated by sin and death? 25Thank God! 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are
The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So children* of God.
15 So you have not received a spirit that
you see how it is: In my mind I really want
to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as
nature I am a slave to sin.
his own children.* Now we call him, “Abba,
Father.”* 16For his Spirit joins with our spirit
Life in the Spirit
So now there is no condemnation for to affirm that we are God’s children. 17And
those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2And since we are his children, we are his heirs.
8
7:18 Greek my flesh; also in 7:25. 7:23 Greek law; also in 7:23b. 8:2a Greek the law; also in 8:2b. 8:2b Some manuscripts read me.
8:3 Greek our flesh; similarly in 8:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12. 8:10 Or your spirit is alive. 8:12 Greek brothers; also in 8:29. 8:13 Greek deeds
of the body. 8:14 Greek sons; also in 8:19. 8:15a Greek you received a spirit of sonship. 8:15b Abba is an Aramaic term for “father.”
