Please take your copy of God's Word and turn to Romans chapter 7 with me.
! Romans 7, verses 7-25.
What then shall we say that the law is sin?
By no means. Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.
For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said,
You shall not covet.
But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness.
For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came,
sin came alive and I died.
The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.
For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.
So the law is holy and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Did that which is good then bring death to me?
By no means.
It was sin producing death in me through what is good,
in order that sin might be shown to be sin,
and through the commandment might become sinful beyond all measure.
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
For I do not understand my own actions.
For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law that it is good.
So now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.
For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want, I keep on doing.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
For I delight in the law of God in my inner being,
but I see in my members another law, waging war against the law of my mind,
and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?
Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So then, I myself serve the law of God in my mind,
but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Pray with me.
Father, we thank you that your word is powerful,
and it cuts through joint marrow to the intentions of our heart.
And as we consider our wrestling with sin and holiness in this life,
help us, Lord.
Convict us where we need to be convicted.
Lord, let us stand and abide upon your truth,
and let our hope be in Jesus Christ who will rescue us.
In Jesus' name, amen.
So last week, our sermon text was Romans 7, 1 through 6.
In Romans 7, 1 through 6, the main idea was that in Christ,
we have been set free from the law so that we can serve by the Spirit.
We saw that unbelievers are under the rule of the law.
When we're in Adam, the law held us captive to its holy and righteous standards.
Under the law's dominion, we're required to give exact obedience,
and if broken, we received its penalties.
Galatians 3.10 says,
Cursed is everyone who does not keep all things written in the book of the law.
James 2.10 says,
To break one part of the law is to break the whole law.
So under the law's rules, our sinful passions were aroused,
and we did works that produced bad fruit.
We broke the law, and we deserve the penalties of it.
Jesus Christ came and set us free from the law.
As our federal head, he represented us.
He lived and died in our place.
To fulfill his covenant and provide us redemption,
he himself went under the law and took its consequences.
Jesus perfectly obeyed the law, fulfilling it for us.
And Jesus sacrificially took the consequences of the law
becoming a curse for us and removing our curse.
Jesus represented us in keeping the law, enduring the curse.
We've been freed from the rule of the law and its penalties.
We now belong to another.
We belong to Jesus Christ.
The Son has set us free,
and we are free indeed,
brothers and sisters.
The Holy Spirit then takes this work that Jesus did and unites us to Christ.
He gives us new hearts and puts the law within us,
causing us to walk in his ways.
So now we serve by the way of the Spirit.
We live to please God and to bear fruit for him.
You are no longer under the law,
but you are under grace.
Now, as we come to Romans 7, 7 through 25,
I'd like to introduce our text by revisiting Martin Luther's life
for two reasons.
Tuesday was Reformation Day,
as we consider Martin Luther's stand and the other reformers
as they worked to help remove us from,
or remove themselves from,
the dominion that they were under
and the false beliefs of the gospel.
As they stood on the gospel and justification by faith alone,
through grace alone,
and Christ alone.
So I'd like to revisit that.
The second reason is
because his struggle that he had with temptation
that he called infectum
is a really good introduction to our text today.
So as last week,
I told you that Luther struggled with the temptation
that he called infectum.
He describes the struggle as dread,
as anxiety,
as foreboding doom.
At one point, Luther said,
there is not one corner in him
that was not filled with the most bitterness,
the most horror,
the most fear-dollared,
and all these things,
this dread,
this anxiety,
this bitterness,
seemed eternal.
At the rustling of dry leaves,
it seems as if the universe
was going to collapse on him.
This struggle led unbelieving Luther
to the cross
and to embrace a biblical understanding
of justification by faith alone.
But for Luther,
this spiritual struggle,
this temptation,
is not merely momentary.
For the rest of his life,
he struggled with subsequent experiences
of temptation
that made him feel dreadful,
made him feel sad and depressed,
that brought great anxiety in him.
Luther once said,
temptation and experience
certainly teach us
that faith is a really difficult art.
Luther contended
that faith and theology
are wrought
on the anvil of temptation.
For Luther,
his commitment to be holy
and to kill any sin within him
produced this rich
and steadfast faith,
this unshakable faith
that stood the temptations
to be free from his struggles,
that stood the temptations
to be living
and not be condemned
and suffer death
from the Roman Catholic Church.
We may not struggle
with the same experience as Luther,
or we may,
but for most of us,
I don't think we have the intensity
of this spiritual conflict.
But we do all experience
temptation of sin.
And we all have a warfare
where we wrestle with sin.
There's ill thoughts
and desires in our hearts,
but we want to be holy.
We want to follow God.
We want to please God.
So my hope today is
as we come to Romans 7,
verses 7 through 25,
that we see
while we have been freed
from the dominion of sin
and while we've been freed
from the law,
there remains a war with sin
until Jesus Christ rescues us.
So if you have your bulletin,
I provide an outline
for this morning.
And I'm going to read
the three points on that outline.
Point number one.
We were sinful beyond measure.
Point number two.
We experience a war
in the inner man.
And point number three.
We will be delivered
from this body of death.
So point one.
We were sinful beyond measure.
In verses 7 through 13,
Paul describes his experience
as an unbeliever.
And we see this
because all the verbs
that are used
are in the past tense.
Communicating a past action.
Something that's happening
in the past.
After verse 14,
or after verse 13,
Paul begins using
a present tense.
So the text is very clear
that he's talking
about the past.
And then we get into
verse 14.
It becomes the present.
He starts talking
about his current struggle
with temptation.
Verses 7 through 13
go to explain for us
verse 5,
which says,
for while we are living
in the flesh,
our sinful passions
aroused by the law,
we're at work
in our members
to bear fruit for death.
And then Romans 7,
7 through 14,
describes how the law
aroused sin
while remaining
holy and righteous.
How does the law
remain holy and righteous
but in the same sense
arouse sin,
incite sin
within the unbelieving heart?
And we'll see
that the law is good
and the law is holy
and the law is righteous
but we are sinful
beyond measure.
It is the law
that reveals our sin
and sends us to the gospel
for justification.
So verse 7,
we see another question posed
to challenge our thinking.
And then Paul provides us
with the answer
to the question
to clarify this truth,
to hone in on it
so we have a good understanding
of what he's communicating.
So the verse says,
what then shall we say?
Is the law sin?
Since the law arouses sin,
is the law itself sin?
By no means,
Paul responds.
And then he spends
the next four verses
explaining how the law
is not sin.
And he concludes
in verse 12,
the law is holy
and the commandment
is holy, righteous, and good.
So Paul's conclusion
is the question,
is the law sin?
Is that no,
by no means,
the law is not sin.
The law is a reflection
of God's perfections.
What the law is doing
in the unbeliever's life
is exactly what it was
purposed to do.
It reveals the unrighteousness
of the unbelieving heart.
It reveals what sin is
and it points people to Jesus,
points to one
who fulfilled the law for him,
who took the curse.
The law tells us
what it is to be righteous,
holy, and good.
But it not only tells us
what it is to be
holy, righteous, and good.
The law itself
is holy, righteous, and good.
The law comes from God
and it reflects his character
through its commands.
To call the law sin
would to accuse a lawgiver
of being sinful.
Paul explains
that the law cannot be sin
but because it reflects
the giver's perfect being.
It reflects God
in its commands.
So we see here
that the Ten Commandments
themselves are righteous
and they show righteousness.
They are holy
and they show
what it looks like
to live a holy life.
And they are good
and they show
what it is to be good.
And the law
ultimately points
to God,
the one who is
supremely righteous,
who is supremely good,
and supremely holy.
So in the following verses
we're going to see
the law's purpose
in revealing sin.
We see that the law
exposes sin
by delineating
right from wrong.
It's a perfect standard.
It shows what God expects
and shows what right is
and what wrong is.
For verse 7,
it says,
Yet if it had not been
for the law,
I would not have known sin.
For I would not have known
what it is to covet
if the law had not said,
You shall not covet.
The law defines
what sin is.
It is like a lighthouse
that shines into our hearts
and exposes the sin within.
It defines what it is
to be contrary to God.
What it is to be
against God
and His ways.
So while God
is chief good,
God is holy
and He is righteous
and He is good,
the law is the chief evil.
It's a rejection
of Him and His ways.
Jeremiah Burroughs
called the law
or called the sin
the evil of evils.
Sin is a rejection
of God
and is lawless.
Sin is heinous
and it is a monstrosity.
It should not be.
Sin is pure evil
and a grievous thing.
Sin is a willful rejection
of God
and His sufficiency
and who He is.
It's a rejection
of His holiness.
He is righteous
and sin is unrighteous.
Sin loves the creature
more than the creator.
Sin exchanges the glory of God
and enthrones idols.
And the law reveals
what this sin is.
It delineates
right from wrong.
In the sinful passion
of our flesh,
apart from Christ,
the understanding
of the law
aroused sin.
In verse 8,
Paul says,
but sin,
seizing an opportunity
through the commandment,
produced in me
all kinds
of covetousness.
Here,
Paul is portraying
sin at work.
Sin is an action.
It's doing something.
And the word
for opportunity
portrays
military advancement,
a military operation.
So it's as if
sin saw a weakness
and through that weakness
staged an assault.
The commandment
to not covet
was the base
of operations
or the way
in which
sin attacked Paul
and incited in Paul
all types
of covetousness.
So the commandment
that said
do not covet
then in the sinner
aroused
what it is to covet
and to do more
covetousness.
It aroused sin.
You can probably
think of a time
in your life
when you were told
not to do something
and in being told
not to do something
it then provoked
in you
to do that thing
that you're told
not to do.
Parents,
you've probably seen
this in your kids.
As you tell them
not to do something
and then they do
what you tell them
not to do.
Sin takes advantage
of the law
to stir in us
more sin.
In the depraved heart
the commandment
becomes a production
factory
where sin
is mass produced
and from it
comes all kinds
of covetousness.
Paul describes
a time
when he was alive
apart from the law.
You see in the next verse
it says
I was alive
apart from the law.
He does not mean
that he was not aware
of the law.
Paul was raised in law.
He knew the Torah
at a young age.
He knew the commandments.
This is talking
about a time
where Paul lived
without an awareness
of God's righteousness.
Without an awareness
that he was under
judgment from the law
and condemned by it.
This is when
we could call Paul
a happy pagan.
He lived
self-righteous
and self-assured
in his pharisaical life.
He lived
as
he would say
that I was a Pharisee
of Pharisees.
He lived
in this way
that he enjoyed
the world
and the pleasure
within.
And we can also
probably reflect
on this time
when before we came
to Christ
we lived in our sin
unaware of God's law
and we reveled in it.
We enjoyed sin.
It was
our delight.
But
Paul goes on to say
that when the commandment
came
it penetrated
our hearts.
It penetrated
his heart.
When the commandment
came
sin came alive
and I died.
When he grew
an awareness
of what sin is
of his own wickedness
the law brought
conviction.
It exposed him
and in doing so
he produced more sin
but his sin
continually was exposed.
He continually felt
this weight
of conviction.
Once he was alive
apart from the law
now he's dead
according to Romans 7.
Once he was alive
but the law came
and the sin
deceived him
and he was killed.
Sin exposes
to us
or the law
exposes to us
sin.
And sin
deceives us
and it kills us.
It shows
our inability
to be righteous.
It shows
that we
cannot live
by the law
but we live
under the law
in a poor state
because we can't
fulfill the commandments.
We have no ability
to keep them.
So then Paul
raises another question.
So the law
exposes sin.
The second question
Paul raises
is
did the good law
bring death to me?
And he responds
again
by no means.
The law
did its job.
It exposed sin
and made it known.
It demonstrates
our wretched state.
It demonstrates
that we could not
be righteous
and it said
that from this exposure
from the sin
being made known
to him
that he was sinful
beyond all measure.
So Paul got to a point
in his life
where he was sinful
beyond all measure
but then came
the gospel.
because of Jesus'
life,
death,
and resurrection
Paul was set free
from his great
sinfulness
and God has done
the same work
in us.
If we
apart from Christ
look at the law
it will show us
how we can't
fulfill it.
It will show us
all the places
that we have broke it.
It will show the times
that we did not
worship God.
It will show all
our array of idols.
It will show the times
we did not love
our neighbor
as ourselves.
The times we covet
and the times we lust
and the times we steal.
But Jesus Christ came
he fulfilled the law
and he took the curse
for us
and we have been set free
from the rule
of the law.
We are now free
in Christ.
So after Paul
explains his former
sinful state
he seeks to explain
how sin still remains
within us though.
We have been freed
from the dominion
of sin
we have been freed
from the rule
of the law
but
we still
experience sin
today.
There is a battle
between our new nature
our new man
and between our old nature
and our old man.
This battle
has been won
in Christ.
Christ has defeated
sin and death
but until he comes again
or until we die
we will still
experience this battle
and one day
we will be freed
from this flesh
and sin will be no more.
So point number two
we experience
a war
in the inner man.
In verse 14
Paul goes
from speaking
in the past
to now speaking
in the present
and Paul is speaking
of himself
and his current
experience.
There is much
argument
much discussion
among people
about whether
this text
is speaking
all about
Paul's past life
or if
as Paul
being a mature man
this is a current
experience
for him.
I think because
he was speaking
in the past
and now he's speaking
in the present
it's clear
that he's talking
about his current
life
that he is
writing to the Romans
explaining that
now he struggles
with sin
now he's waiting
to be free
from this body
of death
and I hope
to show that
as we continue.
So all Christians
struggle with sin
until we will be
home with God
and free
from this sinful
nature.
This is what
Paul communicates
in verse 14
when he says
Paul expresses
attention here
that he knows
the law is spiritual
but he still
wrestles
he's still in the
flesh
still under sin
he still is
sold into sin
he's free from
his dominion
but it's still
within him
and this
brings us
to the question
of how do we
understand man
for us to
properly understand
sex we need
to have a
biblical lens
by which we
see man
how do we
understand Paul's
struggle and
how does that
help us understand
our struggle
so in describing
man
often the scriptures
talk about
inner man
and outer man
it talks about
a physical
bodily faculty
this outer man
and it talks about
an inner faculty
this spiritual
emotional
intellectual part
of man
that we call
the inner man
while the scriptures
define inner man
and outer man
a physical body
and a spiritual
self that has
emotions and
intellect and
desires
these two cannot
be fully separated
the bible
extinguished them
but the body
influences our soul
and our soul
influences our body
what we have
called this
what this has been
called
is the
psycho
somatic union
and basically
that is saying
the soul
and body
union
or like what
biblical counselors
call it
the embodied
soul
in the scriptures
the inner man
which is
our spiritual
state
the intellectual
our desires
our thoughts
all that
stems
from our
inner man
and often times
this is talked
about as the
heart
proverbs 423
says
keep your heart
with all diligence
for from it
flows the spring
of life
so i say all
that to say
when we get to
romans 7
14 through 25
paul is exposing
his inner man
he's talking about
the way he
struggles inside
himself
the battle
within his
heart
and i think as
we get into
this
you can relate
to how
you struggle
with sin
and feel
paul's tension
so in romans
7 it's as if
paul takes
a surgeon's
scapel
and opens
his heart
to express
a war
that is occurring
within himself
within his
heart
in romans
7 23
we read
but i see
in my members
another law
waging war
against the
law of my
mind
and making
me captive
to the law
of sin
that dwells
in my
members
in romans
7 23
there are
two laws
there is
the law
of sin
and death
the flesh
and then there's
the law
of the spirit
and there are
two laws
are waging war
against one
another
we have
often called
this the
old man
and the
new man
the flesh
and the spirit
in romans
4 that's
what paul
calls it
in romans
7 it's
our new
heart
with renewed
desires
and it's
our flesh
with indwelling
sin
the law
of the spirit
of life
and the law
of sin
and death
but these
laws
he's talking
about
are not
perfect
standards
they're not
rules
that are
put before
paul
he's now
talking about
inward
influences
he's talking
about
principles
that are
in him
there is a
principle
by which
the spirit
is in him
producing life
there's a
principle
by which
indwelling
sin is in
him
and influencing
him
and we
see this
in romans
7
john owen
explains this
a little bit
further
he says
that these
influences
the spirit
and the
flesh
constantly
moves
and inclines
us
towards
any
action
these two
laws
within us
are powerful
and they're
affecting us
seeking
to move
us to
good
or to
evil
to
righteousness
to please
god
and love
him
or to
sin
and to
follow
the ways
of our
flesh
so let's
look at
each
principle
separately
the first
principle
the spirit
of life
this is
the holy
spirit
that has
given us
new
hearts
the bible
says
when we
become
christians
the holy
spirit
comes in
us
takes out
the heart
of stone
and puts
in a
heart
of flesh
the spirit
gives us
new hearts
and puts
the law
of god
within us
causing
us
desires
to follow
him
and do
his will
he has
changed
within us
our desires
to live
for ourselves
to live
the old
life that
paul was
talking about
in the
earlier
parts of
romans
7
and now
we want
to do
good
there's a
desire in
us that
we want
to please
god
we want
to love
him
and to
delight
in him
and his
commandments
the spirit
is at work
in the
inner man
causing
us
and working
on us
to love
god
and to
delight
in his
law
and we
see this
in romans
chapter 7
verse 16
says i agree
with the law
that it is
good
verse 18
i desire to
do what is
right
verse 22
i delight in
the law of god
in my inner
being
in verse 25
i myself
serve the law
of god
with my
mind
the holy
spirit is in
us now
and he is
doing a
work of
renovation
over the
span of
the christian's
life
the spirit
is changing
us
changing
the man
and making
us more
like
jesus
our lives
are being
conformed
now
to the
image
of christ
we are
being
transformed
from one
degree
of glory
to another
by the
work
of the
spirit
we call
this work
this transformation
this renovation
of the spirit
where the new
man is
growing and
helping us
love god
more
progressive
sanctification
philippians
2 13
through 14
say
therefore
my beloved
as you have
always obeyed
so now
not only as
in my presence
but much more
in my absence
work out
your salvation
with fear
and trembling
for
it is god
who works
in you
to will
and to work
for his good
pleasure
see as even
now we desire
to do right
and do good
we desire to
love god
to keep his
commandments
and we do this
working it out
with fear
and trembling
but in the end
there is this new
man
the spirit
that is working
and willing
in us
transforming us
and conforming us
more into
christ
and one day
we will escape
the flesh
romans 8
2 says
that the spirit
of life
has set you
free from
the law
of sin
and death
the law
and sin
and death
have been
killed
in our union
with christ
we're free
from the law
of sin
and death
the old man
is experiencing
a lingering death
while the new man
is experiencing
progressive life
do you see that
that our flesh
is slowly dying
and one day
we'll be gone
and our spiritual side
our spiritual man
is continually
growing
and progressing
as we look
to be holy
and look more
like god
so that leads us
to the bulk
of this text
the second principle
which is
the influence
the principle
of the law
of sin and death
this is the old man
this is what paul
calls his flesh
this is the sin
that remains
in us
so let's look
at how
romans 7
talks about
this law
this influence
of the flesh
verse 14
i am of the flesh
sold under sin
verse 15
i do not understand
my actions
verse 15
i do the very thing
i hate
verse 17
sin dwells
within me
verse 18
nothing good
dwells in me
that is in my flesh
verse 18
i do not have
the ability
to carry out
good
verse 19
the evil
i do not want
is what
i keep doing
verse 20
sin dwells
within me
verse 21
evil lies
close at hand
verse 23
indwelling sin
is making me
captive
to the law
of sin
in verse 24
we live
in a body
of death
and finally
verse 25
with my flesh
i serve
the law
of sin
it is clear
that this condition
this flesh
that we have
is active
and that
while we do good
evil lies
close at hand
there's this tension
between
the spiritual nature
and the old man
new man
and old man
and our indwelling
sin
has powerful
influence on us
it's seeking
to capture us
to captivate us
and to lead us
into more
evil
we do not
understand
the extent
of the influence
that's in us
by this sin
or always how
it is working
but while we are
in this body
we're experiencing
its poisonous effects
its influence
upon us
james 1 13
says that
our flesh
entices us
and drags us
away
in romans 7
our flesh
deceives us
this inward
influence
is so deep
that paul says
that he cannot
understand
its depths
of its influence
in fact
he says
he does
the very thing
he hates
because of
its effectual
influence
on him
the effect
of indwelling
sin
is so deep
in us
that we
do right
but evil
is close
at hand
and while
we live
in this body
everything
we do
evil
will always
be close
by us
trying to
sway us
trying to
entice
us
into sin
the flesh
wants us
to follow
its desires
so in
John
Owen's
work
that he
calls
indwelling
sin
he says
this
regarding
the tension
and regarding
the law
of sin
wherever
you are
whatever
you are
about
the law
of sin
is always
in you
in the best
that you
do
in the worst
men
little
consider
what a
dangerous
companion
is always
at home
with them
when they
are in
company
when alone
by night
or by day
all is
one
sin
is with
them
there is
a living
coal
continually
in their
house
which
if it
is not
looked
after
will burn
up in
fire
and it
may
consume
them
oh
the woeful
security
of poor
souls
how little
do most
men
think of
this
inbred
enemy
that is
never
away
from
home
how little
for the
most part
doth
the watchfulness
of any
professors
answer
the danger
of their
state
and their
condition
brothers
and sisters
our
inner man
is always
waging war
within us
between living
in the spirit
and living
in the flesh
and there
is great
application
here
this comes
home to
us
this goes
into our
daily
experience
and what
we learn
is that
the greatest
enemy
is not
outside
of us
it is not
our spouse
it is not
our friends
it is not
our children
our jobs
our health
or our
vices
the greatest
enemy
that we
have
is within
us
it is
sin
that dwells
in us
our greatest
problem
is not
outside
of us
but
within
us
it is
the sin
that dwells
in you
the enemy
is a
dangerous
companion
that
is always
close at
hand
this enemy
is always
seeking to
seduce you
and sway
you
by its
power
indwelling
sin
is a
siren
call
seeking
to lead
poor
souls
away
to its
lusts
and desires
think
dear
believer
of the
times
your
heart
is
easily
tempted
of
speaking
ill
of
others
think
about
the
times
that
poisonous
words
come in
your
mind
of
gossip
or
slander
or
come out
of your
mouth
towards
others
think
about
how
quick
a
wayward
thought
comes
into
our
mind
and
entices
us
with
its
lust
think
how
deceptive
our
flesh
is
at
forming
idols
in
us
when
we
don't
even
know
!
and then
we
see
them
and
we
work
to
get
rid
of
them
brothers
and
sisters
look
after
this
burning
coal
of
indwelling
sin
when
the
siren
call
is
sounding
plug
your
ears
tie
yourself
to
the
mass
pluck
out
your
eyes
cut
off
your
hands
do
not
fall
into
the
grips
of
the
enemy
do
not
let
sin
lead
your
life
and
entice
you
with
this
I'd
like
to
offer
five
points
of
application
number
one
be
watchful
we
are
much
more
sinful
and
viler
than
we
think
our
sin
and
satan
are
seeking
to
snare
us
it
says
that
the
devil
is
scheming
schemes
and
temptations
to
catch
us
we
need
to
be
sensitive
we
need
to
have
a
sensitive
conscience
to
sin
our
conscience
is
God's
gift
to
us
it's
God's
deputy
of
our
soul
it's
God's
court
for
our
lives
a
sensitive
conscience
knows
God's
law
and
it
examines
our
thoughts
our
motives
and
our
actions
by
it
and
if
they
contradict
it
seeks
to
kill
that
sin
it
watches
to
see
if
our
words
are
God
honoring
it
checks
to
see
if
our
motives
are
God
exalting
and
it
searches
our
desires
to
expose
any
self
exalting
self
pleasing
impulse
so
labor
brothers
and
to
yield
the
law
as
an
instrument
of
your
conscience
and
expose
sin
and
kill
it
verse
21
says
even
when we
seek
to do
right
evil
lies
close
at
hand
the
most
holy
sin
to
sin
to
sin
to
sin
!
to
press
on
humility
is
an
antidote
to
pride
because
it
depends
on
God
and
not
oneself
and
we
see
this
in
the
saints
in
the
Bible
Paul
calls
himself
the
very
least
of
all
the
saints
Job
says
that
he
despises
himself
David
calls
himself
a
worm
in
the
following
quotes
by
Thomas
Brooks
I
believe
will
encourage
us
this
morning
those
who
are
most
highly
valued
and
esteemed
of
by
God
are
lowest
and
least
in
their
own
estimation
the
believer
who
desires
to
walk
in
humility
views
themselves
through
the
lens
of
Christ
who
bore
the
cross
in
shame
and
disgrace
to
purchase
salvation
for
sinners
a
humble
heart
serves
a
humble
heart
loves
a
humble
heart
recognizes
that
not
even
a
crumb
of
mercy
is
deserved
and
finally
oh
labor
every
day
to
be
more
humble
and
more
low
and
little
in
your
own
eyes
point
number
three
for
application
be
quick
to
repent
to
give
a
little
of
sense
influence
provides
a
breeding
ground
for
more
sin
do
not
be
captivated
by
its
influence
do
not
walk
back
into
your
old
master
cell
do
not
listen
to
the
siren's
call
you
are
no
longer
under
sin's
dominion
john
bunyan
warns
take
heed
of
giving
thyself
liberty
of
committing
sin
for
that
will
lead
to
another
then
you'll
be
in
an
ill
custom
and
it
will
come
natural
to
sin
to
begin
a
sin
is
to
lay
a
foundation
for
a
continuance
of
sin
number
four
sigh
and cry
!
We need
a desire
to eradicate
every
thought
and motive
that is
sinful
Thomas
Watson
says
a
godly
man
does
not
indulge
himself
in
any
sin
though
sin
lives
in
him
yet
he
does
not
live
in
sin
we need
to
abhor
and
hate
sin
and
the
effects
it
has
on
us
we
need
to
hate
what
it
does
to
our
relationship
with
God
we
need
to
hate
the
harm
it
does
to
our
relationships
and
we
need
to
hate
it
itself
sin
is
tragic
lastly
for
points
of
application
rest
in
Jesus
Christ
indwelling
sin
should
lead
us
to
rest
in
Jesus
while
we
will
war
against
sin
our
whole
lives
Jesus
has
defeated
sin
and
death
and
he
has
provided
us
victory
he
has
done
all
the
work
so
come
rest
in
his
grace
today
enjoy
the
cool
springs
of
calvary
and
the
warm
embrace
of
your
father
because
he
worked
for
you
so
finally
that
leads
us
to
our
third
point
and
the
shortest
point
number
three
we
will
be
delivered
from
this
body
of
death
we
see
the
power
and
effects
of
the
law
of
sin
and
death
in
our
members
the
text
says
this
evil
we
do
we
do
not
want
to
do
and
the
good
we
want
to
do
we
do
not
do
we
do
the
very
thing
we
hate
sin
dwells
in
me
and
evil
lies
close
at
hand
this
leads
Paul
to
lament
you
see
the
lament
in
the
text
he
says
wretched
man
that
I
am
who
will
deliver
me
from
this
body
of
death
and
then
he
ends
with
hope
that
in
his
grief
of
his
sin
in
the
devastating
effects
as
his
emotion
bubbles
up
of
his
own
wretchedness
that
there's
hope
in
his
lament
and
this
hope
is
Jesus
Christ
thanks
be to
God
through
Jesus
Christ
our
Lord
Jesus
has
defeated
sin
and
death
on
the
cross
the
influence
and
effect
of
sin
on
believers
is
temporary
it
will
be
done
away
with
one
day
and
because
Jesus
conquests
on
the
cross
the
believer
lives
in
victory
when
Jesus
comes
back
we'll
escape
this
body
or
when
we
die
we'll
escape
this
flesh
we
will
be
with
Jesus
and
sin
will
be
no
more
and
this
is
what
Paul's
longing
for
I
long
for
the
day
where
I
can
love
God
I
can
enjoy
God
and
I
have
no
evil
at
hand
there's
no
temptation
no
sin
in
my
heart
but
pure
joy
delight
and
love
in
my
father
that's
Paul's
longing
armor
because
when
this
life
is
over
we
will
leave
our
sin
natures
we
will
escape
this
body
of
death
the
war
will
be
over
and
sin
and
death
will
be
defeated
so
wage
war
against
sin
against
the
devil
and
against
the
world
put
on
your
armor
gird
up
the
loins
of
your
minds
and
set
your
hope
fully
on
the
grace
that
will
be
revealed
to
you
take
every
thought
captive
to
Christ
wage
war
now
because
there
comes
a
day
when
the
war
will
cease
Jesus
is
coming
and
we
will
be
delivered
from
this
body
of
death
oh
how
we
await
the
day
when
sin
is
no
longer
a
thought
and
right
now
as
we
await
that
day
there
remains
a
battle
a
war
until
Jesus
rescues
us
so
in
closing
I
want
to
read
the
hymn
on
the
back
of
your
outline
oh
church
arise
and
hope
this
is
an
encouragement
for
us
to
push
forward
to
wage
war
and
to
set
our
affections
minds
upon
God
it
says
oh
church
arise
and
put
your
armor
on
hear
the
call
of
Christ
our
captain
for
now
the
weak
can
say
that
they
are
strong
in
the
strength
that
God
has
given
with
shield
of
faith
and
belt
of
truth
we'll
stand
against
the
devil's
lies
an
army
bold
whose
battle
cries
love
reaching
out
to
those
in
darkness
are
called
a
war
to
love
the
captive
soul
but
to
rage
against
the
captor
and
with
the
sword
that
makes
the
wounded
whole
we
will
fight
with
faith
and
valor
when
faced
with
trials
on
every
side
we
know
the
outcome
is
secure
and
Christ
will
be
the
prize
for
which
he
died
an
inheritance
of
nations
come
see the
cross
where
love
and
mercy
meet
as
the
son
of
God
is
stricken
then
see
his
foes
lie
crushed
beneath
his
feet
for
the
conqueror
has
risen
and
as
the
stone
is
rolled
away
and
Christ
emerges
from
the
grave
this
victory
march
continues
till
the
day
every
eye
and
heart
will
see
him
so
spirit
come
put
strength
in
every
stride
give
grace
for
every
hurdle
that
we
may
!
run
with
faith
to
win
the
prize
of
his
servant
good
and
faithful
as
saints
of
old
line
the
way
retelling
triumphs
of
his
grace
we
hear
their
calls
and
hunger
for
the
day
when
with
Christ
we
stand
in
glory
will
you
pray
with
me