Chapter 2, The Enemy Within

Sin works on a powerfully persuasive rewards-punishment system where sin's appeal comes both from the "rewards" it offers, and from the "punishments" you'll avoid--i.e., self-denial, persecution, etc. This system exudes great power over us, which why in our fight against sin the "life of the disciple is not for the timid. Most would rather give in to sin" (31). I know I do, and I hate that I believe sin's lies rather than going "through the painful work of picking up a cross and nailing [my] flesh to it" (31).

Not only is sin a liar, but Lundgaard uses a very jarring illustration to drive home the idea that sin is a traitor when he writes "Indwelling sin is our Judas" who won "the trust of [his] friends and then betray[ed] from the inside" (31). Like Satan in the garden, sin gets us to believe that it's on our side, that it's looking out for our best interest, while at the same time insinuating that God is not generous and kind with His commands, but harsh, oppressive and mean.

Sin at home inside of us...

1. Wears out its welcome -- One of the best and most insightful quotes in the book is in this point: "Wherever you go, whatever you do, the law of sin is with you step for step-in the best you do, in teh worst you do. How often to you think about the fact that your carry around in you a deadly companion?" (32).

2. Doesn't observe a sabbath -- "Do you want to pray? Listen to a sermon? Meditate on the Word? ... This hateful, wicked pest is in your face with a thousand distractions and surprises, making sure you can't perfectly accomplish the good you intend.... It exasperates us" (33). I struggle with this every single minute of every single day, pushing through all the distractions to try and accomplish just half of the good I want to.

3. Does its dirty work with the greatest of ease -- As an insider, sin "easily entangles" us (Heb 12:1) so that there "is no spiritual duty, nothing godly you can set yourself to, in which you won't feel the wind of sin's resistance in your face" (33).

In my daily battle with sin in my heart and life, I am putting so much hope in the idea that the "more you discover the power of indwelling sin, the less you will suffer its effects. ...to the length that you abhor [sin]-and no farther-you will grasp for grace against it" (33-34).

In closing, heed this warning, "if you don't find yourself dodging [sin] day and night in a struggle agaisnt sin, it may be that you've made peace with [it]," and therefore, "you should doubt that you are born of God" (34).

What do you think? Leave a comment.