The harder we try to obey the law and be moral, the more deviant we become from the law. In other words, our effort to be good will result in exactly the opposite effect.

Think of the scandalous Catholic priests. I don’t believe they went into the ministry thinking that they will take advantage of some altar boys. But in their effort to be good and earn their righteousness from God, ironically, they found themselves in exactly the opposite position from where they wanted to be. What happened was that their flesh was not subdued by their discipline and self-effort. Their flesh won out over against their efforts of self-control.

This is exactly what Paul warns the Galatians about. He is grieved because they are abandoning the gospel and is going back to keeping the law for their acceptance to God. And he says the result is that they will give into the flesh and its works, namely, “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.” Gal 5:19-20.

This is not intuitive at all! Even as parents, when our children do wrong, what do we tell them? “Try harder, next time!” But what if their trying harder will lead them deviancy? Perhaps this is why there is a saying “good girls turn out really wild?” All that oppression, rules, expectations and their effort to maintain it all will only lead them to deviancy!

What is the remedy? If not trying harder to be good, then what? It’s “walking by the Spirit.” (v. 16). That means communing, becoming one with, being intimate, treasuring, and taking pleasure in the relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. It’s not trying to exercise a stronger self-will next time, but depending on and being broken by the finished work of Jesus Christ.

So, next time you sin, don’t beat yourself up. If you try harder not to sin through self-effort, you will only find yourself in deeper water. Rather, thank God that your sins – all of your sins – have been covered by Christ. Remember how He bore it upon Himself and died with it on the cross. Meditate on it until thanksgiving flows out of you and joy. That will keep you from sin!

PH