Text: Romans 7:14-25
Title: Follow Your Heart
Romans 7:14-25 14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
I. The Flesh
II. The Heart
III. The Fight
IV. The Focus
The very first thing I want to do today is to give you my secret to sanctification. Do you have your pens ready? It’s not complicated. I think that the secret to sanctification is to do whatever you want. Did you get that? Allow me to repeat it… The secret to successful sanctification is to do whatever you want.
I know that sounds crazy, but I think that’s exactly what Paul teaches us here in the first part of chapter 7. File that thought for a second. We will come back to it later.
The passage we will study today is one of my favorites. It has been historically difficult to understand. But I think if you have the right view of sanctification this passage makes perfect sense. My guess is that Paul’s struggle will resonate with us as we read it. Follow along as I read Romans 7:14-25…
Before we attempt to understand what Paul is talking about we have to get a handle on some of the different views of sanctification. In seminary I took a class on models of sanctification. Different theological systems and denominations have very different understandings of how sanctification takes place.
I have this graph that I made for the class. My original chart had a couple of other theological systems included, but I thought looking at just these four would help us get the picture.
Let me explain my fancy chart. The left column lists four different theological systems, Wesleyan- which would be Methodists and Nazarene churches; Keswick- which isn’t really a denomination, it’s more a teaching that emphasizes that Christ is everything and we are nothing. The Contemplative view- this is more of an experiential and emotional view of sanctification. And then finally the New Covenant view- which, if you know anything about graphs or list, must be the right one because it comes last.
Across the top are some key questions that will help us identify the differences in these views.
The first question is- is there some 2nd religious experience after our initial conversion that brings us closer to sanctification? The Wesleyan and Keswick views say yes. At some point, through disciplines and holy living we can break through the barrier of sin and find freedom. Some on the Wesleyan side even go so far as to say that a person can reach a point in their lives where they no longer sin at all.
The contemplative and New Covenant views don’t believe that there is a second experience. All the tools we need are given to us from day one. There is no greater indwelling or empowering of the Holy Spirit that comes later.
The next question has to do with the nature of the human heart after conversion. Is it still black, is it cleaned up, is it new? The Wesleyan view is that the heart becomes completely clean once a person reaches the right level of holiness. The growth chart for them starts off slow, but once you experience that breakthrough of holiness you jump way up to the level of near sinlessness. That’s why their key concept is entire sanctification. They believe that we can complete the sanctification process here on earth.
The Keswick model teaches that everything about the human is evil and bad. Even once we are saved. Our heart is still black and evil, but it’s covered over by Christ’s righteousness. There is also a second experience in this model. First you make Jesus your savior, and then you make Him your Lord. Once you have completely exchanged your life for His you move to the next level of sanctification.
The contemplative model also teaches that the human heart is black, even after conversion. Their view is that by holding fast to the spiritual disciplines and the more we experience God the closer we will come to sanctification. This model has kind of a stair step approach to growing in our sanctification.
The final view is the one that I personally agree with the most. Now there are aspects of these other models that I think are good. But my mental picture of sanctification looks something like this.
In the New Covenant model the believer in Jesus Christ is given a new heart. The old one is made of stone. The old one is totally corrupt. The old one doesn’t work. The very definition of salvation is God creating in me a clean heart.
I would define “heart” as that core spiritual piece of our being that houses our deepest longings. Our heart holds our intentions, our desires, and our spiritual direction.
With this new heart we now have the ability to desire to do what is right. We used to long to do evil all the time, now we have a heart that longs to do good. The growth chart should be one of gradual progression and improvement until we reach glorification. The key concept is “follow your heart”. Learning to live from the desires of our new heart, not our old flesh.
Is there a 2nd What color is Growth Key
Experience? The heart? Chart Concept
Wesleyan Yes
“Entire Sanctification”
Keswick Yes
“Exchanged Life”
Contemplative No
“Experience God”
New Covenant No
“Follow your Heart”
With this understanding of sanctification in mind, let’s turn our attention to Romans 7.
The first thing Paul explains to us is that even though he is no longer a slave to sin, as he has explained back in chapter 6, he is still of the flesh. There is still a part of him that is in bondage to sin. This is the part of the believer that we call the sinful nature, or the flesh. Paul uses the Greek word for flesh to refer to our sinful nature in a number of places. In fact the NIV translates the word flesh as sinful nature down in verse 18 here.
I’m using this picture of a water buffalo wallowing in mud to depict our sin nature. I don’t know why, it just seemed appropriate.
Paul knows that as long as he lives he will be saddled with that old sin nature. It permeates all we are. It infects all of creation. It is inescapable and unavoidable.
There is a part of us that will always be bent. There is an aspect of our nature that will always be sinful as long as we are in this world. One of the promises of heaven is that we will be fully freed from the destructive power of sin.
So Paul starts by explaining that he has a sinful nature. He has this fleshly part of him that pulls him on one direction. But he also talks about his new nature. This new nature is what we’ve defined as the new heart. Paul refers to his new heart as the inner man,… 22 “For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man”.
Over in chapter 8 Paul elaborates on this inner man and contrasts life in the flesh verses life in the Spirit. So our new heart, our new set of desires is something that is Spirit empowered. The Holy Spirit resides in our heart. He convicts us of sin, urges us on to righteousness, and guides all we do. So our heart is not only new and clean and holy, it is powerful.
So here’s the deal, in this corner is our sinful nature. It is enflamed by the law, but temptation, and by the world. It is bent in on itself. It pulls us to do evil
In this corner is our new heart; our inner man. It empowers us with the desire to do good, to obey God, and to shun evil. It represents our deepest desires, our true intentions, our real longings.
With the stage set with the two competing forces, Paul goes on to explain the fight between the two. With this broad understanding of what is going on inside the believer lets walk through this passage verse by verse and see if we get what Paul is talking about.
Verse 15 says…
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
He says, I don’t do what I want to do, but I do the very things that I hate. What he wants to do in his inner man is obey God, right? He desires to obey. But instead he does the very thing that he hates. He truly hates sin. He really despises it with everything in his new heart, but he ends up doing it anyway because of everything in his old flesh.
Look at 16-17 next…
Now when Paul says that no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me; he’s not passing the blame. He’s not saying “the devil made me do it”; or, “my sin made me do it”. Paul takes full responsibility for his sinful actions and behaviors.
The I here is referring to the new heart. The inner man as he calls it. That new creation part of him isn’t the part that falls to sin, but that old man part is to blame.
The fight rages inside each one of us. There’s the new me, who wants to do good, and the old me, who wants to do evil. Look at how Paul describes this inner struggle in verse 18…
Nothing good dwells in me. In my fleshly nature I am just as sinful as I ever was. In my flesh I am just as weak as I ever was. The desire to sin is still there. Can anyone relate with what Paul is saying here? Do you sometimes still feel like a worthless sinner even though you know that you are a chosen saint? Do you still get disgusted at the filth in your life?
Paul says that the will to do good is there, in his new heart, but the actual doing of the good isn’t there. He desperately wants to do what is good and right and pleasing to God with everything that is in his new, regenerate heart. But the old flesh takes over and his actions betray his desires.
He continues in 19-20…
What a great description of the fight. The good that I really do want to do with my new clean heart, I don’t do. Instead I practice the very evil things that I no longer want to do. The real me is not the one giving in to sin, but my sin nature. I’m not a slave to my sin nature anymore. I don’t want to fall to temptation anymore. But there is that old part of me that still goes there. It isn’t the inner me, the clean heart, the Spirit led part of me that leans towards sin, but the leftover sinful man.
This battle back and forth between the two natures isn’t merely a friendly disagreement or a minor spat. It’s an all out war that rages inside each and every true believer. Look at the language Paul uses in 21-23…
. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
Is this true? Have you discovered this in your own life? The principle that evil is still present in you, even though you desperately want to do good.
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
There is a war being waged inside Paul. His new heart and his old flesh don’t fit well together. They are not compatible. In Christ Jesus Paul is a new creation, a clean vessel, a holy instrument. He has a pure heart.
But in this world, in this body, with this old sin nature, Paul is also still a sinner.
His inner man is in complete agreement with God and God’s law. His inner man is Spirit filled and Spirit-led. His inner man deeply desires to do what is right.
But he also is aware of the law of sin that wages war against that new nature. It is set against it. It is trying to pull us in one direction while our clean heart is trying to pull us in another direction.
There is a continual inner struggle in the life of every believer. I don’t think that what Paul is describing here is unique to him. I think this struggle is something that we can all relate with. We all should be able to identify in a moment with what Paul is saying here.
My guess is that Paul could have given specific examples of the war, and we could too.
I would even suggest to you that this inward struggle is a mark of a true believer in Jesus Christ. Someone who has placed their faith in Jesus, been regenerated by the work of the Holy Spirit, and been given a clean heart will face this struggle.
Someone who does not have a new heart, is not Spirit led, and does not have a regenerated inner man will not face this struggle with sin. They don’t have a battle between their flesh and their clean heart because they don’t have a clean heart. They might feel guilty for some of their actions. They might feel remorse for hurting others. But this kind of inner struggle isn’t present.
The flesh is in complete control. Their heart is black. Their desire is to satisfy their own needs. They have very little problem giving in to temptation and sin. They are spiritually dead.
So if you have felt this inner battle between the old sin nature and your new heart, don’t get discouraged. It is common to every believer; even the apostle Paul. It is a mark of real conversion.
So we have the flesh on one side. It represents our sin nature. Our old man. Our old set of desires and longings.
And we have a new heart on the other side. Our heart is clean and new. It is a heart of flesh. It represents the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. It creates in us a new set of desires and longings.
These two aspects of the believer are locked in a fight. They are waging war against each other. They are set against each other.
The big questions is, “How do we make sure that our new heart wins every time?” What can we do to keep the sinful nature from causing us to do the very things that we no longer want to do? The answer has to do with our focus. Look at verses 24-25…
Like I mentioned earlier, the key to successful sanctification is to do whatever you want. Paul says, I don’t do the things that I want to do and I do the very things that I hate. Paul is saying that the key to sanctification is learning how to do the things that you want to do. The things that your new, clean heart desires to do. The things that the Holy Spirit of God is calling you to do.
What Paul is saying here, and has been saying for the past few chapters, is that sin is no longer something that we want to do. It isn’t that grace frees us to sin all we want, because we don’t want to anymore. It isn’t that we should sin because it somehow makes God look good, that doesn’t work either because we don’t want to sin anymore.
Our whole outlook and mindset has changed. Our whole insides have been rewired. The deepest part of our being has been brought to life through the power of Christ and it causes us to desire what is right.
So the conclusion that I come to is, sanctification is all about you doing whatever you want. When you stop, listen to your heart, listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and then act based on those desires you will always make the right choice.
The key to sanctification is learning how to listen to your heart. Paul talks about putting off the old man and putting on the new man. He talks about living in the Spirit rather than the flesh. He talks about walking in a manner worthy of our calling. How do we do that? How do we learn to listen to our heart instead of our flesh? Let me offer a couple of suggestions.
First, you have to actually have a new heart. A few chapters over… Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
This has to be the first step. We need to allow God to come and change our hearts.
Second, Paul says it’s a matter of what you set your mind on. He says, “I myself with my mind am serving the law of God”. The word for “mind” here in the Greek is simply, your understanding or your reasoning. Sanctification isn’t just about feelings or how strong your will is; it’s about making a conscious, deliberate, well thought out choice.
Making the right decisions requires us to stop and think about what we are doing. It requires us to consult the scriptures, consult spiritual advisors, and consult your conscience. It’s not an accident, but something that we have to deliberately set out to do.
Let me give a general example. It’s Sunday morning and you’re trying to decide whether or not to go to church. In your head there’s this back and forth conversation. I really should go to church today…but I’m sooo tired. It’s good for the kids to be in church…but I think I’m coming down with something. I want to go worship…but I did go the last couple of weeks, I should get one off. I can’t wait to hear the next sermon from Romans…but I could always just watch a sermon on TBN later.
Be honest, how many of you have a conversation like that in your head every week? Some of you might still be having it. The trick is to stop and listen to your heart. What is it that you really want to do, every Sunday? You know that you really want to be in church every week, but come Sunday morning there will be an argument thrown out by the flesh. And things will get even worse during football season.
There are a million areas of life where this kind of thoughtfulness and advanced planning can help us do what we really want to do. When you go to the computer your flesh wants to look at porn, but you’ve already made up your mind to follow your heart. When the flesh tells you that a lie would be the easy way out, you will tell the truth because you’ve already made up your mind to be honest. When that word of gossip or anger or hate jumps to the front of your mind, it will never get past your lips because you have already decided that deep down you desire to encourage and build up.
When you are faced with a moral choice the best way to ensure you make the right choice is to stop, listen to your heart, think about what it is that you really desire to do, and then act accordingly. You can trust your heart because it is clean!
The devil and the world and your sin nature don’t want you to listen to your heart. They just want you to react. But it is so important for us to stop and think and listen closely. The sin nature wants to trick you into doing the very things that you really don’t want to do. We must train ourselves to learn to listen to the deepest desires of our heart.
The good news is that the more we listen to our new heart, the easier it gets. The more we stop and think, the more we do the things we want to do. The more we learn to instinctively listen to that new set of desires and longings, the more we will grow in our sanctification.
Is this a new way of looking at things for you? Have you never really thought of yourself as having a clean heart? God has made us a new creation. We have been transformed. We have been given a whole new set of desires. Stop, listen, and let the Holy Spirit of God guide you as you learn to live in a whole new way.
