Why I do the things I do?
Romans chapter 7:14-25
Introduction-
We started a new series last week “Looking for answers”.
Last week we looked at what it means to be alive in Christ. We also saw what it meant to be dead without Christ.
This week, we ask the question, “Why do I do the things I do?
Did you ever wonder that?
We don’t do what we intend to do, things that we do not want to do, that we end up doing. Why?
What does God’s Word have to say about it?
It is the final word on the matter, weather we agree with it or not!
Romans chapter 7:14-25
Again Paul is the writer of the words of God concerning this question.
Don’t you think sometimes it’s a scene out of Dr. Jekyll and Me. Hyde?
Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel about right and wrong, joy and despair, the struggle of good and evil, natural man vs spirit man.
Stevenson, the author was asked- “Where did you get the model of your character of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? He said I found it in my nature.
He was a Christian and had learned that every saved person has a new nature and an old nature inside.
People hate their sin and love it at the same time.
It really boils down to the fact of struggling with sin.
Paul in 7:11 says “sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandments “deceived me.”
Sin, when it wins the battle within us- deceives us into thinking we have won, we have gotten away with something, pleasure without cost… but it deceives us.
In our text this morning, Paul talks about the law being good. Talking about the 10 commandments. But the law only shows us that we cannot possibly please God by trying to obey the commandments
Forbidden is always tempting!
We saw that with Adam and Eve. They could not stand that God said leave that tree alone.
We see it with kids- “Do not touch”! “Do not go into that cookie jar”
we see it with adults also- “Wet paint” we have to touch it to see if the paint is still really wet.
Sin or struggling with sin can take something good and lovely and corrupt and pollute it.
There is a saying- “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step”
So what does Paul say we need to do to conquer this battle that rages within us?
How do we have a change of allegiance?
The sin problem has two sides.
1. Sinful acts- Romans 3:23- “All Have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
2. Sinful nature- Romans 7:14- “We know the law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.”
We are born with the sin nature!
The solution to the problem is Jesus Christ!
Jesus Christ offers salvation and He offers to give us victory in our lives as believers!
Salvation of Christ is 2 fold.
One is the Born-again experience. Before that, we are from last week alienated from God. It is accepting Christ and His redemption. Which includes forgiveness, justification, regeneration, adoption into the family of God.
The second part is being filled with His Spirit. No one outside of the family of God can be filled with the Spirit of God. Which includes the Sanctified experience . Heart purity. Sin nature taken and eradicated by Christ.
In filling of the Spirit of God for the empowerment to live a victorious live in Christ while we live in this fallen world.
You see where I am going with this? Christ has to do it. You cannot do this for yourself.
Illustration-
Close your eyes. Do not think of chocolate cake. Don’t think of that delicious looking piece of cake. (Hard right?)
God is the one that changes our allegiance.
We struggle with sin because we often times try to do this in our own strength and we fall short.
Some commentary writers accuse Paul of being schizophrenic. His dual nature.
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
This is almost a scene from the movie Rain man.
Paul is telling us that the 10 commandments are good, but that cannot break the power of sin in our lives.
He is telling us that there is a carnal side of us – fleshly self destructive side that is in rebellion against the things of God.
There are consequences of us claiming Jesus Christ, but trying to live our lives in our own strength.
1. when we attempt , that is what it is… a bad attempt to live by God’s standards on our won, we will find ourselves inwardly torn inside.
Our nature is fighting against the things of God.
The only way that decreases if we allow God to take control of our nature and He replaces it with His nature.
“No matter how hard you try to do the right things, evil is right there.”
I like what the Christian singer Keith Greene says about this passage.
“I don’t know if Paul is talking about his life before he is saved or his life after he is saved, all I know is that sounds like my life.”
2. The second consequence when we attempt to love by God’s standards in our own way is – we find ourselves lacking the power to change.
In our strength we fall short. Good intentions but we fall short.
Just like the New Years resolutions.
For the believer to stop doing what He/she does not want to do, Christ has to take control of his life.
(v18) “ For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”
Pleasing God is not a matter of trying harder.
It is a matter of having the Holy Spirit of God empower us.
The mission of the church is not to tell people to try harder and live better lives.
The mission of the church is to share the gospel of the good news of Christ. Because Jesus is the only one who can liberate people from the power of sin.
3. The third consequence when we attempt to live by God’s standards on our own is – we will be miserable!
We will spend a few minutes here and then I will close.
To live without condemnation, but with the power of Christ only comes when we know who we are in Christ.
Satan “accuser” torments Christians today.
John 10:10-
“The thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”
One commentary writer said that believers should just skip Romans 7 and go right to chapter 8. Until you understand chapter 7, you cannot do this without the power of Christ in your life, you cannot enjoy the promises of chapter 8.
Romans chapter 8:1-4.
“For those who are in Christ Jesus- there is victory! Amen.
You become a Christian in a moment, but becoming Christ-like is a life long journey.
Illustration-
Prodigal Son
Dr. J. Vernon Mcgee- “Do you know the difference between the son in that pig pen and the pigs? The difference is that no pig has ever said to himself I will arise and go to my father. But the child of God can do that. God can change our thoughts, our circumstances. As a child of God- God convicts, Satan condemns.
Condemnation- pronounced guilt. To be judged wrong.
Conviction- The act of convincing a person of error. See the difference!
We have an obligation to live what we profess. We can only do that by the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Led by the Spirit- we are the sons/daughter of God
Sonship/ we call him father
We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ
We will show in His glory (as children of God
Our spirit will bear witness to His Spirit
The same Christ that was raised from the dead, will rise His followers to new life (promise)
Maybe you’re here this morning, and your saying to yourself I am miserable after I do these things, I beat myself up and promise God that I won’t do it again, only to let God and myself down again.
