Sermon Brief
Date Written: March 24, 2012
Date Preached: March 25, 2012
Where Preached: OPBC (AM)
Sermon Details:
Series Title: A Journey thru Romans
Sermon Title: The Law & the Believer
Sermon Text: Romans 7:13-25 [ESV]
Introduction:
Well we have come a long way here in the book of Romans. We have learned where Paul shared that if you believe and have faith in Christ Jesus that you are justified before God… this means you have been declared NOT GUILTY in his sight and the penalty of sin has been removed from your life!
We have also learned how that when we come to know Christ Jesus we are freed from the power of sin… and that God has delivered us from the bondage that has kept us separated from God… we have been restored to the created order in direct communion with God.
Over the past 2 weeks we have learned that in Christ we have also been freed from the Law that the Jews believed to be the only way to know God and experience God.
We have learned that we are not in a ‘performance based’ relationship! But that we are bathed in the absolutely rich and forgiving grace of God… given freely thru His Son Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.
We have now come to the final section of this chapter… and it speaks to an even MORE intimate level of how we, as believers, can and should deal with the issue of the Law in our lives!
Last week we saw how Paul established that the Law was NOT evil but it was good and holy – Paul NOW moves logically to the next question to be asked and we find it listed in v.13… let’s look at these verses…
[show verses here]
13Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
So in v.13 we find Paul asking the question: “Did that which is good (the good and holy Law) then bring death to me? In other words, what Paul is asking is a question in response to what he had written in v.10 of this same chapter, when he wrote: “…the very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me…”
Did the law bring death to Paul? Paul states later in v.13 with the same emphatic NO… just as he had in 6:1, 6:15, and & 7:1… NO WAY! Paul says…
NO it was NOT the law that brought death… Paul says, “It was sin!” Here Paul is personalizing what he had been put forth in v.11 where he wrote, “…for SIN, seizing an opportunity thru the commandment (Law), deceived me and thru it killed me…” (brought me death)
The statement by Paul here in v.13, “…it was SIN, producing death in me thru that which was good…” This clarifies what Paul had laid out at the end of chapter 6 when he wrote, “…for the wages of sin is death…” or the only result that comes from sin is death! Sin has deceived him & dragged him into transgression and had brought death along to place it upon Paul…
But, I want us to see what Paul is pointing toward here in this verse (v.13) Paul’s entire point here is to reveal the evil nature of sin… or has he puts it: “…that sin might be shown to be sin and thru the commandment (Law) might become sinful beyond measure…” In other words, that we may see sin for what it truly is… an evil and destructive force seeking only to kill us!
Paul continues in v.14 – reminding us of the godly/spiritual & pure nature of the law – in contrast to the falleness of the human heart!
Paul says – [Read v.14 here]
Something in humanity even in believers that wants to rebel against God & His calling. Paul says, “…but I am OF THE FLESH…” meaning he has a battle raging on within his heart!
What Paul is acknowledging his sinful nature and selfish desire to do as he pleases or sees fit. “I am a sinner!” is what Paul is saying here when he says “I am of the flesh”… which is reinforcing his earlier statement in Rom 3:23 when he wrote, “…for all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory…”
I am a sinner by nature & because of that… sin was able to deceive me and lead me into transgression against God…
In v.15 Paul continues his explanation of his journey – which is a picture for ALL of us. Paul uses himself as an example for ALL of human frailty and sin...
He says something here that I believe we ALL have experienced in our lives… “…I do NOT understand my own actions…” WOW! Have you ever been there before?
Have you ever sat back after you have done something you know was wrong… and you KNOW God is not pleased – and wonder “Why did I do that?”
But in your mind – when you are doing it you just could NOT help yourself – your sinful nature just took over and the sin swept over your and consumed you… and afterward you just don’t understand WHY you did what you did…
Paul says here, “…I do NOT do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…” what is Paul saying? He is saying that what he KNOWS to be wrong (things he hates) are the very things he is drawn to – and conversely the things he knows are good and right for him – those things he AVOIDS and SHUNS – he does NOT do them!
WHY IS THAT? WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT?
Paul describes his reasoning for this course of action back in v.11, “…sin, serving an opportunity thru the commandment deceived me & thru it killed me…”
The term ‘killed me’ here refers to the fact that in sin we have ZERO power within us to fight against it – almost as if we are like a dead man trying to defend himself – it just won’t work!
Paul understand that in his heart and under his own power that he understand that he has NO defense against sin… he is like a dead man trying to defend himself!
Our helplessness against sin is comparable to our helpless in ability to save ourselves – In Eph 1 Paul says we are all DEAD in our trespass/sin—This refers to a dead man at the bottom of the sea who thinks he can save himself – 1st of all a dead man doesn’t know he needs saving… HE’S DEAD!
Just like a dead man cannot save himself – he also cannot protect himself against the onslaught of sin within his life! So Paul is basically saying here in v.11 & here in v.15 that he has NO ability to deter sin – that on his own he is going to LOSE…EVERYTIME!
You know many of us here want to take our sin by ourselves – under our own strength – we believe we can be ‘good enough’ we believe we can ‘overcome’ sin with our goodness! But listen to what Paul is saying in v.18 when he writes, “…I know that nothing good dwells in me…”
Nothing good?? Really Paul? NOTHING? Isn’t that just a tad harsh… ‘nothing good’??? really?
Paul I have good in me – it may not be the best but I have good in me… and I know that is what ALL of you here today are thinking… Preacher… I have good in me!
BUT…for the believer it doesn’t matter what we ‘think’ or how we ‘feel’ – we must test all things thru God’s word! – SO let’s go to God’s word:
Isaiah 53:6 (read verse)
Prov 12:15 (read verse)
Scripture teaches us that sin is sin and that if you break ONE you have broken them all… sin corrupts! We can SAY that we have good in us, but the good we see is only good in the eyes of the world…
Isaiah also told us that our ‘good’ is nothing more than filthy rags in the sight of God! (Read Is 64:6)
The best we have to offer is like a soiled diaper in God’s eyes our righteousness is an utter failure in the eyes of God!
So when you say, “Preacher, there is good in me…” I want you to understand that the good you see is like a dirty diaper to God… this is because of our sin! Only God is good and we can only know good thru Jesus Christ!
Paul continues in v.16 (show verse) by stating, “…if I do what I do not want (and) agree with the law, that is good…” Basically what Paul is saying here is that – he knows what to do but he doesn’t do it [the implication here is he wants to but just can’t]
But if he WERE to do what he could never bring himself to do [that which he does not want] he would be acknowledging and agreeing that the Law was good thing.
However, in v.17 he acknowledges the bondage to sin that we ALL face – it is a bondage that we hate, but cannot shake! It is a bondage that forces us to do things we don’t want to do… it is a bondage that literally controls our every move, thought and action! [read v.17 here]
So what Paul is basically saying here is “I am HELPLESS against sin – I do NOT/have NEVER had control… it is the SIN that controls me!”
He explains this further in v.18-19 [read v.18-19 here] Paul is explaining what is happening in his life! Now does this sound a bit familiar? This is a picture of the human heart opened and revealed!
Paul is speaking in 1st person singular, but the principle here is universal! Yes, Paul understands how sin controls the human heart and he is using himself as an example to illustrate that NO ONE is exempt from the rule of sin and that we are ALL in bondage… let’s breakdown what Paul is saying:
v.18 – Paul acknowledges again what he has already stated… that we are all sinners! We are all fallen B4 God and here Paul makes it personal rather than just use a general statement!
However, Paul knows the human heart and how we are overwhelmed in our sinful nature! And even tho’ we want to do the right thing… even tho’ we desire what is right… we just DON’T do it!
Look what he says here, “…I have the desire to do what is right…” he WANTS to do right, but he is powerless to overcome the sinful nature of his own heart!
Paul says, “…but NOT the ability to carry it out…” Paul sees that he has the desire, but does NOT have what it takes to make it happen!
In v.19 Paul details this thought process a little more [read v.19 again] Here he is basically saying, “I know what I should be doing and I know what I should NOT be doing…it is the evil I find myself doing and doing and doing!”
When we get to v.20 we find Paul acknowledging once again his helpless state in sin – Paul has NO power to stop it or change it! The sin dwelling in his heart controls him and rules his life!
In v.21 Paul summarizes what he has just laid out [read v.21 here] “Hey I hve come to realize a horrible fact in my life – when I want to do good sin is right there leading to do the wrong thing…just the opposite of what I want to do…”
In v.22-23 Paul continues his summary [v.22-23] “hey guys I know the law – I believe in my heart that God’s law is good and holy, and I want to keep it! BUT my body, my actions, my thoughts are all at war against my heart! They overwhelm my heart and take it captive to their desire…”
So we are helpless against sin… we have NO power against this sin that so controls all of who we are! Paul has painted a terribly bleak picture of the human standing before God when we stand ON our own…
But in v.24-25 Paul has detailed this point by using himself as the example but presenting a universal truth/principle that applies to all of humanity!
Here he has set the stage to allow us to see the picture with much greater clarity! The law is from God and is good and holy! The law sets boundaries for living our lives 4 God… the law reveals where we fall short…and fail! It lets us know just how powerful sin is and the control sin has over our lives!
We WANT to do the right thing in our hearts, but we can never seem to get it right as we are always led away captive by sin… we are always controlled and oppressed by sin… we are helplessly and hopelessly trapped in the bondage of sin… wanting to do right, but do not have the ability to do it!
Paul picture is a grim one… Paul expresses some great frustration about this picture here in v.24 [read v.24]
He says, “I am HOPELESS! I am HELPLESS!! I can NEVER do what God desires of me… I am a WRETCH!”
A wretch is defined as someone who is despicable and viewed with disdain and contempt and highly disapproved… but it also someone who is highly troubled and distressed!
Helpless, hopeless, contemptible, troubled and distressed – What a sad and gloomy picture that Paul paints of humanity without God! This is what happens when humanity attempts to please God thru their own works! It is an utter failure…
Paul says, “I am a wretch… I am hopeless, I am despicable, I am troubled and distressed over my condition!” IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN HELP ME?
Paul wanted to know if he was forever trapped in this helpless state… Paul wanted to know if he would ever find rescue and deliverance from the sin that was holding him captive… IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN HELP ME?
Then Paul gives us v.25 which is a WONDERFUL picture of the Good News! [read v.25 here] Paul raises the curtain and reveals to his readers what he has been wanting to say all along!
What he is saying here is “Hey people here is the truth of the matter… Jesus is the answer! Jesus is the One who can help us! He is the One who can deliver us and rescue us from the opportunity of sin!
Who can deliver us? Jesus! Who is our hope? Jesus!
Here Paul is jubilant in his revelation… THANKS BE TO GOD! He rejoices and revels in the love God has shown in and thru Jesus Christ!
This verse by Paul here in v.25 is an echo of the words of Jesus from John 3:16, “…for God so loved the world…”
THANK YOU GOD! Is what Paul is saying here! Thank you for sending Jesus… God it is only because of your love and grace thru Jesus that we can be saved and know you!
Then Paul adds an aside here… a small reminder that on our own we can do NOTHING but fail! We WANT to do good, but we always come up short because of sin in our lives!
The implication here is made abundantly clear in the next chapter in which Jesus is exalted as the only way to God! Without Jesus we could NEVER make it… it is all done thru Him…
Do invitation HERE!
