1 00:00:00,719 --> 00:00:02,560 Please remain standing now for the reading of 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:04,179 the word. We're looking at Romans 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,779 chapter 7 this morning verses 14 to 25. 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:10,099 Romans 7 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:11,939 verses 14 6 00:00:12,775 --> 00:00:15,174 to 25. Please listen to the reading of 7 00:00:15,174 --> 00:00:15,994 God's word. 8 00:00:16,855 --> 00:00:18,875 For we know that the law is spiritual, 9 00:00:19,734 --> 00:00:21,574 but I am of the flesh sold under 10 00:00:21,574 --> 00:00:22,074 sin. 11 00:00:23,094 --> 00:00:25,434 For I do not understand my own actions. 12 00:00:26,579 --> 00:00:28,199 For I do not do what I 13 00:00:28,900 --> 00:00:30,660 want, but I do the very thing I 14 00:00:30,660 --> 00:00:31,160 hate. 15 00:00:32,340 --> 00:00:33,859 Now if I do what I do not 16 00:00:33,859 --> 00:00:34,359 want, 17 00:00:34,740 --> 00:00:36,740 I agree with the law that it is 18 00:00:36,740 --> 00:00:37,240 good. 19 00:00:38,075 --> 00:00:39,674 So now it is no longer I who 20 00:00:39,674 --> 00:00:42,574 do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 00:00:43,354 --> 00:00:45,354 For I know that nothing good dwells in 22 00:00:45,354 --> 00:00:47,534 me, that is in my flesh. 23 00:00:48,314 --> 00:00:49,835 For I have the desire to do what 24 00:00:49,835 --> 00:00:50,494 is right, 25 00:00:51,030 --> 00:00:53,049 but not the ability to carry it out. 26 00:00:53,670 --> 00:00:55,350 For I do not do the good I 27 00:00:55,350 --> 00:00:55,850 want, 28 00:00:56,390 --> 00:00:59,030 but the evil I do not want is 29 00:00:59,030 --> 00:01:00,250 what I keep on doing. 30 00:01:01,109 --> 00:01:02,629 Now if I do what I do not 31 00:01:02,629 --> 00:01:03,129 want, 32 00:01:03,454 --> 00:01:05,314 it is no longer I who do it, 33 00:01:05,454 --> 00:01:07,555 but sin that dwells within me. 34 00:01:08,254 --> 00:01:09,954 So I find it to be a law 35 00:01:10,254 --> 00:01:12,655 that when I want to do right, evil 36 00:01:12,655 --> 00:01:14,034 lies close at hand. 37 00:01:14,575 --> 00:01:16,174 For I delight in the law of God 38 00:01:16,174 --> 00:01:17,314 in my inner being, 39 00:01:17,930 --> 00:01:19,689 but I see in my members another law 40 00:01:19,689 --> 00:01:22,349 waging war against the law of my mind 41 00:01:22,729 --> 00:01:24,650 and making me captive to the law of 42 00:01:24,650 --> 00:01:25,150 sin 43 00:01:25,769 --> 00:01:27,150 that dwells in my members. 44 00:01:28,009 --> 00:01:30,409 Wretched man that I am, who will deliver 45 00:01:30,409 --> 00:01:32,030 me from this body of death? 46 00:01:33,244 --> 00:01:35,884 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our 47 00:01:35,884 --> 00:01:36,384 Lord. 48 00:01:37,244 --> 00:01:37,984 So then, 49 00:01:38,444 --> 00:01:40,364 I myself serve the law of God with 50 00:01:40,364 --> 00:01:41,024 my mind, 51 00:01:41,564 --> 00:01:42,704 but with my flesh, 52 00:01:43,164 --> 00:01:45,265 I serve the law of sin. 53 00:01:45,724 --> 00:01:47,104 This is the word of the Lord. 54 00:01:48,030 --> 00:01:50,609 Thanks be to God. Please be seated. Romans 55 00:01:50,750 --> 00:01:51,250 7 56 00:01:52,590 --> 00:01:53,090 verses 57 00:01:53,710 --> 00:01:55,010 14 to 25, 58 00:01:56,189 --> 00:01:57,250 which we are considering 59 00:01:57,630 --> 00:01:58,290 this morning 60 00:01:58,670 --> 00:01:59,409 is undoubtedly 61 00:02:00,075 --> 00:02:01,614 one of the best known passages 62 00:02:01,994 --> 00:02:03,375 in Paul's letter to the Romans. 63 00:02:04,314 --> 00:02:06,814 The reason this passage is so widely known 64 00:02:07,435 --> 00:02:09,534 is that it's been so widely disputed 65 00:02:10,314 --> 00:02:11,935 and the crux of the disputation 66 00:02:12,394 --> 00:02:14,094 can be summarized with this question. 67 00:02:15,169 --> 00:02:16,150 In these verses, 68 00:02:16,930 --> 00:02:18,709 is Paul describing the experience 69 00:02:19,729 --> 00:02:20,709 of an unregenerate 70 00:02:21,009 --> 00:02:21,509 person 71 00:02:22,530 --> 00:02:23,750 or is Paul describing 72 00:02:24,370 --> 00:02:25,030 the experience 73 00:02:25,489 --> 00:02:26,310 of a Christian? 74 00:02:27,144 --> 00:02:29,084 In other words, do these verses pertain 75 00:02:29,784 --> 00:02:31,245 to the plight of unbelievers 76 00:02:32,185 --> 00:02:33,324 or do they pertain 77 00:02:33,784 --> 00:02:34,604 to the plight 78 00:02:35,224 --> 00:02:35,884 of believers? 79 00:02:36,824 --> 00:02:38,905 Having read this passage, it's not difficult to 80 00:02:38,905 --> 00:02:39,405 understand 81 00:02:40,104 --> 00:02:41,324 the root of the controversy. 82 00:02:42,069 --> 00:02:43,610 After all, the Apostle Paul, 83 00:02:44,069 --> 00:02:44,569 this 84 00:02:44,949 --> 00:02:47,990 towering figure in church history, who wrote almost 85 00:02:47,990 --> 00:02:48,569 a quarter 86 00:02:48,949 --> 00:02:49,930 of the New Testament, 87 00:02:50,230 --> 00:02:53,189 who was not only a self described Hebrew 88 00:02:53,189 --> 00:02:54,810 of Hebrews, but who also 89 00:02:55,275 --> 00:02:58,155 whose admirable life in Christ is that of 90 00:02:58,155 --> 00:03:00,175 a saint among saints, 91 00:03:01,194 --> 00:03:03,455 this man describes in this passage 92 00:03:03,995 --> 00:03:05,995 the experience of a person who seems to 93 00:03:05,995 --> 00:03:08,094 be impotent to do good. 94 00:03:09,180 --> 00:03:11,099 A person who is captive, almost like a 95 00:03:11,099 --> 00:03:11,599 slave 96 00:03:12,219 --> 00:03:13,599 to do evil acts, 97 00:03:13,900 --> 00:03:16,159 describing himself as a wretched man 98 00:03:16,699 --> 00:03:18,479 in a body of death. 99 00:03:19,900 --> 00:03:22,879 One understands the apprehension to take Paul's words 100 00:03:23,180 --> 00:03:24,240 at face value. 101 00:03:25,924 --> 00:03:27,064 It is more palatable 102 00:03:27,604 --> 00:03:29,864 to imagine that Paul, that is to say, 103 00:03:30,405 --> 00:03:31,544 Saint Paul, 104 00:03:32,004 --> 00:03:34,104 is instead, for pedagogical reasons, 105 00:03:34,485 --> 00:03:36,884 using the first person perspective to describe the 106 00:03:36,884 --> 00:03:37,864 sinful disposition 107 00:03:38,580 --> 00:03:40,419 of a person who is not yet saved, 108 00:03:40,419 --> 00:03:41,960 almost like in a 109 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:42,780 hypothetical 110 00:03:43,099 --> 00:03:43,599 sense. 111 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:44,420 However, 112 00:03:44,740 --> 00:03:46,280 as we shall see this morning, 113 00:03:47,219 --> 00:03:48,520 the most clear understanding, 114 00:03:49,540 --> 00:03:50,199 the most 115 00:03:50,580 --> 00:03:51,080 consistent 116 00:03:51,379 --> 00:03:51,879 explanation, 117 00:03:52,855 --> 00:03:53,675 the most straightforward 118 00:03:54,215 --> 00:03:54,715 interpretation, 119 00:03:55,094 --> 00:03:56,395 the best exposition 120 00:03:57,094 --> 00:03:57,915 of this text 121 00:03:58,215 --> 00:04:00,395 is that Paul is in fact describing 122 00:04:01,015 --> 00:04:01,835 his experience 123 00:04:02,694 --> 00:04:03,835 as a Christian. 124 00:04:05,530 --> 00:04:07,229 Because the fact of the matter is 125 00:04:07,530 --> 00:04:09,229 that when one becomes a Christian, 126 00:04:09,610 --> 00:04:11,150 the struggle against sin 127 00:04:11,770 --> 00:04:13,389 doesn't magically go away. 128 00:04:14,729 --> 00:04:15,229 Actually, 129 00:04:15,849 --> 00:04:17,769 in a very real way the struggle against 130 00:04:17,769 --> 00:04:18,269 sin 131 00:04:18,644 --> 00:04:19,384 only begins 132 00:04:20,324 --> 00:04:21,785 when one becomes a Christian. 133 00:04:22,725 --> 00:04:24,564 In fact, I suggest to you that this 134 00:04:24,564 --> 00:04:25,064 text 135 00:04:25,764 --> 00:04:27,144 is a call for Christians 136 00:04:27,605 --> 00:04:28,345 to strive 137 00:04:28,884 --> 00:04:29,785 against sin. 138 00:04:30,660 --> 00:04:32,420 Even though we are saved by grace through 139 00:04:32,420 --> 00:04:32,920 faith 140 00:04:33,379 --> 00:04:35,779 and not by our own works, this does 141 00:04:35,779 --> 00:04:37,160 not mean that we are exempt 142 00:04:37,699 --> 00:04:39,480 from pursuing lives of holiness. 143 00:04:40,660 --> 00:04:43,060 The main point I want you to remember 144 00:04:43,060 --> 00:04:44,360 from this sermon is this, 145 00:04:45,504 --> 00:04:48,324 Christians must wage war against wickedness. 146 00:04:49,985 --> 00:04:50,485 Christians 147 00:04:51,024 --> 00:04:52,485 must wage war 148 00:04:53,104 --> 00:04:54,245 against wickedness. 149 00:04:54,625 --> 00:04:56,464 So keep that point in mind as we 150 00:04:56,464 --> 00:04:58,324 consider this text under 3 headings. 151 00:04:59,024 --> 00:05:00,004 Our first heading, 152 00:05:00,319 --> 00:05:02,740 the tenacious tyranny of of the flesh. 153 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,939 The tenacious tyranny of the flesh. 154 00:05:06,479 --> 00:05:07,379 2nd heading, 155 00:05:07,759 --> 00:05:08,979 the righteous rebellion 156 00:05:09,519 --> 00:05:10,419 of the spirit. 157 00:05:10,959 --> 00:05:12,899 The righteous rebellion of the spirit. 158 00:05:13,214 --> 00:05:15,555 And the 3rd heading, our sure salvation 159 00:05:16,095 --> 00:05:16,834 in Christ. 160 00:05:17,454 --> 00:05:19,214 Our sure salvation in Christ. So let's look 161 00:05:19,214 --> 00:05:21,154 at the first heading, the tenacious 162 00:05:21,935 --> 00:05:22,435 tyranny 163 00:05:22,975 --> 00:05:25,555 of the flesh. In verse 14, we read, 164 00:05:25,774 --> 00:05:27,714 for we know that the law is spiritual, 165 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,000 but I am of the flesh, sold under 166 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:31,500 sin. 167 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,379 Notice that Paul writes that 168 00:05:34,840 --> 00:05:35,660 we know 169 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:37,259 that the law is spiritual 170 00:05:37,639 --> 00:05:39,660 using the first person plural, we. 171 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:40,699 We know 172 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:42,220 that the law is spiritual. 173 00:05:43,175 --> 00:05:45,574 The letter is written first of all to 174 00:05:45,574 --> 00:05:47,354 1st century Christians in Rome 175 00:05:47,814 --> 00:05:48,555 and then 176 00:05:49,175 --> 00:05:50,154 in God's providence 177 00:05:50,615 --> 00:05:51,354 to Christians 178 00:05:51,735 --> 00:05:54,375 all around the world and across time even 179 00:05:54,375 --> 00:05:55,035 to us 180 00:05:55,414 --> 00:05:57,115 gathered today in The Woodlands. 181 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,500 But the audience was and is 182 00:06:00,879 --> 00:06:02,259 a Christian audience. 183 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:03,860 And Paul, 184 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:06,319 even as he says that he is of 185 00:06:06,319 --> 00:06:07,860 the flesh, writes, 186 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:08,979 we know 187 00:06:09,519 --> 00:06:10,740 that the law is spiritual. 188 00:06:11,665 --> 00:06:12,485 In other words, 189 00:06:13,024 --> 00:06:13,764 he identifies 190 00:06:14,705 --> 00:06:16,084 as a as a Christian 191 00:06:16,865 --> 00:06:19,045 even though he is of the flesh. 192 00:06:19,985 --> 00:06:22,084 After all, it is Christians who know 193 00:06:22,625 --> 00:06:25,110 that the law is spiritual. In other words, 194 00:06:25,110 --> 00:06:27,270 that the law is of divine origin that 195 00:06:27,270 --> 00:06:29,290 it comes from God himself. 196 00:06:32,790 --> 00:06:34,170 Unbelievers don't recognize 197 00:06:34,550 --> 00:06:37,050 the divine origin or authority of the scripture 198 00:06:37,634 --> 00:06:39,254 because such things are 199 00:06:39,634 --> 00:06:40,694 spiritually discerned. 200 00:06:41,634 --> 00:06:43,314 This is what Paul himself tells us in 201 00:06:43,314 --> 00:06:45,474 1st Corinthians chapter 2 verse 14 where he 202 00:06:45,474 --> 00:06:45,974 writes, 203 00:06:46,514 --> 00:06:48,834 the natural person does not accept the things 204 00:06:48,834 --> 00:06:50,055 of the spirit of God 205 00:06:50,435 --> 00:06:52,134 for their folly to him, 206 00:06:52,569 --> 00:06:54,830 And he is not able to understand them 207 00:06:54,889 --> 00:06:55,790 because they 208 00:06:56,170 --> 00:06:56,910 are spiritually 209 00:06:57,850 --> 00:06:58,350 discerned. 210 00:06:59,209 --> 00:07:01,209 So whatever Paul means when he writes that 211 00:07:01,209 --> 00:07:02,750 he is of the flesh, 212 00:07:05,464 --> 00:07:08,125 he is looking at it from the perspective 213 00:07:08,664 --> 00:07:09,485 of a believer. 214 00:07:10,584 --> 00:07:11,805 One who recognizes 215 00:07:12,345 --> 00:07:14,024 that the law comes from God, that the 216 00:07:14,024 --> 00:07:15,324 law is spiritual. 217 00:07:16,769 --> 00:07:19,350 Verse 15 strengthens this assertion as Paul writes, 218 00:07:19,889 --> 00:07:21,910 for I do not understand my own actions. 219 00:07:22,529 --> 00:07:25,110 For I do not do what I want, 220 00:07:25,250 --> 00:07:26,389 but the very 221 00:07:27,009 --> 00:07:28,870 but I do the very thing 222 00:07:29,730 --> 00:07:30,470 I hate. 223 00:07:31,664 --> 00:07:33,745 In other words, Paul is saying that he 224 00:07:33,745 --> 00:07:34,884 does not recognize 225 00:07:35,264 --> 00:07:36,324 or approve 226 00:07:37,264 --> 00:07:38,724 of his sinful acts. 227 00:07:39,745 --> 00:07:42,084 In fact, he states, I hate them. 228 00:07:42,784 --> 00:07:44,644 I hate what I do. 229 00:07:45,870 --> 00:07:47,150 Does this sound like the words of an 230 00:07:47,150 --> 00:07:48,290 unbeliever to you? 231 00:07:48,990 --> 00:07:51,569 I affirm that the Bible is God's word. 232 00:07:52,350 --> 00:07:53,250 I repudiate 233 00:07:53,710 --> 00:07:54,449 and detest 234 00:07:55,310 --> 00:07:56,129 my sin. 235 00:07:57,884 --> 00:07:59,884 Well, no. Those are the words of a 236 00:07:59,884 --> 00:08:00,384 Christian. 237 00:08:01,404 --> 00:08:03,964 So before commenting on Paul's self description as 238 00:08:03,964 --> 00:08:07,264 being of the flesh and sold under sin, 239 00:08:07,644 --> 00:08:09,584 let me ask you 2 questions. 1st, 240 00:08:10,829 --> 00:08:11,569 do you 241 00:08:12,829 --> 00:08:13,329 recognize 242 00:08:14,189 --> 00:08:15,009 and submit 243 00:08:15,709 --> 00:08:16,529 to the authority 244 00:08:16,990 --> 00:08:17,810 of the scriptures 245 00:08:18,350 --> 00:08:19,490 as god's word? 246 00:08:20,350 --> 00:08:22,430 Do you recognize it and submit to the 247 00:08:22,430 --> 00:08:23,970 authority of the scriptures 248 00:08:24,735 --> 00:08:25,875 as God's word? 249 00:08:26,574 --> 00:08:28,095 The question is that whether you are a 250 00:08:28,095 --> 00:08:30,735 Bible expert or not or whether you are 251 00:08:30,895 --> 00:08:33,934 or whether you perfectly obey and keep God's 252 00:08:33,934 --> 00:08:34,434 law. 253 00:08:35,215 --> 00:08:36,355 The question is, 254 00:08:37,289 --> 00:08:39,950 do you know that the law is spiritual? 255 00:08:40,169 --> 00:08:42,029 Do you know that the Bible 256 00:08:42,649 --> 00:08:43,870 comes from God? 257 00:08:45,450 --> 00:08:46,669 Because if you do, 258 00:08:47,049 --> 00:08:48,570 and I have a pretty good feeling that 259 00:08:48,570 --> 00:08:49,629 most of you do, 260 00:08:50,384 --> 00:08:52,245 then you should be encouraged 261 00:08:52,785 --> 00:08:54,485 that this is evidence 262 00:08:55,345 --> 00:08:57,845 of God's grace in your life. 263 00:08:58,705 --> 00:09:00,304 That he has given you the ability to 264 00:09:00,304 --> 00:09:00,804 know 265 00:09:01,184 --> 00:09:02,485 what this book is. 266 00:09:04,500 --> 00:09:05,779 That he has given you the ability to 267 00:09:05,779 --> 00:09:06,840 know that this book 268 00:09:07,540 --> 00:09:08,920 is a source of life 269 00:09:09,700 --> 00:09:11,160 for you and for your family. 270 00:09:11,540 --> 00:09:13,379 That this book is a manual of wisdom 271 00:09:13,379 --> 00:09:14,600 to guide your decisions. 272 00:09:15,460 --> 00:09:17,639 That this book is a bulwark against Satan 273 00:09:17,894 --> 00:09:20,235 and against the destructive effects of sin, 274 00:09:20,695 --> 00:09:21,595 that this book 275 00:09:22,134 --> 00:09:23,514 is a tested path 276 00:09:23,975 --> 00:09:24,795 for joy 277 00:09:25,175 --> 00:09:27,274 and toward peace, and that ultimately, 278 00:09:27,815 --> 00:09:28,554 this book, 279 00:09:28,934 --> 00:09:31,995 the Bible, is the very fountain of immortality. 280 00:09:33,889 --> 00:09:37,350 This knowledge is a priceless gift of God 281 00:09:37,889 --> 00:09:38,629 to you. 282 00:09:39,730 --> 00:09:41,809 Were it not for this gift, the Bible 283 00:09:41,809 --> 00:09:43,350 would be foolishness to you 284 00:09:44,049 --> 00:09:45,350 as it is to the world. 285 00:09:46,595 --> 00:09:48,454 A world that through its rejection 286 00:09:48,995 --> 00:09:51,714 and ridicule of this book has become more 287 00:09:51,714 --> 00:09:52,214 dysfunctional 288 00:09:52,674 --> 00:09:54,214 and more more dystopian 289 00:09:54,674 --> 00:09:56,454 with each passing day. 290 00:09:57,875 --> 00:09:58,375 Furthermore, 291 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:00,839 if you know that the law is spiritual, 292 00:10:00,839 --> 00:10:02,139 that it comes from God, 293 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,079 not only should you recognize I'm sorry. Not 294 00:10:05,079 --> 00:10:06,139 only should you realize 295 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:08,620 that such knowledge is God's gift, 296 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:11,500 but you should respond to such gift 297 00:10:12,164 --> 00:10:13,464 by studying the Bible, 298 00:10:14,325 --> 00:10:15,144 by submitting 299 00:10:15,924 --> 00:10:16,825 to its authority, 300 00:10:17,445 --> 00:10:19,144 and by striving to grow 301 00:10:19,445 --> 00:10:20,184 in godliness. 302 00:10:20,565 --> 00:10:22,245 In other words, as James tells us in 303 00:10:22,245 --> 00:10:22,985 his letter, 304 00:10:23,445 --> 00:10:25,284 Christians should not only be hearers of the 305 00:10:25,284 --> 00:10:25,784 word, 306 00:10:26,129 --> 00:10:28,389 Christians must be doers 307 00:10:28,769 --> 00:10:29,590 of the word. 308 00:10:31,009 --> 00:10:33,350 So let God's grace drive your desire 309 00:10:33,889 --> 00:10:35,670 to please your heavenly father. 310 00:10:36,290 --> 00:10:37,889 The second question I want to ask you 311 00:10:37,889 --> 00:10:40,210 is this, do you hate your sin as 312 00:10:40,210 --> 00:10:40,950 Paul does? 313 00:10:41,684 --> 00:10:43,304 He says, I hate what I do. 314 00:10:44,085 --> 00:10:45,065 Do you hate 315 00:10:45,445 --> 00:10:46,184 your sin? 316 00:10:48,485 --> 00:10:50,585 We all hate the consequences of getting caught, 317 00:10:51,684 --> 00:10:54,164 but that's not the same thing as hating 318 00:10:54,164 --> 00:10:55,384 our sin, is it? 319 00:10:55,830 --> 00:10:57,529 To hate our sin, we must know 320 00:10:57,910 --> 00:10:59,210 what it does to us. 321 00:11:00,230 --> 00:11:01,590 We must know what it does to the 322 00:11:01,590 --> 00:11:02,649 people that we love. 323 00:11:03,590 --> 00:11:05,050 We must know what it costs 324 00:11:05,990 --> 00:11:07,129 our heavenly father 325 00:11:07,830 --> 00:11:08,649 and our savior. 326 00:11:09,835 --> 00:11:11,434 So we have to grieve our sin, but 327 00:11:11,434 --> 00:11:13,054 we also have to hate it. 328 00:11:13,595 --> 00:11:15,375 Your sin wants to destroy you. 329 00:11:15,835 --> 00:11:17,455 Your sin wants to destroy your family. 330 00:11:18,315 --> 00:11:20,554 Your sin wants to destroy everyone that you 331 00:11:20,554 --> 00:11:21,054 love. 332 00:11:22,910 --> 00:11:25,309 As John Owen, the great Puritan theologian from 333 00:11:25,309 --> 00:11:26,290 Oxford said, 334 00:11:26,990 --> 00:11:28,050 be killing sin 335 00:11:28,670 --> 00:11:30,450 or it will be killing you. 336 00:11:31,870 --> 00:11:34,190 And the first step toward killing sin in 337 00:11:34,190 --> 00:11:36,350 your life is to see it for what 338 00:11:36,350 --> 00:11:37,009 it is. 339 00:11:37,985 --> 00:11:38,884 It is deceitful 340 00:11:39,345 --> 00:11:40,165 and murderous. 341 00:11:41,264 --> 00:11:42,325 It is a predator 342 00:11:43,185 --> 00:11:45,285 that seeks to devour you from without. 343 00:11:47,264 --> 00:11:48,245 It is a cancer 344 00:11:49,105 --> 00:11:51,205 that seeks to decimate you from within. 345 00:11:52,539 --> 00:11:54,240 It is no respecter of age. 346 00:11:55,259 --> 00:11:56,960 It is no respecter of gender. 347 00:11:57,660 --> 00:11:59,279 It is no respecter of race. 348 00:12:00,139 --> 00:12:01,440 It hates equally, 349 00:12:02,139 --> 00:12:03,600 and it shows no mercy. 350 00:12:05,225 --> 00:12:05,884 So identify 351 00:12:06,585 --> 00:12:07,644 sin in your life. 352 00:12:08,425 --> 00:12:11,805 Confess it and do battle against it. Strive 353 00:12:11,945 --> 00:12:12,845 against sin. 354 00:12:13,384 --> 00:12:14,925 That's what Paul does here. 355 00:12:15,305 --> 00:12:17,565 He writes, I know I sin, 356 00:12:18,105 --> 00:12:19,644 but I don't understand it. 357 00:12:20,450 --> 00:12:21,269 I don't approve 358 00:12:21,809 --> 00:12:23,190 it. I hate it. 359 00:12:24,929 --> 00:12:26,610 Now we'll return to this idea of doing 360 00:12:26,610 --> 00:12:28,450 battle against sin later, but right now I 361 00:12:28,450 --> 00:12:30,690 want us to consider what Paul means when 362 00:12:30,690 --> 00:12:32,309 he writes, as a Christian, 363 00:12:33,169 --> 00:12:34,789 that he is of the flesh 364 00:12:35,475 --> 00:12:36,054 sold under sin. 365 00:12:38,355 --> 00:12:40,454 Essentially, the word that Paul uses 366 00:12:40,834 --> 00:12:41,654 here to 367 00:12:42,115 --> 00:12:42,754 to say, 368 00:12:43,475 --> 00:12:45,554 that he is of the flesh can literally 369 00:12:45,554 --> 00:12:48,214 be translated as fleshy or fleshly. 370 00:12:48,674 --> 00:12:49,575 He is fleshly. 371 00:12:50,514 --> 00:12:52,350 In In other words, Paul is juxtaposing 372 00:12:53,769 --> 00:12:54,589 the spiritual, 373 00:12:55,289 --> 00:12:55,789 divine, 374 00:12:57,529 --> 00:12:59,149 righteous nature of the law 375 00:13:00,169 --> 00:13:01,230 with his own 376 00:13:01,690 --> 00:13:02,190 fleshly, 377 00:13:03,049 --> 00:13:03,549 fallen, 378 00:13:04,169 --> 00:13:05,149 sinful nature. 379 00:13:05,745 --> 00:13:07,285 The divine nature of the law, 380 00:13:07,985 --> 00:13:09,764 the fleshly nature of Paul. 381 00:13:10,225 --> 00:13:12,865 He's juxtaposing those 2. Whereas the law is 382 00:13:12,865 --> 00:13:13,365 perfect, 383 00:13:14,065 --> 00:13:16,245 blameless, or as he wrote in verse 12, 384 00:13:16,705 --> 00:13:17,205 holy 385 00:13:17,585 --> 00:13:20,245 sorry, holy, righteous, and good. 386 00:13:23,100 --> 00:13:23,600 Paul 387 00:13:24,220 --> 00:13:27,100 has been sold, traded, and trafficked in the 388 00:13:27,100 --> 00:13:29,340 slavish economy of sin. That's where he has 389 00:13:29,340 --> 00:13:31,100 lived. That's where he has breathed. That's where 390 00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:32,240 he has done his life, 391 00:13:32,620 --> 00:13:34,080 in the slavish economy 392 00:13:34,725 --> 00:13:37,445 of the fallen world. He says these two 393 00:13:37,445 --> 00:13:37,945 things 394 00:13:38,485 --> 00:13:39,784 are totally different. 395 00:13:40,325 --> 00:13:41,704 They don't seem to go together. 396 00:13:42,164 --> 00:13:43,704 They're at war with each other. 397 00:13:44,325 --> 00:13:47,225 We fallen human beings, including Paul, are conceived 398 00:13:47,365 --> 00:13:50,105 and born in the corruption of this fleshly 399 00:13:50,860 --> 00:13:51,360 existence. 400 00:13:53,340 --> 00:13:54,639 So you see, unlike 401 00:13:55,420 --> 00:13:56,879 unregenerate human beings 402 00:13:57,580 --> 00:13:59,200 who are firmly in the bondage 403 00:13:59,580 --> 00:14:01,820 of sin and loyal to the tyranny of 404 00:14:01,820 --> 00:14:02,320 death, 405 00:14:03,575 --> 00:14:05,195 The regenerated human being, 406 00:14:05,575 --> 00:14:07,894 the person who has been redeemed by Christ 407 00:14:07,894 --> 00:14:09,035 from sin's domain, 408 00:14:09,894 --> 00:14:12,475 represents the meeting point or the juncture 409 00:14:12,855 --> 00:14:14,795 of these two warring kingdoms. 410 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:18,639 It's in the regenerate person that these two 411 00:14:18,639 --> 00:14:19,540 things are war. 412 00:14:20,879 --> 00:14:22,100 The domain of sin 413 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:24,500 and the domain of righteousness. 414 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,059 The kingdom of Satan 415 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:29,620 and the kingdom of Christ. 416 00:14:30,544 --> 00:14:31,764 The realm of the flesh 417 00:14:32,704 --> 00:14:34,865 and the realm of the spirit. It is 418 00:14:34,865 --> 00:14:36,084 only within the believer 419 00:14:36,945 --> 00:14:39,044 that this conflict takes place, 420 00:14:39,825 --> 00:14:41,365 and then and this is precisely 421 00:14:41,985 --> 00:14:44,544 the conflict that Paul describes in the passage 422 00:14:44,544 --> 00:14:45,445 before us. 423 00:14:46,399 --> 00:14:48,100 Look at verses 16 17. 424 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:51,600 Now if I do what I do not 425 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:52,100 want, 426 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:53,920 I agree with the law that it is 427 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:54,420 good. 428 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,200 So now it is no longer I who 429 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:58,820 do it, but sin 430 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:00,100 that dwells 431 00:15:01,254 --> 00:15:01,754 within 432 00:15:03,014 --> 00:15:03,514 me. 433 00:15:04,774 --> 00:15:05,834 Do you see the conflict? 434 00:15:07,654 --> 00:15:08,154 Paul 435 00:15:09,815 --> 00:15:11,115 agrees with the law. 436 00:15:11,735 --> 00:15:13,514 He agrees that the law is good. 437 00:15:14,214 --> 00:15:15,434 He approves of it. 438 00:15:16,919 --> 00:15:19,480 Again, this is not a statement that an 439 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,340 unbeliever can sign his name to. 440 00:15:22,039 --> 00:15:24,139 The unbeliever is in rebellion against God. 441 00:15:24,679 --> 00:15:26,460 He despises God's law. 442 00:15:26,919 --> 00:15:27,980 He mocks it. 443 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:29,899 He denies its authority. 444 00:15:31,264 --> 00:15:33,424 He does nothing to please God and Romans 445 00:15:33,424 --> 00:15:34,465 8, Paul is gonna tell us that he 446 00:15:34,465 --> 00:15:36,725 cannot do anything to please God in fact. 447 00:15:37,105 --> 00:15:38,545 So he does nothing to please God but 448 00:15:38,545 --> 00:15:39,684 instead does everything 449 00:15:40,304 --> 00:15:41,924 as he himself pleases. 450 00:15:43,039 --> 00:15:44,799 That's the nature of being in rebellion with 451 00:15:44,799 --> 00:15:46,959 God. We all know it because we've all 452 00:15:46,959 --> 00:15:47,620 done it. 453 00:15:48,559 --> 00:15:49,860 We know what that's like. 454 00:15:51,919 --> 00:15:53,779 So Paul, writing as a believer, 455 00:15:55,424 --> 00:15:56,965 agrees that the law is good. 456 00:15:58,065 --> 00:16:00,705 However, since he does what he does not 457 00:16:00,705 --> 00:16:01,605 want to do, 458 00:16:01,985 --> 00:16:02,485 namely 459 00:16:02,945 --> 00:16:03,445 sin, 460 00:16:04,304 --> 00:16:05,684 he admits his subjection 461 00:16:06,465 --> 00:16:08,164 to a certain kind of tyranny. 462 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:11,600 It's no longer I who do it, but 463 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:13,700 sin that dwells within me, says Paul. 464 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:17,039 Please know that Paul is not making excuses 465 00:16:17,039 --> 00:16:17,700 for himself. 466 00:16:18,879 --> 00:16:21,360 He's not denying his own responsibility in this 467 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:21,860 matter. 468 00:16:22,595 --> 00:16:24,674 In fact, he takes his own responsibility before 469 00:16:24,674 --> 00:16:25,735 God so seriously 470 00:16:26,434 --> 00:16:28,615 and he is so burdened and so disturbed 471 00:16:29,074 --> 00:16:30,134 by his own sin 472 00:16:30,434 --> 00:16:32,355 that in verse 24, he calls he calls 473 00:16:32,355 --> 00:16:33,894 himself a wretched man. 474 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:36,860 Nevertheless, 475 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,459 Paul confesses that sin still exerts 476 00:16:40,919 --> 00:16:41,980 power over him. 477 00:16:43,399 --> 00:16:44,940 Notice that Paul's ability 478 00:16:45,879 --> 00:16:46,620 to reason 479 00:16:47,079 --> 00:16:48,139 is not the problem. 480 00:16:49,004 --> 00:16:50,705 He knows what he is doing. 481 00:16:52,125 --> 00:16:52,945 He knows it. 482 00:16:53,565 --> 00:16:56,205 His heart's not the problem either. He approves 483 00:16:56,205 --> 00:16:58,305 of God's law, and he disapproves 484 00:16:58,684 --> 00:17:01,105 of his sinful sinful behavior. He hates it. 485 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,420 His affections are not the problem either. 486 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:06,500 He desires to do good, 487 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,119 but the very thing he doesn't wanna do, 488 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:10,180 that's what he does. 489 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:13,700 And because he knows what is right 490 00:17:14,875 --> 00:17:15,855 and what is holy 491 00:17:16,474 --> 00:17:18,714 and what is good, yet ends up doing 492 00:17:18,714 --> 00:17:21,294 what's corrupt and sinful and wrong, 493 00:17:22,474 --> 00:17:24,015 it's as if he is helpless 494 00:17:24,394 --> 00:17:25,775 against sin's control. 495 00:17:27,730 --> 00:17:29,250 Dear Christian, perhaps you have felt this kind 496 00:17:29,250 --> 00:17:29,909 of frustration 497 00:17:30,529 --> 00:17:32,470 in your own struggle against sin. 498 00:17:33,169 --> 00:17:34,529 And you wish you could just press a 499 00:17:34,529 --> 00:17:35,029 button 500 00:17:35,970 --> 00:17:38,210 that would enable you to never again give 501 00:17:38,210 --> 00:17:39,750 in to the temptation to sin. 502 00:17:41,704 --> 00:17:42,684 And like Paul, 503 00:17:43,625 --> 00:17:45,244 you don't understand your own actions 504 00:17:46,184 --> 00:17:48,125 because you agree that the law is good, 505 00:17:48,585 --> 00:17:50,345 because you end up doing the very thing 506 00:17:50,345 --> 00:17:52,125 that you don't want to do. 507 00:17:54,819 --> 00:17:56,599 So you become frustrated with yourself, 508 00:17:57,380 --> 00:17:59,380 perhaps even to the point of questioning your 509 00:17:59,380 --> 00:17:59,880 salvation. 510 00:18:00,819 --> 00:18:02,119 Is that you this morning? 511 00:18:03,460 --> 00:18:05,319 Well, Romans 7 ought to be an encouragement 512 00:18:05,380 --> 00:18:06,039 to you 513 00:18:06,974 --> 00:18:09,214 because it demonstrates that your frustration is not 514 00:18:09,214 --> 00:18:11,535 evidence of your lack of faith, but rather 515 00:18:11,535 --> 00:18:13,615 it is the direct result of your saving 516 00:18:13,615 --> 00:18:14,115 faith. 517 00:18:16,494 --> 00:18:18,255 Not that it is an excuse for your 518 00:18:18,255 --> 00:18:19,315 ongoing sin, 519 00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:21,599 but it ought to motivate you 520 00:18:21,980 --> 00:18:23,759 to keep fighting against it. 521 00:18:24,700 --> 00:18:26,160 The reason you are frustrated, 522 00:18:27,259 --> 00:18:28,559 the reason you are conflicted 523 00:18:29,259 --> 00:18:31,660 is because there is a war being waged 524 00:18:31,660 --> 00:18:32,559 within you. 525 00:18:34,304 --> 00:18:36,244 If you're still in slavery to sin 526 00:18:36,784 --> 00:18:38,005 under death's dominion 527 00:18:38,544 --> 00:18:40,085 and its objection to Satan, 528 00:18:40,865 --> 00:18:41,845 you would feel 529 00:18:42,144 --> 00:18:44,724 zero conflict over your sinful actions. 530 00:18:45,585 --> 00:18:47,424 They would not bother you at all. Maybe, 531 00:18:47,424 --> 00:18:48,644 again, you'd be bothered 532 00:18:49,049 --> 00:18:51,610 by the idea of getting caught, but not 533 00:18:51,610 --> 00:18:52,670 by the action itself. 534 00:18:54,809 --> 00:18:56,029 If that is you, 535 00:18:57,930 --> 00:18:58,990 then you should worry. 536 00:19:01,174 --> 00:19:03,494 If your sin doesn't bother you, if you 537 00:19:03,494 --> 00:19:05,275 only worry about being caught, 538 00:19:06,054 --> 00:19:07,914 then you should be exceedingly concerned 539 00:19:08,535 --> 00:19:10,794 for that would be a strong indicative 540 00:19:11,335 --> 00:19:12,394 or strong indication 541 00:19:13,654 --> 00:19:14,554 of an unregenerate 542 00:19:14,855 --> 00:19:15,355 heart. 543 00:19:17,669 --> 00:19:18,730 If that is you, 544 00:19:19,669 --> 00:19:20,890 then you need to understand 545 00:19:21,509 --> 00:19:23,190 why the Lord has brought you here this 546 00:19:23,190 --> 00:19:23,690 morning. 547 00:19:25,190 --> 00:19:26,950 Hasn't brought you here to make you feel 548 00:19:26,950 --> 00:19:27,450 good. 549 00:19:28,470 --> 00:19:30,409 Hasn't brought you here to entertain you. 550 00:19:31,775 --> 00:19:33,534 He hasn't brought you here even to enjoy 551 00:19:33,534 --> 00:19:34,034 fellowship. 552 00:19:35,294 --> 00:19:36,974 He's brought you here to call you right 553 00:19:36,974 --> 00:19:37,474 now 554 00:19:38,095 --> 00:19:40,815 through his word, by his spirit to repent 555 00:19:40,815 --> 00:19:42,335 of your sin and to turn to Christ 556 00:19:42,335 --> 00:19:43,075 for salvation. 557 00:19:45,529 --> 00:19:47,390 It is his precious gift to you. 558 00:19:49,450 --> 00:19:51,130 His word says, seek the Lord while he 559 00:19:51,130 --> 00:19:53,929 may be found. Now is the time of 560 00:19:53,929 --> 00:19:55,230 God's favor. Today 561 00:19:55,849 --> 00:19:57,069 is the day of salvation. 562 00:19:58,785 --> 00:20:00,945 But I'm not good enough, you say. But 563 00:20:00,945 --> 00:20:02,164 you don't have to be. 564 00:20:02,625 --> 00:20:04,384 You don't have to be because Christ is 565 00:20:04,384 --> 00:20:05,684 and he's done it all. 566 00:20:06,305 --> 00:20:08,305 All you have to do is, in your 567 00:20:08,305 --> 00:20:08,805 heart, 568 00:20:10,065 --> 00:20:10,565 believe. 569 00:20:12,599 --> 00:20:14,299 Believe that he is sufficient. Confess 570 00:20:14,839 --> 00:20:17,640 your sins to him. Repent of them. Believe 571 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:19,660 in Christ's atoning death and resurrection. 572 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:21,660 Confess him as lord. 573 00:20:22,279 --> 00:20:24,359 Entrust your life to him and you will 574 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:25,019 be saved. 575 00:20:26,225 --> 00:20:27,585 Not on your own merit, but on the 576 00:20:27,585 --> 00:20:28,805 merit of Jesus Christ. 577 00:20:30,305 --> 00:20:32,065 Know that if you truly give yourself to 578 00:20:32,065 --> 00:20:34,005 Christ, your sins will be instantly forgiven. 579 00:20:35,424 --> 00:20:37,505 And the power of sin's guilt and shame 580 00:20:37,505 --> 00:20:39,285 over you will immediately end, 581 00:20:41,460 --> 00:20:42,600 but not your frustrations. 582 00:20:44,660 --> 00:20:46,759 Because the more you learn about God's character, 583 00:20:48,019 --> 00:20:49,880 the more you learn about his holiness, 584 00:20:51,299 --> 00:20:53,400 the more you learn about your sinfulness, 585 00:20:54,664 --> 00:20:55,724 the more frustrated 586 00:20:56,424 --> 00:20:57,325 you will be 587 00:20:57,704 --> 00:20:59,884 even as you experience enduring joy. 588 00:21:01,865 --> 00:21:03,484 Your love for God will grow 589 00:21:04,664 --> 00:21:06,984 and you will long to serve him all 590 00:21:06,984 --> 00:21:07,724 the more 591 00:21:08,089 --> 00:21:09,950 with your whole heart and mind 592 00:21:10,570 --> 00:21:12,029 and soul and strength, 593 00:21:13,529 --> 00:21:15,549 and you will be frustrated when you falter. 594 00:21:17,130 --> 00:21:18,809 That is what Paul is describing for us 595 00:21:18,809 --> 00:21:19,869 in Romans 7. 596 00:21:20,250 --> 00:21:22,170 This is the frustrated cry of a person 597 00:21:22,170 --> 00:21:23,710 who deeply loves God 598 00:21:25,184 --> 00:21:27,444 and who hates sinning against him. 599 00:21:28,944 --> 00:21:31,025 Look at verses 18 to 21, where Paul 600 00:21:31,025 --> 00:21:31,525 essentially 601 00:21:32,144 --> 00:21:33,045 repeats himself 602 00:21:33,825 --> 00:21:35,125 evidencing the frustration 603 00:21:35,505 --> 00:21:36,404 in his soul. 604 00:21:38,809 --> 00:21:40,809 For I know that nothing good dwells in 605 00:21:40,809 --> 00:21:42,429 me that is in my flesh. 606 00:21:43,369 --> 00:21:45,130 For I have the desire to do what 607 00:21:45,130 --> 00:21:45,869 is right, 608 00:21:46,170 --> 00:21:48,109 but not the ability to carry it out. 609 00:21:48,970 --> 00:21:50,349 For I do not do 610 00:21:50,650 --> 00:21:51,710 the good I want, 611 00:21:52,054 --> 00:21:54,054 but the evil I do not want is 612 00:21:54,054 --> 00:21:55,515 what I keep on doing. 613 00:21:57,015 --> 00:21:58,535 Now if I do what I do not 614 00:21:58,535 --> 00:21:59,035 want, 615 00:21:59,414 --> 00:22:01,355 it is no longer I who do it, 616 00:22:01,414 --> 00:22:03,275 but sin that dwells 617 00:22:04,054 --> 00:22:04,954 within me. 618 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:08,579 You see that Paul repeats himself 619 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:11,680 and he adds that there is no good 620 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:12,339 in him. 621 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:14,500 You may ask, how can someone 622 00:22:15,759 --> 00:22:17,380 who has been redeemed by Christ, 623 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,079 someone who has been regenerated by the Holy 624 00:22:20,079 --> 00:22:20,579 Spirit, 625 00:22:22,054 --> 00:22:24,454 Someone like Paul. How can someone like that 626 00:22:24,454 --> 00:22:26,535 say that he does evil and that there 627 00:22:26,535 --> 00:22:27,914 is nothing good in him? 628 00:22:30,134 --> 00:22:32,454 When Paul writes that nothing good dwells in 629 00:22:32,454 --> 00:22:34,394 him, that is in his flesh, 630 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:37,539 What he means is that in his fleshly 631 00:22:37,759 --> 00:22:38,259 constitution 632 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:41,539 or in what remains of his fallen nature 633 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:43,940 that is in his old self apart 634 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:45,940 from the spirit's intervention, 635 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,380 there is nothing good or virtuous. 636 00:22:51,275 --> 00:22:52,335 The only vestige 637 00:22:54,075 --> 00:22:54,974 of our old 638 00:22:55,275 --> 00:22:56,255 sinful nature 639 00:22:56,634 --> 00:22:58,414 that still remains in us 640 00:22:58,795 --> 00:22:59,775 is characterized 641 00:23:00,634 --> 00:23:01,535 by a voracious 642 00:23:02,394 --> 00:23:02,894 appetite 643 00:23:03,355 --> 00:23:04,255 towards sin. 644 00:23:06,450 --> 00:23:09,349 Some Christians believe that fallen human beings 645 00:23:10,210 --> 00:23:10,710 before 646 00:23:11,890 --> 00:23:14,690 they accept the forgiveness that is freely offered 647 00:23:14,690 --> 00:23:15,430 in Christ, 648 00:23:16,049 --> 00:23:17,349 before they are regenerated, 649 00:23:19,085 --> 00:23:21,265 that they have the ability, however weak, 650 00:23:22,204 --> 00:23:24,065 and the desire, however faint, 651 00:23:24,684 --> 00:23:25,825 to do what is good, 652 00:23:26,605 --> 00:23:28,285 to choose to repent of sin and to 653 00:23:28,285 --> 00:23:29,825 believe in Christ on their own. 654 00:23:31,610 --> 00:23:33,710 So that through their free will, without God's 655 00:23:34,410 --> 00:23:34,910 irresistible 656 00:23:35,769 --> 00:23:37,390 regeneration of their hearts, 657 00:23:37,850 --> 00:23:39,390 they contribute to their salvation 658 00:23:40,250 --> 00:23:41,950 by offering their own ascent 659 00:23:42,410 --> 00:23:42,910 freely. 660 00:23:44,924 --> 00:23:46,544 Paul will explicitly correct 661 00:23:47,164 --> 00:23:49,964 this well intent well intended misunderstanding in Romans 662 00:23:49,964 --> 00:23:52,144 8. But here already, Paul implicitly 663 00:23:52,845 --> 00:23:54,784 offers a correction to for us. 664 00:23:56,125 --> 00:23:57,984 For if nothing good dwells 665 00:23:58,880 --> 00:23:59,860 in the dying, 666 00:24:01,279 --> 00:24:03,620 fleshly nature of the regenerate man, 667 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,019 which continues to grasp desperately 668 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:08,799 at at any sin, for any sin that 669 00:24:08,799 --> 00:24:09,940 might feed its appetite, 670 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:11,539 how much less 671 00:24:12,265 --> 00:24:15,005 should we attribute any good to the vigorously 672 00:24:15,224 --> 00:24:15,724 wicked, 673 00:24:16,105 --> 00:24:17,164 proudly rebellious, 674 00:24:17,625 --> 00:24:19,484 fleshly nature of the unregenerate 675 00:24:19,785 --> 00:24:20,285 man? 676 00:24:22,345 --> 00:24:23,724 No. It must be said 677 00:24:24,509 --> 00:24:27,390 that our salvation from first to last is 678 00:24:27,390 --> 00:24:28,849 the work of God's grace 679 00:24:29,390 --> 00:24:31,390 and that we are the recipients of the 680 00:24:31,390 --> 00:24:32,609 Lord's unmerited 681 00:24:32,910 --> 00:24:34,049 favor to the uttermost. 682 00:24:34,750 --> 00:24:35,970 Praise be to God. 683 00:24:40,095 --> 00:24:41,154 In verse 20, 684 00:24:41,855 --> 00:24:43,714 Paul repeats his hapless conclusion 685 00:24:44,095 --> 00:24:46,894 of verse 17. He writes, when I sin, 686 00:24:46,894 --> 00:24:48,755 it is no longer I who do it, 687 00:24:49,259 --> 00:24:49,759 but 688 00:24:50,220 --> 00:24:51,359 sin that dwells 689 00:24:52,059 --> 00:24:52,960 within me. 690 00:24:55,259 --> 00:24:56,880 What we have here is an x-ray 691 00:24:57,259 --> 00:24:58,480 of the human soul. 692 00:24:59,580 --> 00:25:00,480 Paul's fallen, 693 00:25:01,180 --> 00:25:03,680 unregenerate soul was a slave of sin. 694 00:25:04,644 --> 00:25:06,184 Paul was under sin's domain 695 00:25:06,805 --> 00:25:07,545 and control. 696 00:25:08,325 --> 00:25:10,424 Sin was Paul's master. 697 00:25:11,365 --> 00:25:12,105 But then, 698 00:25:12,644 --> 00:25:14,265 on the famous road to Damascus, 699 00:25:14,884 --> 00:25:16,505 Paul met the risen Christ 700 00:25:17,339 --> 00:25:18,640 and Christ redeemed 701 00:25:19,179 --> 00:25:21,500 Paul. He purchased him with his blood and 702 00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:22,720 made Paul his. 703 00:25:23,660 --> 00:25:25,599 In Christ, Paul died to sin 704 00:25:25,980 --> 00:25:27,359 and became a new creation. 705 00:25:27,900 --> 00:25:28,400 However, 706 00:25:29,775 --> 00:25:30,755 though Paul was 707 00:25:31,055 --> 00:25:34,355 instantly justified before God through the atoning work 708 00:25:34,815 --> 00:25:35,474 of Jesus, 709 00:25:36,174 --> 00:25:38,835 Paul's sanctification, that is his growth in holiness, 710 00:25:39,295 --> 00:25:40,434 like that of all believers, 711 00:25:41,295 --> 00:25:42,515 entails the gradual 712 00:25:43,190 --> 00:25:45,269 but sure work of God's spirit throughout his 713 00:25:45,269 --> 00:25:45,769 life 714 00:25:46,309 --> 00:25:48,170 as the old nature is put to death 715 00:25:48,789 --> 00:25:49,849 and the new nature 716 00:25:50,150 --> 00:25:51,450 reigns in its place. 717 00:25:52,869 --> 00:25:55,589 The x-ray of Romans 7 shows us that 718 00:25:55,589 --> 00:25:56,329 the old 719 00:25:56,630 --> 00:25:57,690 sinful nature 720 00:25:58,105 --> 00:25:59,565 is a defeated despot 721 00:25:59,865 --> 00:26:02,524 that remains defiant and deliberate in its death. 722 00:26:03,944 --> 00:26:06,505 Though all though our all nature is mortally 723 00:26:06,505 --> 00:26:07,884 wounded and agonizing, 724 00:26:08,664 --> 00:26:09,964 its sinful disposition 725 00:26:10,730 --> 00:26:11,869 remains a tenacious 726 00:26:12,490 --> 00:26:13,309 and terrible 727 00:26:13,849 --> 00:26:14,349 tyrant 728 00:26:14,730 --> 00:26:15,869 to the very end. 729 00:26:16,970 --> 00:26:17,789 So again, 730 00:26:18,809 --> 00:26:20,250 I say to you that Romans 7 ought 731 00:26:20,250 --> 00:26:21,549 to encourage you this morning 732 00:26:22,250 --> 00:26:24,509 because its x-ray correctly diagnosis 733 00:26:24,809 --> 00:26:26,734 the source of your inner conflict. 734 00:26:28,315 --> 00:26:30,174 There is a tenacious tyrant 735 00:26:30,714 --> 00:26:32,714 trying to keep its old throne in your 736 00:26:32,714 --> 00:26:33,214 soul. 737 00:26:34,795 --> 00:26:37,134 And because old habits die hard, 738 00:26:38,109 --> 00:26:40,589 your thoughts and actions still operate under the 739 00:26:40,589 --> 00:26:41,409 old regime 740 00:26:41,869 --> 00:26:42,849 and its orders 741 00:26:43,230 --> 00:26:44,049 from time 742 00:26:44,349 --> 00:26:45,089 to time. 743 00:26:46,429 --> 00:26:47,329 But be encouraged. 744 00:26:48,029 --> 00:26:50,349 Your soul struggle is a sure sign that 745 00:26:50,349 --> 00:26:53,009 the tyrant's rule is coming to an end. 746 00:26:54,244 --> 00:26:56,164 This brings us to our much shorter second 747 00:26:56,164 --> 00:26:56,664 heading 748 00:26:57,365 --> 00:26:59,384 this morning, the righteous rebellion 749 00:26:59,845 --> 00:27:02,005 of the spirit. Look at verses 21 to 750 00:27:02,005 --> 00:27:02,505 23. 751 00:27:03,684 --> 00:27:05,384 So I find it to be a law 752 00:27:06,369 --> 00:27:08,130 that when I want to do right, evil 753 00:27:08,130 --> 00:27:09,269 lies close at hand. 754 00:27:09,890 --> 00:27:11,490 For I delight in the law of God 755 00:27:11,490 --> 00:27:13,409 in my inner being, but I see my 756 00:27:13,409 --> 00:27:16,049 members in my members another law, waging war 757 00:27:16,049 --> 00:27:18,210 against the law of my mind and making 758 00:27:18,210 --> 00:27:19,990 me captive to the law of sin 759 00:27:20,450 --> 00:27:21,990 that dwells in my members. 760 00:27:23,465 --> 00:27:25,164 Paul writes that evil lies 761 00:27:25,465 --> 00:27:26,445 close at hand 762 00:27:27,065 --> 00:27:29,785 and that his members obey a sinful law 763 00:27:29,785 --> 00:27:30,525 or rule 764 00:27:30,825 --> 00:27:31,805 or regime, 765 00:27:32,184 --> 00:27:35,065 waging war against Paul even taking him captive 766 00:27:35,065 --> 00:27:35,565 sometimes. 767 00:27:37,169 --> 00:27:41,009 Unfortunately, this is standard operating procedure in a 768 00:27:41,009 --> 00:27:41,909 fallen world 769 00:27:42,289 --> 00:27:44,529 and we are far too familiar with this 770 00:27:44,529 --> 00:27:46,149 miserable pattern. Aren't we? 771 00:27:47,409 --> 00:27:49,649 But what is truly significant, what is truly 772 00:27:49,649 --> 00:27:50,149 remarkable 773 00:27:50,894 --> 00:27:53,055 is that Paul writes that he wants to 774 00:27:53,055 --> 00:27:54,355 do what is right 775 00:27:55,375 --> 00:27:57,214 and that he delights in the law of 776 00:27:57,214 --> 00:27:58,434 God in his inner being. 777 00:27:59,855 --> 00:28:02,015 This is evidence of the righteous rebellion of 778 00:28:02,015 --> 00:28:02,674 the spirit. 779 00:28:03,900 --> 00:28:05,279 The reason any person 780 00:28:06,380 --> 00:28:07,759 wants to do what is right, 781 00:28:09,340 --> 00:28:10,880 and the reason any person 782 00:28:11,660 --> 00:28:12,160 delights 783 00:28:12,539 --> 00:28:14,220 in the law of God in his inner 784 00:28:14,220 --> 00:28:16,880 being is that such person has been redeemed 785 00:28:17,180 --> 00:28:19,279 and belongs now to another master. 786 00:28:20,914 --> 00:28:23,654 Within that person, the Holy Spirit has initiated 787 00:28:23,875 --> 00:28:25,335 a rebellion of the heart, 788 00:28:25,955 --> 00:28:27,494 turning that person's affections, 789 00:28:27,875 --> 00:28:29,095 that person's desires, 790 00:28:29,394 --> 00:28:32,275 that person's dreams, and that person's hopes on 791 00:28:32,275 --> 00:28:33,015 their head. 792 00:28:35,369 --> 00:28:37,630 The righteous rebellion of the spirit has taken 793 00:28:38,090 --> 00:28:40,250 root and new orders from a new king 794 00:28:40,250 --> 00:28:41,869 with a new mission have been issued. 795 00:28:43,850 --> 00:28:45,369 It may take some time for all the 796 00:28:45,369 --> 00:28:46,990 soldiers to receive the new orders 797 00:28:47,585 --> 00:28:49,345 and it may take longer still for all 798 00:28:49,345 --> 00:28:50,884 the soldiers to be retrained, 799 00:28:52,464 --> 00:28:54,484 but the plans are already in motion. 800 00:28:54,865 --> 00:28:56,884 The tide of the war has turned 801 00:28:57,184 --> 00:28:58,565 and victory is inevitable. 802 00:29:00,700 --> 00:29:02,380 Love for God's law is it and a 803 00:29:02,380 --> 00:29:04,799 sincere hatred of sin are sure 804 00:29:05,099 --> 00:29:05,599 signs 805 00:29:05,980 --> 00:29:07,919 that the righteous rebellion of the spirit 806 00:29:08,299 --> 00:29:11,099 is already flying its banner in a person's 807 00:29:11,099 --> 00:29:11,599 heart. 808 00:29:13,034 --> 00:29:14,554 This brings us to our last heading this 809 00:29:14,554 --> 00:29:17,134 morning, our sure salvation in Christ. 810 00:29:17,835 --> 00:29:19,534 Look at verses 24 and 25. 811 00:29:20,714 --> 00:29:22,174 Wretched man that I am, 812 00:29:22,554 --> 00:29:24,234 who will deliver me from this body of 813 00:29:24,234 --> 00:29:24,734 death? 814 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:26,900 Thanks be to God 815 00:29:27,279 --> 00:29:28,980 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 816 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:31,440 So then I myself serve the law of 817 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:32,660 God with my mind, 818 00:29:33,279 --> 00:29:34,420 but with my flesh 819 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:35,619 I serve 820 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:37,539 the law of sin. 821 00:29:42,255 --> 00:29:43,794 Paul concludes chapter 7 822 00:29:44,494 --> 00:29:45,394 of this letter 823 00:29:46,174 --> 00:29:49,054 by recognizing that 2 different laws are waging 824 00:29:49,054 --> 00:29:50,194 war within his being, 825 00:29:50,654 --> 00:29:51,714 the law of God 826 00:29:52,255 --> 00:29:53,554 and the law of sin. 827 00:29:54,230 --> 00:29:56,470 Paul's mind which has been renewed by the 828 00:29:56,470 --> 00:29:58,170 spirit represents his new 829 00:29:58,630 --> 00:29:59,609 redeemed nature. 830 00:30:00,230 --> 00:30:01,130 Paul's flesh 831 00:30:01,590 --> 00:30:03,529 on the other hand represents his old nature 832 00:30:03,670 --> 00:30:04,490 which slowly 833 00:30:04,950 --> 00:30:05,609 but surely 834 00:30:06,150 --> 00:30:06,890 is dying. 835 00:30:08,394 --> 00:30:10,654 For the believer, therefore, the struggle is real. 836 00:30:11,674 --> 00:30:13,835 The war within is between the old sinful 837 00:30:13,835 --> 00:30:14,335 nature 838 00:30:14,795 --> 00:30:16,494 and the new redeemed nature. 839 00:30:17,195 --> 00:30:18,815 And every time you sin, 840 00:30:19,730 --> 00:30:21,029 you will feel the frustration. 841 00:30:21,730 --> 00:30:24,150 You will feel like a wretched human being, 842 00:30:24,690 --> 00:30:25,830 but don't give up. 843 00:30:26,930 --> 00:30:29,349 Don't desist in your pursuit of godliness. 844 00:30:29,970 --> 00:30:31,109 The struggle itself 845 00:30:31,650 --> 00:30:33,650 is a sign of the victory that Christ 846 00:30:33,650 --> 00:30:34,710 has already secured 847 00:30:35,144 --> 00:30:37,065 and of the change that is already taking 848 00:30:37,065 --> 00:30:38,125 root in your heart. 849 00:30:39,305 --> 00:30:41,224 So when you feel for the frustration of 850 00:30:41,224 --> 00:30:42,125 sin overcome 851 00:30:42,744 --> 00:30:43,724 overcome you. 852 00:30:44,505 --> 00:30:45,565 Overcome it 853 00:30:46,585 --> 00:30:48,045 by imitating Paul. 854 00:30:48,849 --> 00:30:50,690 First he cries, Wretched man that I am. 855 00:30:50,690 --> 00:30:52,210 Who will deliver me from this body of 856 00:30:52,210 --> 00:30:52,710 death? 857 00:30:53,809 --> 00:30:55,909 But then he cries, Thanks be to God 858 00:30:56,210 --> 00:30:58,149 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 859 00:30:59,329 --> 00:31:02,289 If you're going to successfully wage war against 860 00:31:02,289 --> 00:31:02,789 sin, 861 00:31:03,304 --> 00:31:04,125 you must own 862 00:31:04,505 --> 00:31:05,964 it and disown it. 863 00:31:07,304 --> 00:31:09,625 In other words, like Paul, you must first 864 00:31:09,625 --> 00:31:10,605 own your sin. 865 00:31:11,865 --> 00:31:14,525 Don't make excuses for it. Confess it. 866 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:16,220 The Apostle 867 00:31:16,519 --> 00:31:18,519 John writes in 1st John 19, if we 868 00:31:18,519 --> 00:31:19,579 confess our sins, 869 00:31:20,039 --> 00:31:21,500 He is faithful and just 870 00:31:21,799 --> 00:31:23,559 to forgive us our sins and to cleanse 871 00:31:23,559 --> 00:31:25,179 us from all unrighteousness. 872 00:31:26,359 --> 00:31:28,940 Paul cries out, Wretched man that I am. 873 00:31:29,355 --> 00:31:30,255 Who will deliver 874 00:31:32,154 --> 00:31:34,075 me? Repenting and grieving over sin is a 875 00:31:34,075 --> 00:31:36,875 necessary step in the road to victory over 876 00:31:36,875 --> 00:31:37,375 it. 877 00:31:38,234 --> 00:31:40,414 You don't defeat the tyrant in your soul 878 00:31:40,634 --> 00:31:43,035 because you are mightier than it. You defeat 879 00:31:43,035 --> 00:31:45,214 it because you have a champion who is. 880 00:31:46,309 --> 00:31:48,630 That's why you not only have to own 881 00:31:48,630 --> 00:31:50,890 your sin, you also have to disown it. 882 00:31:51,509 --> 00:31:54,730 Identify it but don't be identified by it. 883 00:31:56,070 --> 00:31:57,609 You belong to Christ now. 884 00:31:58,684 --> 00:32:00,065 Take your sin to Him 885 00:32:00,684 --> 00:32:02,224 and let Him deal with it. 886 00:32:02,765 --> 00:32:04,285 Pray that He will strengthen you when you 887 00:32:04,285 --> 00:32:04,945 are tempted. 888 00:32:05,964 --> 00:32:07,404 Pray that He will sustain you when you 889 00:32:07,404 --> 00:32:08,065 are weak. 890 00:32:09,085 --> 00:32:10,924 Pray that He will lift you up when 891 00:32:10,924 --> 00:32:11,825 you fall down. 892 00:32:12,789 --> 00:32:14,809 Pray that He will become more lovely to 893 00:32:16,470 --> 00:32:18,470 you, that His word will become more precious 894 00:32:18,470 --> 00:32:19,049 to you, 895 00:32:19,829 --> 00:32:21,829 that His will will become will become more 896 00:32:21,829 --> 00:32:23,930 important to you than anything else. 897 00:32:24,575 --> 00:32:26,355 And then, set out to do it, 898 00:32:26,815 --> 00:32:28,674 to live according to your new orders. 899 00:32:29,615 --> 00:32:31,234 Develop the spiritual discipline 900 00:32:31,694 --> 00:32:34,815 of weekly corporate worship and of daily household 901 00:32:34,815 --> 00:32:35,315 worship. 902 00:32:37,019 --> 00:32:38,640 Develop the spiritual discipline 903 00:32:39,100 --> 00:32:40,880 of bible study with God's people 904 00:32:41,420 --> 00:32:42,240 and of daily 905 00:32:42,700 --> 00:32:43,680 personal devotions. 906 00:32:44,940 --> 00:32:47,600 Develop the spiritual discipline of weekly corporate prayer 907 00:32:48,380 --> 00:32:50,480 and of daily prayer when you wake up 908 00:32:51,095 --> 00:32:52,075 and when you go to bed 909 00:32:53,894 --> 00:32:54,795 before meals, 910 00:32:55,734 --> 00:32:56,634 before school, 911 00:32:57,095 --> 00:32:58,075 with your family, 912 00:32:58,615 --> 00:32:59,674 and on your own. 913 00:33:01,174 --> 00:33:01,674 Develop 914 00:33:02,295 --> 00:33:03,434 the spiritual discipline 915 00:33:04,214 --> 00:33:05,994 of communing with God through the sacrament 916 00:33:06,900 --> 00:33:08,900 and a fellowship with believers on the Lord's 917 00:33:08,900 --> 00:33:09,400 Day 918 00:33:09,700 --> 00:33:10,920 and throughout the week. 919 00:33:12,019 --> 00:33:13,460 The point is that you don't want to 920 00:33:13,460 --> 00:33:14,359 give quarter. 921 00:33:15,140 --> 00:33:16,200 Give no quarter. 922 00:33:17,460 --> 00:33:19,619 Give no quarter to that tyrant who once 923 00:33:19,619 --> 00:33:20,759 ruled in your heart. 924 00:33:22,005 --> 00:33:22,744 He's fighting, 925 00:33:23,605 --> 00:33:24,744 but he's on the run. 926 00:33:25,525 --> 00:33:27,224 He still wins some battles, 927 00:33:28,005 --> 00:33:29,384 but he's lost the war. 928 00:33:30,404 --> 00:33:32,884 That's why Paul's second cry is, Thanks be 929 00:33:32,884 --> 00:33:34,799 to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 930 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:37,860 Because Christ is the sure deliverer of everyone 931 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:39,539 who calls upon his name. 932 00:33:41,519 --> 00:33:44,960 On September 2, 1945, Japan signed its official 933 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:45,460 surrender 934 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:48,180 bringing the 2nd World War to an end. 935 00:33:49,445 --> 00:33:51,945 However, one of Japan's soldiers named Hiro Onoda 936 00:33:52,005 --> 00:33:54,025 kept fighting for another 29 years. 937 00:33:55,125 --> 00:33:57,125 Onoda had been hiding in the jungle of 938 00:33:57,125 --> 00:33:58,825 1 of the Philippines Islands 939 00:33:59,684 --> 00:34:00,744 when the war ended 940 00:34:01,205 --> 00:34:03,464 and he never received orders to stop fighting. 941 00:34:04,230 --> 00:34:05,210 So he kept fighting. 942 00:34:06,069 --> 00:34:08,650 He continued to fight launching guerrilla style warfare 943 00:34:09,349 --> 00:34:11,050 on the population of that island 944 00:34:11,510 --> 00:34:13,609 for almost 3 decades. 945 00:34:15,269 --> 00:34:17,590 When a Japanese adventurer traveling on that island 946 00:34:17,590 --> 00:34:18,650 encountered Onoda 947 00:34:19,255 --> 00:34:20,074 in 1974, 948 00:34:20,934 --> 00:34:22,695 he informed him that the war had long 949 00:34:22,695 --> 00:34:23,355 been over. 950 00:34:24,934 --> 00:34:26,534 Onoda told him that he would not give 951 00:34:26,534 --> 00:34:27,275 up the fight 952 00:34:27,734 --> 00:34:30,155 until he received orders from his commanding officer. 953 00:34:32,230 --> 00:34:34,250 He finally gave up his arms in March 954 00:34:34,390 --> 00:34:35,050 of 1974, 955 00:34:35,349 --> 00:34:38,489 when his wartime commander traveled to the island 956 00:34:39,030 --> 00:34:41,610 and ordered him to lay down his weapons. 957 00:34:43,110 --> 00:34:45,590 Dear Christian, there's a war being waged within 958 00:34:45,590 --> 00:34:46,065 you. 959 00:34:47,264 --> 00:34:48,784 But it has actually been over for a 960 00:34:48,784 --> 00:34:49,684 very long time. 961 00:34:50,944 --> 00:34:53,344 Your old nature is still following orders from 962 00:34:53,344 --> 00:34:54,565 an old commanding officer 963 00:34:55,105 --> 00:34:56,405 that has already been defeated. 964 00:34:57,425 --> 00:34:59,664 The righteous rebellion of the spirit is already 965 00:34:59,664 --> 00:35:00,724 flying its flag. 966 00:35:01,230 --> 00:35:03,650 And the king is marching with his army 967 00:35:03,789 --> 00:35:05,630 to take sole possession of his throne in 968 00:35:05,630 --> 00:35:06,369 your heart. 969 00:35:07,150 --> 00:35:08,929 So wage war against wickedness 970 00:35:09,630 --> 00:35:12,130 and keep fighting the good fight. Let's pray.