Warring and dying...

"Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me ( that is in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!" - Romans 7:13-25a

"Warring". Could Paul have chosen a more accurate word than this? Blood spilling, sweat pouring, ugly, raw, overwhelming, desperate. When we are at war with our flesh and its lusts, it is like physical battle. We die to self. We are crucified with Christ. All is loss for the sake of Christ. He knows our deepest seated idols, and He rips them out. Spiritual blood spills, agonizing sweat pours, all our vilest sin rears itself, nothing is pretty, hope seems gone, and we die. Self dies the agonizing death of crucifixion with Christ.

Yes, He raises us from the dead, and makes us new creatures in Him. But always, first, we must die.