You’re Not a Bad Christian—You’re in a Battle

If you've ever felt frustrated by your repeated failures as a Christian, you're not alone—and you're not without hope.

Romans 7:14-25 gives us a front-row seat to the apostle Paul’s internal struggle: “For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do” (Romans 7:19). If the man who wrote much of the New Testament battled sin daily, it’s no surprise that we do too.

Paul paints a vivid picture of the Christian life as a battleground between our spirit and our flesh. We want to follow God. We want to obey. And yet, we still fall short. Why? Because although we’ve been justified by Christ, we’re still in the process of being sanctified. We're saved, but not yet perfected. The presence of sin still clings to our humanity.

This struggle isn’t evidence that we’re not saved—it’s evidence that we are. People who don’t belong to Christ aren’t waging war against sin. But those who do have the Holy Spirit working in them will feel the tension. Paul describes it as being “a prisoner to the law of sin” even while his inner self delights in God’s law.

Some Christians worry that their ongoing failures disqualify them from God’s love or purpose. But Romans 7 tells us the opposite. Struggling against sin doesn't mean you've failed—it means you're in the fight. And God isn’t standing on the sidelines with folded arms; He’s walking beside you, helping you up when you fall.

Think of a toddler learning to walk. Every stumble isn’t a failure—it’s progress. And the Father rejoices over each step forward, even if it's followed by a fall.

In Psalm 139:23-24, David prays, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” That’s a bold prayer, but it’s one we must be willing to pray if we want to grow.

What do you want? Do you want to please God—or just avoid guilt? Do you want to know Him—or just look like a good Christian? Our actions flow from our desires. If our hearts are cold or indifferent, it’s time to return to our first love (Revelation 2:4).

Following Jesus isn’t about sin avoidance or religious performance. It’s about surrender. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). That’s not a one-time decision; it’s a daily practice of laying down your comfort, your pride, and your excuses.

Too many of us treat Sunday services like the mission, when they’re really the water break. The real work of faith happens in your home, your workplace, and your neighborhood.

When Paul finally cries out, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24), he immediately gives the answer: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v. 25). The good news isn’t that we’re strong enough—it’s that Jesus is.

You may stumble. You may fight the same battle for years. But God’s grace is sufficient. And the victory is already yours—not because you’ve earned it, but because Jesus has won it.

This blog is based on a message preached by Student & Family Pastor Steven Scifers on Sunday, August 3, as part of the Romans: The Righteousness of God series. You can watch the full message here.