Question:  Dear Greg,

            I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  However, I do not understand why I still struggle with my thoughts.

            I am feeling condemned.  What will I need to do to have peace and purity in mind?  Thanks for your help.

            Ynea

Answer:  Dear Ynea,

            It would seem that you would find encouragement about the roots of your struggle from the example of Paul in Romans 7.  He spoke in verses 7-25 of his struggle with sin.  This was about two decades after he accepted Christ on the road to Damascus .  Paul spoke of the law of sin at work in his body though he delighted in his inner being in God’s law.  In his mind he was a slave to God’s law, but in his sinful nature he was a slave of the law of sin.

            As long as we are in this flesh, this will be our struggle.  We are in Christ (and he in us—see Galatians 2:20 ), yet we are still in the flesh.  We will never become perfect, for we are still in the flesh.  He follows all of this discussion, over many verses, with Romans 8:1.  You say that you feel condemned.  Paul says in Romans 8:1, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit set me [us] free from the law of sin and death.”

            Remember Jesus’ work on the cross on our behalf and the victory we have, through his resurrection.  May God renew your faith in the work of Jesus, who does not condemn you, but saves you.  Also read Romans 8, verses 31-39.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht