The Law of Sin in the Believer

Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

"A law is taken either properly for a directive rule, or improperly for an operative effective principle, which seems to have the force of a law. In its first sense, it is a moral rule which directs and commands, and sundry ways moves and regulates, the mind and the will as to the things which it requires or forbids. This is evidently the general nature and work of a law. Some things it commands, some things it forbids, with rewards and penalties, which move and impel men to do the one and avoid the other. Hence, in a secondary sense, an inward principle that moves and inclines constantly unto any actions is called a law. The principle that is in the nature of every thing, moving and carrying it towards its own end and rest, is called the law of nature. In this respect, every inward principle that inclineth and urgeth unto operations or actings suitable to itself is a law. " John Owen

So long as this "law of sin" is in the believer he can not ever expect to be free from the malady or be slack in his warfare against it. To refuse to see sin as it is, to acknowledge its nature, power and presence in us (that is, our flesh) we shall be made all the more victims of its destructive force in our lives, and our light shall wane and eventually all but go out. To war against an enemy one must first understand the nature and reasonings of the enemy. The same is true of spiritual battle, only of infinitely greater consequences. Understand the effectual, working power of sin in you and fight it with at least the same intensity as you would the murderous intruder in your home. Bar every door, lock every latch and window to keep him out. But if he gets in--if sin makes its plea for your obedience--KILL IT!