"Humans!"
Author: Dr. Neal Gray
Passage: Romans 7:18 - 8:1, KJV
Purpose: Tell me: why do Christians behave they way they do? Hmmm? I mean, less-than-holy behavior at times. It’s because they are "human." Human! An incalculable gift from God!
INTRODUCTION
Opening
Have you stopped to think about the reality that you are a "human"? I mean, this is getting down to the absolute fundamentals here. As a human, all sorts of incredible and even unknowable things surround your existence. Today, I want to talk about--actually I need to talk about for my own good--why we behave the way we do.
I have been struggling for a number of years, about a phenomenon I see in Christian people, (including myself). It happens in unsaved people, too; if this phenomenon happened only in unsaved persons, then the dilemma would be easily solved. But it happens in Christian persons, in saved-and-sanctified Christian persons; and it’s there that I find the great mystery.
Before we get to the Scripture focus for the sermon, (a Scripture that explains the situation to my satisfaction), I’ll give you a brief idea of this phenomenon, this dilemma, this mystery.
Less-than-Holy?
I’m talking about behavior. While WE ARE INGENIOUSLY GOOD AT HIDING IT from one another, I have noted that from time-to-time we Christians behave in ways that are...well, less than what we might think is within normal bounds for a good-and-godly person.
And because of such behavior there is a perplexing of our minds, of our hearts--a perplexing of our spirits when we behave in these less-than-holy ways. Questions understandably arise within us when our behavior sinks to low levels, questions such as:
"Why did I just do that? What caused me to behave in a way that I know my God would prefer me not to do? Am I really a holy person? Or have I been fooling myself all these years?"
These questions come. Even worse than evaluating our ownselves, I find that church folk are very ready to evaluate the less-than-optimal behavior of their fellow church-goers. Observing Brother Berfert or Sister Gertrude, (purely fictional names!), behaving somewhat outside of the norm for Christian persons makes us think: "Well, they certainly are not spiritual. Not as spiritual as they think, anyway!"
==> Are our observations themselves even within the bounds of good Christian behavior? While Jesus clearly teaches us to not judge others, "judge not, that ye be not judged," (Matthew 7:1); He also tells us that "you shall know them by their fruits," (Matthew 7:16a). What’s right? What’s best?
The message today attempts to give some understanding of why good-and-godly Christians sometimes "misbehave."
Scripture
Our Scripture spans from the last part of Romans chapter 7 to the first verse in chapter 8. The great Apostle Paul is speaking. Let’s look together now:
"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
"I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 7:18-8:1, KJV)
POPULAR INTERPRETATIONS OF THIS PASSAGE
Introduction
This passage generates a lot of different opinions among theologians. I’ve heard two major theories given for the meaning of this Scripture passage. I’ll give them to you briefly, and then offer a different "angle" on this passage, so listen closely and pray for God’s good guidance in the matter.
Paul Before Salvation
The first theory is that St. Paul is remembering how life was before he was saved.
In this situation, Paul was remembering that "no good thing dwelt in him." We would all agree that before salvation, sin clearly dwells in people. It is easy for an unsaved person to do the evil thing. In fact, it is very natural. Paul discerned that the "law of sin" was governing his life.
So Paul cries out, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" He came to his senses. He cries out for help from the life of sin and separation from God.
Paul is recalling, in this interpretation, his life before he found Christ.
Paul Before Sanctification
The second major theory is that St. Paul remembering how life was before he was sanctified.
In this situation, Paul was remembering that "no good thing dwelt in him." He recognized that even though he was in the experience of salvation, he knew that sin still had its pull upon him. It is hard to do the good thing. In fact, godly behavior was difficult at best. Paul discerned that the "law of sin" was governing his life.
So Paul cries out, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" He came to his senses. He cries out for help from the life of sinning against God.
Problems with These Two Theories
There are problems with these two theories for me.
When you first read this passage, you might, at first glance, think that this Paul-before-salvation theory is not a bad theory. One really glaring problem, however, is that Paul consistently speaks in the present tense. He is describing life in the here-and-now, not life before Christ.
The huge problem with the second theory, the Paul-before-sanctification interpretation, is that it suggests that once sanctified sometime later on, there would be no such struggles.
Clearly, this is where I am struggling, because I see that good, godly, saved-and-sanctified Christians do have these struggles. They do experience the "the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do" experience.
So, I have some musings, some serious thoughts really, to present to you, and a different way to look at this passage. I don’t say to you that I have completely figured out everything that Scripture tells us about our lives. But I am content in my heart that God will allow this third interpretation.
SPIRIT IS WILLING--FLESH IS WEAK
Introduction
The first thing to think about is the first thing. And that first thing is that we are "humans"!
Thank You, Lord
To the Lord, I say, "Thank You. Thank You, Lord for creating us in Your image," (Genesis 1:26). And also, "Thank You, Lord, for sending Jesus to save us from the awful condition we find ourselves in," (cf. John 3:16; Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23).
I am a human! Unlike the other creatures, I am...
1. Created in God’s own image.
2. Made aware of my need for God, and of His love for me.
3. Saved by the shed blood of the Son of God.
4. Set apart for spiritual love and spiritual service.
5. Made an Ambassador for God, and,
6. Promised an eternal wonderful life in heaven.
==> These things can only happen to humans. Not angels. Not animals. Only humans may enjoy these special events and relationships.
I am human! Praise be to the Lord!
Consequences of Human Life
But let’s be completely honest here, and say that we humans have some liabilities, too.
The main thing is that we have been "marred." I can’t think of a better word for the situation. Marred. Perfection made ugly. Wholeness cut into parts. Spiritual dragged down to earthly, fleshy, unhealthiness. Marred.
==> Made in God’s own image; a past made ugly. Promised all eternity; a now-but-not-yet beauty in the making. And in between, a life of struggle.
Why Do I Do These Things?
The struggle we face is between that of being and doing what God would like versus the pull we feel against godly ways. Our goal, as Christians, is to "do those things that are pleasing in His sight," (1 John 3:22b). But we know that sometimes we think or say or behave in ways that are not pleasing to God.
At the risk of being vulnerable to you, I will be very transparent here and honest beyond anything normal. I love my wife, Vicki. Most days are good. From time-to-time, though, I will make some harsh remark to her.
Now, I ask you, "Why would I do that?" I love her. God and His Word tells me to love her. The Bible instructs me to give her every consideration and more. But sometimes, every once-in-awhile, I find myself a bit irritated and coming off harsh to her. Am I the only one here? Are the rest of you husbands free from this behavior at all times? Hmmm? Wives, do you ever speak words to your husband that are less than honoring?
Why do we saved, sanctified, blessed people behave, even if it is only once, like this? Why do we experience the "the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do" experience?
==> Answer: Because we are humans! Marred. Redeemed. Set apart. Promised for godly use. But humans, nevertheless. "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" This is Paul’s recognition of the reality of the fight between the corrupt and the holy. And as Christian humans, WE ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF THE CORRUPT AND THE HOLY.
The Pulling from the "Right" in My Car
I’m speaking on the edges of the unknowable here. The best illustration I can give to you is this.
Back in the 1960’s automobiles were not made as good as they are today. Okay, we can debate some points of that statement; but, generally, today’s cars are better in so many ways.
I recall that they never could seem to get the front-end alignment on my car just perfect. As I drove down the road, the car would pull one way or the other. Maybe it was ever-so-slight, but my car always pulled in one direction. If I let go of the steering wheel for even a few seconds, the car would steer itself out of the lane. So, I had to keep a constant pressure, even if ever-so-slight, on the steering wheel to keep the car going straight down the lane.
Vigilance to Our Human Condition
My life is much the same. I am saved. I am sanctified. I desire nothing more than to be pleasing to the Lord. And along with that, to be pleasing and useful to Jesus’ Church, and to His people. "I delight in the law of God after the inward man."
Yet, if for even a moment I let up on my "vigilance," (cf. 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Peter 5:8), then my "flesh" in which "dwelleth no good thing," grabs hold and steers the path of my life where I would not want to go.
My spirit says, "God forbid that I would behave in such a way." My flesh has no guilt whatsoever.
Jesus warns us, "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Yes, I know that Jesus spoke those words to His disciples who had not yet experience the baptizing and filling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
But the great Apostle Paul had surely experienced the baptism and the filling of the Holy Spirit by the time he wrote the words...
"...I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." (Romans 7:23)
Because we are human, there is a war going on in my own existence. It’s a war between the thing I want to do, (i.e., the law of my mind), and the thing I don’t want to do, (i.e., the law of sin which is in my members).
==> My aim? "Go and sin no more," (John 8;11). I need to make very clear, and you need to know this about your Pastor: I am very much in agreement with the Arminian-Wesleyan point of view of Scripture. I strongly believe that I can get through this day without sinning; even without lossing the battle to the "the law of sin which is in my members."
But folks, we are in a battle; and we had better at least admit that from time-to-time we get hurt a little. God help me. God help you.
Not an Excuse nor a License
We shall surely some sweet day be perfect and free from this flesh, these members of our humanness. But now, today, the war rages. Sometimes, regrettably, we lose the battle.
Is this an excuse to allow us to sin? GOD FORBID! NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT!
In my automobile shall I ever let go of the steering wheel, expecting it to continue in the correct direction? Absurd. I would have a wreck; perhaps hitting another automobile, perhaps hurting someone, likely hurting myself, too.
And what shall I say to the policeman, "Well, sir, shouldn’t this fine automobile go straight on its own? Why do I have to keep my hands on the steering wheel on a straight and level road?" That argument will not fly!
So Paul, earlier in his Roman letter, asks the same questions about life:
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? GOD FORBID! How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2)
Paul is speaking to the reality that we must be very diligent to reality of our condition.
No Condemnation
Last point: God knows the reality about your condition, and so...
"There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT." (Romans 8:1)
You are human. God knows that. Marred. Redeemed. Refashioned. Born again. Yet marred and scarred even now.
God does not hold you accountable for the tugs coming from your humanness, those tugs that would pull you away from the godly life. But shall you continue your life, not caring about those tugs? Again, God forbid! Remain diligent. Pray. Watch. Extra care required. You are a Christian human! You are at war!
The best one statement I can say to you today is in this verse: "Walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." There is no condemnation for those who seek the Spirit and His life. You don’t have to let go of the steering wheel. Your guilt comes when you let go, when you cease caring about who gets hurt, when you let the members of your flesh rule your behavior. Walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
CONCLUSION
Why Do They Do Those Things?
With these things in mind, how does it help you? For one, I hope you gain wisdom and understanding about who you are, and about what’s happening within you.
==> But even more than that, I hope it will help you to see a different perspective on other persons. They are in a battle, too.
From time-to-time, your husband, your wife, your child, other Christians, or even your Pastor--God forbid!--may disappoint you. They will say something hurtful; or not say something you needed to hear. They will do something that is out of character; or not do something you think they should.
Beloved, they have a war raging within them, too. They may lose a battle. Their flesh, their members, the very construction of their humanness may not allow them to always do the best thing. In a saved-and-sanctified person, it is almost always the flesh rather than the spirit-filled person that brings the offense. "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak," (Mark 14:38).
==> Give others some slack. See with wisdom what is happening. THE FLESH IS WEAK. We Christians require mercy, love, and long-suffering FROM GOD AND FROM OTHER CHRISTIANS. The Lord assures us that there is no condemnation for the Christian. Will you assure us that you don’t condemn us, too?
ACTIVITY: For just a moment, close your eyes. Picture the person who has recently offended you. Now, with eyes still closed, let’s all say, "Friend, I still love you."
Dark Spots on the Moon
Finally, one last illustration. On a clear night when we have the light of a full moon, I so much enjoy looking at the moon. The light is so soothing and beautiful.
Yet on the surface of the moon I see dark spots. "Craters," they are called. Now I ask you, "Do those dark craters take away from the beauty of the light of the moon?" Hmmm? No, of course not.
I see your life much the same way. The "light" of your life is beautiful. And yes, you have some "dark spots" that I can see. I am not judging you. Just recognize the reality of what this life is. You are still beautiful to me.
You may, from time-to-time lose the battle. I wish it were not so. Don’t lose heart. God is for you. You shall surely prevail if you don’t lose heart. One battle is not the war. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
So let’s give thanks to God! We are human! And God is for us! We cannot lose!
AMEN.
-----------------------------------------
Copyright 2001
Practical Holiness Ministry (r)
"BRINGING PRACTICAL IDEAS TO
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE." (tm)
You may reprint or publish or hopefully
preach this material as long as it is
not-for-profit, except that it may
profit one’s soul, (see Mark 8:36).
Dr. Neal Gray is Pastor of the Baltimore
Parkville Church of the Nazarene.
You can reach Dr. Gray by e-mail at:
mailto:drngray@earthlink.net
Also, please visit the church’s website:
http://www.ForMinistry.com/21234BPCOTN
LEARNING. MENTORING. SERVING. (tm)
2 Pet. 3:18 - 2 Tim. 2:2 - Matt. 20:26-28
All Scripture is the King James Version.
Used with God’s blessed permission.
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