The struggle of a Christian – Romans 7

[0:00] Good morning. Welcome, in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

[0:13] It's, again, a week has flown by and we are back to worship, to serve Him. I appreciated the singing and some of the songs that were chosen.

[0:30] I brought up my songbook, the last one we sang, 213. I just want to read a portion in here.

[0:42] Feel free to take your book out if you want to. 213, I know whom I have believed. And the chorus goes like this.

[0:54] But I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which unto him against that day.

[1:07] We sang that five times, the chorus. And do we know whom we have believed and whom we have put our faith in?

[1:24] And are we persuaded, convinced? Are we confident that he, Jesus, is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day?

[1:47] What have you committed to Jesus? Your sin?

[2:03] Your soul? Absolutely. You've committed your life, your future, your salvation to Jesus.

[2:18] And are you convinced that he is able to keep that which you've committed, your soul, against that day?

[2:31] Till he returns for you. It's a beautiful song. Very deep message. And the theology in here is bang on.

[2:47] That as we put our faith in Christ, we need to believe that he will keep me unto that day. Amen. Should I call up the song leaders for a closing song?

[3:13] We have a hard passage this morning to understand in Romans 7.

[3:25] And thank you, Bob, for reading that for us. It talks about struggle. And Paul identifies himself in this struggle.

[3:43] When you first came to faith, how long did it take you to realize that sin was still present?

[4:01] Right away. Right away. Probably within hours. And you realize that sin is still there.

[4:14] And you know what? The battle has begun. The struggle between obeying Christ and obeying what we call the flesh or sin nature.

[4:28] And Paul describes that struggle here in detail. In detail. And you know, sometimes I've heard from non-believers, I don't want anything to do with the church.

[4:48] They're full of hypocrites. Are there hypocrites in church? There likely are, unfortunately.

[5:06] But when a non-believer looks at someone who calls himself a Christian, and yet he's struggling with sin, to him that's hypocrisy.

[5:18] But the non-believer does not understand what's going on inside the life of the believer. The process of sanctification.

[5:29] And many of us in the church struggle to understand it. And I believe Paul has written this in order for us to understand, to know what's going on.

[5:44] Paul says, Oh, wretched man that I am. Who's going to deliver me from this body of death? We can identify.

[5:59] And often we feel wretched. Like a failure. And that's why I love the song, the chorus that I just read.

[6:15] I know whom I have believed, and I'm persuaded He is able to keep me until that day. In Jesus Christ. We're going to start the sermon.

[6:31] I asked Peter, Reimer, and Willie to come up and do a short skit. And it's just going to be two or three minutes.

[6:45] They're going to do it in Plotich. So a few of you that don't understand it well, bear with us. I think from their actions you will get the full story. But Peter and Willie, would you come?

[6:58] Just to demonstrate that struggle. Thank you, men and Susie, for doing that.

[7:10] How real isn't the struggle in the mind to find strength to do what is right and the temptations to follow after our own will?

[7:26] And the story they came up with is probably a fairly mild one, and yet it's very real.

[7:41] It depicts what goes on inside of us, that struggle. And as we go through this passage in Romans 7, I want us to take a verse in Romans 6 as our theme verse.

[7:56] Romans 6, verse 6. And let's keep this verse in mind as we work through this. Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

[8:21] We've died to Christ, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we're no longer slaves of sin. As we look at this struggle, we have to keep in mind that God's goal is that we stop sinning.

[8:42] That sin is sin. And we desire to please God and to do away with sin.

[8:54] So keep that in mind. So keep that in mind. If we would casually read Romans 7, 14 to the end, you might get the impression that every believer struggles with this, and it is okay.

[9:10] I'm the man that I am. This is just the life here on earth, and so be it. That's just the way it's going to be until God takes me home.

[9:25] That is not, that is not the message that we are given here. It is not okay.

[9:38] And the answer lies at the end. It is in the Lord Jesus Christ that we find deliverance from this battle in us.

[10:00] Verse 15, 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.

[10:12] We understand this. We have good intentions. But then, often our flesh seems to overpower.

[10:32] And verse 19 repeats it. For the good that I will to do, I do not do. But the evil that I will not to do, that I practice.

[10:47] These are simple verses that we understand from our own life. But how do we gain victory over that battle?

[11:04] And that is, that is God's goal in your life. It is called sanctification. Making you more like Christ.

[11:17] I have asked, I have asked George to put up the train again. So if you want to bring that up. Most of you know the train illustration.

[11:29] And I want to use it this morning to help us understand this passage. Through that. So we have, in this passage, we have several eyes presented.

[11:45] Let's go back to verse 15. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, I do not practice, but that what I hate, that I do. And if you read through the verses to the end, about 40 times, Paul refers to himself.

[12:05] About 40 times, he refers to himself. So, in chapter 6, we learn that we had died to Christ. And this, this illustration is spirit, soul, and body.

[12:20] The, the makeup of each one of us. How God has created us. Prior, prior to salvation, we can use this illustration.

[12:35] The front car, the spirit, did not have the Holy Spirit. And it was our own personal spirit. And, and, it's through the spirit that we connect with God.

[12:50] And, before salvation, we are separated from God. And, Satan is in control of this illustration of your life.

[13:04] So, soul, and spirit, the soul where our, our thought life, our thinking, our feelings, and our decision making happen. And the body is our senses.

[13:16] It's where we, we take in and we give out our actions. And, all of that was in slavery to the devil, to Satan, to sin, to death.

[13:32] All of that. Now, Romans 6 says, shall we sin that grace may abound? God says, certainly not.

[13:44] For you have died with Christ. You've been buried with Him. and you've been resurrected in newness of life. And so, as we look at this, what has died?

[14:00] Just a, a review from before. When we are born again, it is, we receive the Spirit of God.

[14:12] We receive the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. God makes us God. And, that is the difference. If we, if we turn to, to 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17, and I want to take time to read that.

[14:32] 2 Corinthians 5, 17. He says, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

[14:44] Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, born again.

[15:00] So, looking at the illustration, our spirit, our conscience, our, our relationship to God, has been born again.

[15:13] And Romans 8 says, that the Spirit of God bears witness between our spirit and God the Father. That we are His. It bears witness.

[15:24] We have been born again. But how about the soul? Is the soul born again? This is where it becomes complicated and, and hard to understand.

[15:41] He says, all things have become new. When you gave your heart to God, did you have a new outlook on life? Did the peace of God offer you?

[15:53] Yes. Did it affect your thinking and your emotions and your decisions? Yes, it did.

[16:05] And as a believer now, Satan is outside. He's not in, he's not in control of you. God is.

[16:15] having said that, the soul has not been perfected. It's being made perfect.

[16:29] And, and there is where the struggle comes in, that God has given us a new nature, a desire to walk with Him, a desire to please God.

[16:41] God, but then we find that our old sinful nature is still hidden within our soul.

[16:53] And that there's actually two natures now competing with inside of us. The body is neutral.

[17:06] It does what it's told to do, whether we worship God with our body or we worship self and do selfish things.

[17:19] This follows what it's told to do. And, and so hence, this is where the struggle that Paul mentions, it's the struggle in you and in me.

[17:32] And, we're faced with the dilemma of, of doing the work that I'm supposed to be doing or even desiring to be doing like raking the lawn here.

[17:45] And, but I want to go fishing instead. And, the struggle goes on. And, and maybe it is, maybe it is a struggle that, of doing family devotions in your home in the evening.

[18:06] and so, in your heart or in your soul, you have a desire to lead your family in what is right. You know from God this is what God would want.

[18:21] To read the scriptures with your children. To pray with your wife. To do all these things. And, you purpose, you're going to do it, but as you get down to it, you find that beneath your sinful nature is trying to talk you out of it.

[18:47] You not to do it. this is, this is the struggle in the believer. So, how are we going to find the strength to overcome?

[19:02] How are we going to do that when that war happens? Does anybody here not know what I'm talking about? I think all of us know about this.

[19:18] I've often asked God, why did you not perfect me in the soul as well so this struggle would not exist?

[19:31] But that will come in eternity when we're taken to heaven. And so, let's read through this passage with this picture in mind.

[19:44] And, and as we read through it, maybe with all the I's and me's and my's put in your name. For what I, in verse 15, for what I, and that would be Paul, or if I use my name, Wayne, for what I am doing, I do not understand.

[20:06] For what I will to do, that I do not practice, but what I hate, that I do. I is here within the soul and I desire to do what is right, but then I end up doing something different that's wrong.

[20:30] And Paul says, 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 Allah that it is good, but it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

[20:49] And that is the sinful nature that still presides in our life. Why did God not perfect you upon the new birth?

[21:02] Perfect your soul? And that, leaving the sinful nature in you? Does, does anyone have the answer? we be boastful about it?

[21:27] Anyone else add to that? He wants us to choose even as a believer? build character.

[21:42] Okay. It builds character in us. And it creates the, the realization of a dependency on our Lord Jesus Christ throughout our walk.

[22:03] and the moment we take our eyes off of Christ, what happens? The flesh takes over and we go plop on our face.

[22:19] We do. We do. We do. some of these struggles inside of us are so fierce.

[22:33] They're so real. Pleasing God or the flesh.

[22:50] And when we talk about the old nature or the flesh, it is not just my bodily flesh, even though that has appetites that are unhealthy, but it is more referring to the old self, selfishness and desiring to please self versus God.

[23:14] Everything that's wrapped up in self is what we would call the flesh, the old nature. God is not there. And so let's continue to read.

[23:26] He says in verse 17, now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. So let's look back at the picture. Paul says that when I sin, when I fall, it is no longer I that do it.

[23:45] My new identity in Christ, it is not my new identity in Christ that is doing this sin.

[23:55] It is me. It's the old nature that I've allowed to creep up. It's against what God has created in me, the new.

[24:08] And so by that he is not excusing himself, saying it's okay, but he's identifying it's not what I was created in Christ, it's the old flesh that's creeping up in me.

[24:24] And I recognize what it is that's causing this struggle in me. And I've again maybe surrendered to it. for I know that in me, verse 18, that is in my flesh nothing good dwells.

[24:42] For to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. The realization that in me, in my flesh, there is nothing good.

[25:04] There is no power over sin. I will, to the flesh, I will lose every time versus turning to God.

[25:18] You know, last week we talked about the purpose of the law heightening sin, bringing it to the forefront. You know, when's the last time you decided to lose some weight and I'm going to stop visiting the fridge every time I walk past.

[25:37] You know, what happens? All of a sudden that gets heightened in your mind and you're thinking about a lot more. And the cravings increase, brings it to the forefront.

[25:54] and if you're struggling with pornography, for example, and you know it's wrong, you want to quit, but you're struggling, where do I get the strength?

[26:12] I've purposed, not again. And then a desire creeps up. And before you know it, I've surrendered again.

[26:25] As an example. Then you hate yourself because you didn't want to do it. It's so real, this battle, and Paul is recognizing it.

[26:43] By the way, when we read the book of Acts, and Paul's missionary journeys, it's almost like he's not human.

[26:56] He's like Superman, and always preaching the Word of God, and not having any struggles. But this passage tells us different. That Paul was like me and you.

[27:11] That he did have struggles. verse 19, for the good that I will to do, I do not do, but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

[27:26] Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it's sin that dwells in me. Again, my new identity is in Christ, but it's the sinful nature still present, enticing us to sin.

[27:47] If I, sorry, in verse 21, I find then a law that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. I find a law, or we could say a principle or an understanding, an awareness that in me, I who desire to follow God and to do what is right, there is within me an evil, an evil presence or the sinful nature.

[28:23] And that awareness we need to understand or to be sharp on, that that is present wanting to lead me away from God.

[28:35] So I find 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.

[28:46] So now again, the soul as led by the spirit of God delights in serving God and doing good. God I delight in the law according to inward man, but I see another law in my members or in my flesh warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

[29:14] And so the struggle continues as I desire to do good, as God leads me, and the other sinful nature underneath is tearing me the other way.

[29:28] And now I have a choice. And where is my strength going to come from to get victory?

[29:39] You know, this is a description of carnality in the life of a believer giving in to the flesh.

[29:51] giving in to the flesh. Verse 23, 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.

[30:05] So even as a believer, a sin that we are struggling with, we find often I'm captive. I can't seem to get over it.

[30:21] And yet the story doesn't end here. God does not leave us in that kind of turmoil. He does not want you or me to live like this.

[30:32] But He wants us to understand what's going on inside of you that you can find the strength in the right place to overcome. He says, O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?

[30:52] The answer, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Every time there is a conflict within you, you can choose to turn to the Spirit of God, the power of God inside of you.

[31:17] Even when fleshly desires arise in your mind, from within your body, we need to choose daily where is my strength going to come from.

[31:40] I have to agree with God that sin is sin. I don't want to be there. God, help me out of this.

[31:52] For when I try to help myself out of those dirty pictures, I can't. I'm stuck. but as I get on my knees before God and beg Him to help me, He will bring victory.

[32:14] He will provide the strength that you need. The answer is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ. All of chapter 8, which Pastor Henry is going to start next Sunday, is the answer to this.

[32:33] And it is, there is now no condemnation to those who walk in the Spirit. And it's the Holy Spirit that God has given us, leading us.

[32:45] That is the answer to this conflict within us. So then, when we struggle, what is our attitude?

[33:02] Are we looking for a way out? Are we recognizing what's happening inside of me? And am I turning to Jesus Christ to help me out of this?

[33:17] In the Western Church today, in a generalization, there is a looseness that I am who I am.

[33:34] It's okay. There's a looseness there that God is not pleased with.

[33:48] I want to read two passages of Scripture to bring this to a forefront. In Romans 12, a few chapters down, verses 1 and 2.

[34:06] Romans 12, 1 and 2. He says, I beg you, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

[34:33] Brothers or sisters, by the mercies of God, present your bodies as a living sacrifice to God.

[34:47] This guy here, this is the physical, this is what people see when they see you. In order for this guy to be holy before God, the soul has to listen to the Spirit and give proper instructions.

[35:10] sins. He says, this is your reasonable service back to Christ who saved you, who gave you the power to overcome.

[35:25] Is that our mindset when we struggle is to please God? Because I mentioned last Sunday that sin is pleasurable in the moment.

[35:40] but not pleasing to God. The second verse, and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed how?

[35:52] By the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. And so again, in our soul, in our thinking, he says be renewed in your mind.

[36:07] Feed, feed your mind the things of God. And it will help you in the fight against sin.

[36:19] Dwelling and feeding off of the Word of God. A second passage in 1 Corinthians 6. And starting in verse 12 and reading to the end.

[36:40] And I'll close with this passage. verse 1. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

[36:54] Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord and the Lord for the body.

[37:07] And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?

[37:25] Let me read that again. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot?

[37:48] Certainly not. Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For the two, he says, become one flesh, and he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him?

[38:04] Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

[38:18] Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

[38:30] For you were bought at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

[38:42] Does it matter what I do with my body? It does. It belongs to the Lord. In our activities, in our behavior, in our dress, in all aspects, we are to God with our bodies.

[39:09] Because that is the physical expression of who we are in Christ. That is what people read here on earth in you.

[39:23] It's what comes through your body. It's what comes through your body. So it does matter. It matters very much to God.

[39:38] In Corinthians, Paul also says that we are the fragrance of Christ. An aroma or a smell that's inviting through our bodies.

[39:56] to draw others to Him. So as we continue our walk with God and we face on a daily basis that struggle and we realize that sinful nature is creeping up, recognize it for what it is and put Him back down as you turn to Jesus Christ for help.

[40:37] Start your day. Start your day in prayer and ask God for strength to meet what comes your way.

[40:50] God and acknowledge your need of Him every day. This is walking with God.

[41:02] So as Paul describes this struggle, it is not hopeless, but he is describing a person that does not understand what's going on.

[41:15] and he's written this for us to understand. The victory is in Christ. I look forward to chapter 8 who will further help us to understand walking by the Spirit.

[41:32] So as we go forth this week, let us honor God with our lives, with our bodies. May the Lord bless you.

[41:45] Let's close. Father, there are many aspects of salvation that we don't understand.

[42:01] But we do know, Lord, that the struggle is very real. And we also know, Father, that in you there is victory.

[42:16] In self there is defeat. And Lord, you are teaching us these things each day. And with every victory it gives us the strength to turn again and again back to you.

[42:36] Father, each one here this morning, with whatever we are struggling with. Some of the deep hidden things in the heart.

[42:52] Lord, give us the strength to turn to you and to deal with those dark places that our bodies would truly be a sacrifice to you.

[43:10] Thank you, Father, for your grace and for your love. In Christ's name, amen. Amen. Amen.