HoHum:
Joni Ericson Toda describes her first realization of the grim reality of her paralysis. Joni was only 15 when she was permanently paralyzed from the neck down as the result of a diving accident. She was rushed to the hospital for tests and x-rays to determine the extent of her injury. As she lay unclothed on a hospital cart, the sheet covering her slipped to the side leaving her partially exposed. In her modesty, Joni desperately wanted to cover herself, a small task easily and quickly accomplished before her accident. But now, as much as she wanted to make her arms and hands move, they simply would not respond. Joni knew in her mind exactly what she wanted to do, but her body was totally unresponsive. Joni’s difficulty only partially describes the situation in Romans 7, for it is one thing to have our body not do what we tell it to and quite another to realize that our body is obedient to something else.
WBTU:
There is controversy over this passage on what time frame Paul is talking about in his life. Paul refers to himself quite a lot. Notice how many times “I” is used. Some say that he is talking about his life before he met Jesus on the Damascus road. Other say that he is talking about his life right after his conversion to Christ, a new babe in Jesus. The view that makes the most sense to me is that he is talking about his life right now, as he is writing the book of Romans. He is talking about his Christian experience, baby, adulthood, and right now.
Some people have the idea that a man like St. Paul could not have suffered temptations and trials that we face. He is in a different class and is so far above sin. If we were to look upon the hearts of the saints that we so often admire, we would be appalled by their sins and passions. The fact is this: the nearer we draw to God, the most intensely we mourn over our evil hearts, and the more our sins, failings and temptations tease us day after day.
The Bible says that Jesus was tempted in every way and yet was without sin and we think that the apostles, who are not Jesus, did the same. When we catch a dose of reality here from the Apostle Paul, we are shocked. Paul suffers from the same conflicts, from the same inner turmoil that all of us deal with every day. What an encouragement and comfort this is.
Thesis: Let’s look at the two natures, the constant battle, and the weary warrior.
For instances:
The two natures- Romans 7:18
Before we came to Christ for salvation, we had only one nature. The NIV calls it the sinful nature. Soul, spirit and body were all corrupt. There was no conflict because it was all bad.
Now wait a minute, I know many people who are not Christians who are good. Yes, when compared to others that might be true. The fact is that without Jesus Christ, we are described as sick, rotten, and dead. Ephesians 2:1-3: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.” Notice that there is no conflict.
When a person becomes a Christian, the double cure is applied. The first and most important cure is for our legal problems. God, the Judge, through Jesus Christ and the cross declares “No penalty for you!” The second cure is for our sin sickness. God, the doctor, through the Holy Spirit (talk more about this next week), resurrects us (like Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead) our souls and spirits into new life and gives us a new nature. Ephesians 2:4-6: But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.
After this the Christian becomes a double man- two men in one. Some think that when we come to Christ the old nature is completely taken out of us; not so, for the Word of God and experience teaches us otherwise.
The "death TO sin" in chapter 6, is not a TOTAL death, not a complete removal of one's sinful tendencies, and sinful desires. Before Christ we were dead in our spirits, souls, but alive in our bodies. After Christ we are alive in our spirits, souls but dying in our bodies.
Flesh (dying) and spirit (living, growing) co-exist in the Christian. 2 Corinthians 4:16: Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
The problem is that we are not whole and we will never be whole until the perfecting of our soul, spirit and body after this life. Our bodies are not redeemed, and they will not be redeemed until the resurrection morning. Our spirits and souls are redeemed and they have the new nature. Our bodies have the old nature and thus there is the conflict between them.
Romans 7:18 (KJV): For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing. This is the body of death, the old nature. We have a new nature and this is talked about in 1 John 3:9: No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
The flesh is not the only place where we have conflict. This whole world like our bodies is sick, condemned, and cursed (Rom 8). Also, Satan and his kingdom are causing their trouble.
However, we see the two natures within the Christian.
The Constant Battle- Romans 7:15, 21
Many times right and wrong are divided from one another by distance. Imagine if they lived in the same house? But they do, they live within the Christian.
When we overcome one sin, it seems like another raises it’s ugly head. Vs. 21: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
We know that we are Christians when we hate our sins. If we don’t care that is when we have reason to worry. Even when we sin, we know that it is not good, and this is good. Vs. 15: For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Some people have the idea that they are not saved because they have all sins in their lives. When we are Christians we realize we have sins and we are concerned about them.
The enemy within us can never be driven out completely while we are here. The old nature was with us when we obeyed the gospel, and it will be with us till the moment we leave our bones in the grave. James 4:1- your desires that battle within you?
Galatians 5:17: They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
The Weary Warrior- Romans 7:24
Will the Law help us? No, the law makes things worse. Romans 7:7-8: For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire.
Will our conscience help us? No, the conscience makes us see the battle, but it cannot help us. Romans 2:15: their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them
Romans 7:23: I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
The old human nature says to us, “It is hopeless. No one will deliver you.”
Some would say, “Just trust in Jesus Christ our Lord, because he will deliver.” This is true and this is the first step. Need to have a new nature put within us. However, what helps does Jesus Christ our Lord give to us? What doctor orders are given to us to help us?
Admit that we are powerless in ourselves to win the battle. Willpower is not going to do it. If we could do it on our own, Jesus Christ would not be needed. Two things here:
2 Corinthians 12:8-9: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Reserve a daily time with God for self evaluation, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will. Mark 14:38: Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.
Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.
Psalm 139:23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
James 5:16: confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life. Philippians 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Conclusion and invitation:
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil and the other is good. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
