Saints With Sinners Problems

Dr. Wayne A. Lawson

Preached at Antioch Institutional Baptist Church

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Sunday, January 18, 2009

RevWLawson@aol.com

TITLE: SAINTS WITH SINNERS PROBLEMS

SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 7:14-25

This is a very exciting scripture that most of us are familiar with. We have often quoted at least a portion of this text at some point during our Christian walk. This particular scripture helps us understand that man has two natures. Although we are Christians, there is yet an internal war going on. Although we have given our life to Christ, we still battle with sin. This often read and studied passage is a poignant description of someone in conflict with himself - -someone who loves God’s moral law and wants to obey it, but is pulled away from doing so by the sin that is in him. It is the personal experience of a soul in conflict. Paul made mention in I CORINTHIANS 15:31 “I DIE DAILY.”

• Paul not referring to a physical death, not possible

• HEBREWS 9:27 “AND AS IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGEMENT”

• The flesh must die every day

• Spirit man vs. Carnal man – internal struggle

• Spirit and Carnal collide everyday no matter how saved we think we are

We should take some time in an effort to define some of our words or Terminology that will be mentioned, prior to marching forward in this message. Let us define that word Saint. Many are confused by this word, unsure as to who is a Saint and who is not. Sometimes we think we must be very careful as to not throw the word Saint around, that is to say we should us it Sparingly. Much confusion in the Church as to who is Classified as Saints.

• Positionally, every New Testament believer is a Saint

• Every member of the body of Christ is a Saint

• Therefore all the Saved of the New Testament era are saints by virtue of our position in Christ

• In layman’s terms if you and I believe in Christ, live as such, we are Saints

• Paul wrote:

• -- COL 1:2 “TO THE SAINTS AND FAITHFUL BRETHREN IN CHRIST”

• -- EPH 1:1 “…TO THE SAINTS WHICH ARE AT EPHESUS…”

• -- PHIL 1:1 “…TO AL THE SAINTS IN CHRIST JESUS WHICH ARE AT PHILLIPPI”

Let’s quickly define a Sinner. This should not take us very long, it is an area we are very familiar. Sinners are those that violate the divine will of God. It is therefore, as defined by St. Augustine – Any Thought, Word or Deed Opposed to the Law of God – Ethically, Sin is that which is Immoral. Because he was a physical being just like us, Paul knew that sin “dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” We have limited natural ability to properly live up to right standards and values. We repeatedly fall short of the honorable conduct God expects of us. Paul explained why. We sin, or miss the mark, because of something that dwells in us, in our flesh.

• Jesus identifies the most significant characteristic of the "flesh," or our nature, that causes sin

• Bible Warns – “WATCH AND PRAY LEST YOU ENTER INTO TEMPTATION”

• ST. MATTHEW 26:41 “THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING,BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK”

• It is the weakness of the flesh that gives birth to sin.

Based on our definitions we could think that our topic for the morning – Saints with Sinners Problems is nothing more than an Oxymoron = A Figure of Speech in which Opposite or Contradictory Ideas or Terms are Combined. It is difficult to use the words Saints and sinner in the same sentence. These terms seem to collide – should Bump heads with one another – they should be at Opposite Ends of the Spectrum. Our thoughts suggest to us even now, that you are either a Saint or you are a Sinner but you can’t be both, even behaving Lukewarm God has no use for us, therefore; we can’t have it both ways. Lukewarm does not reference our Internal Struggle. REVELATION 3:16 “SO THEN BECAUSE THOU ART LUKEWARK, AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT I WILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH.”

Allow me to help you focus on this thought this morning. Many of us or perhaps most of us have some spiritual problems this morning. Not referring to problems paying Bills, problems with Automobile, Maintaining our Weight. Stay with me for just a few minutes this morning.

• We are Baptized Believers

• We have been saved according to ROMANS 10:9 “THAT IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS…”