“But Now It Is No Longer I Who Do It . . .”

“But Now It Is No Longer I Who Do It . . .”

What a masterly, spiritual, wise, amazing, unique, and liberating instruction by the apostle Paul!

If it is no longer “I” who do it, then it is obvious that “I” cannot be guilty. This cannot very well be contradicted. Therefore in this regard, I am absolutely innocent. Judging me guilty is just as wrong as punishing an innocent bystander instead of the criminal—something that would be outrageously unrighteous! God does not pass such an unjust judgment even if people do.

If “I” had done it (a person consists of spirit, soul, and body), then my mind must have agreed to it. This was formerly the case, but now it is no longer “I” who do it, but sin that dwells in me. In other words, liberation has taken place. With his mind, Paul now served only God’s law. He never again agreed to sin. He never agreed to it when he was tempted to sin. He did not fall in sin.

What he now had to judge in his life—what he could not deny that his body had done—was something that his mind and consciousness were not involved in. In Romans 7:17 Paul says that “sin” had done it, and in Romans 8:13 he calls such works “deeds of the body” (as opposed to his works). His body had done them, and their source was unconscious sin that dwelt in him. What an amazing and just explanation! He himself was completely innocent!

In simple terms, the result of all this is as if he were one person, while sin and his body were other people. Of course it is self-evident that you first and foremost have to judge the right person and not another, innocent man. To pass sentence on an innocent man and say that he is guilty is an act of cruelty.

My dear friend, take this to heart! You wouldn’t want to commit such an act, would you? Unfortunately, it is this very misdeed that people commit everywhere.

When Jesus said, “Judge not,” this is the very thing He was referring to. All such judgments and criticisms usually end up by judging and criticizing an innocent person, because it is “someone else” who has done it! You have caught the wrong “person”! More often than not, the one who judges his neighbor is guilty himself! This is therefore an odd situation.

The person who judges another is guilty as truly as “judge not” is written in his heart and mind. A person is guilty when he falls in temptation. Otherwise he is as innocent as a lamb.

The world is full of strict, critical lords. If they would receive this amazing, liberating, and profitable outlook on life, it would revolutionize the entire world. Then people would be gentle, compliant, friendly, compassionate, and understanding. In the deepest sense of the word, they would be righteous and easy to deal with in the home and in the church, at places of employment, or wherever else you might meet them.

The basic understanding is essentially this: We simply cannot be held accountable for the fact that “in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells.” This means that we are absolutely innocent in this regard!

However, we are fully responsible for how we react to the gospel of salvation from sin, the gospel of victory over all conscious sin.

Our different ways of reacting to a situation, of thinking, speaking, and acting; our different ways of conducting ourselves; our different weak and strong areas; our different view of various matters; and the different stages of development in which we are, etc., present innumerable occasions for sin that (unknown to us) dwells in us to become manifest.

This sin impels our body to act without our consent, or without our being able to prevent it from acting. We are innocent!

However, if I am without guilt in such instances, then I must also, in the name of righteousness, acknowledge that others—in spite of all the things about them that displease me—are just as innocent. It is extremely satisfying to believe this. Yes, it furthers a pleasant atmosphere when it concerns me as well as the others. Glory to God!

When you treat the others, with this outlook on life, it will be extremely pleasant for them to be together with you. Then the others will surely feel that you are treating them justly and fairly. On this just foundation, you will also be in a position to bring the others to a good understanding of one another—that is, those who are still far from it.

We can rightly say that one of the most common mistakes God’s children make is precisely this: they judge the innocent to be guilty; or, in other words, they consider the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:13) to be the works of the flesh. Gal. 5:19, ff.

As far as the question of guilt is concerned, the difference between these two kinds of works is just as great as the difference between black and white, even though both of these works have to do with sin.

The correct view of all the saints is that they are all exceedingly lovable because of their precious attitude toward all God’s will. They want to do everything that is right and good in God’s eyes, and they take a decided stand against everything else. They follow their conscience and act according to what they believe they should do at all times. Such souls are so very lovable and worthy of respect!

When one person acts more strangely than another and you cannot comprehend how they can act and speak the way they do, it is the result of something unconscious in them as well as something unconscious in you. Therefore both sides are innocent.

We are therefore a very colorful assembly of peculiar yet likeminded innocents. Glory to God!

We should not at all expect anything good from those who are on the outside. Therefore it is totally absurd to judge them, pick on them, or complain about them!

By way of confirmation, we have Jesus’ words when He was on the cross as a perfect example: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

This outlook on life will result in a gentle attitude of mind.