Text:
Romans 7:14-25:
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 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.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 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.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 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.
Theme:
Where’s Your Head?
Introduction:
- The Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Romans during his third visit to the city of Corinth.
- Romans was written for two primary reasons: 1)to reveal the Gospel that God has no respect of person and is a God for the Gentiles also, and 2)to correct the legalistic teachings found in the area at the time.
- The book is written in seven parts spanning from the conviction of all under sin as in Romans 3:23 where it states that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” to the outflow of Christian love shown in Paul’s salutations to the various believers in Chapter 16.
- In our text, Paul is addressing a primary concept, element, state, or malady in the life of any person à
- When we are born, we are born into sin
- Psalms 51:5, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
- Before we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we live to sin.
- John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
- When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, the first step is the repent of sin.
- Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
- Now in this text Paul specifically deals with the last stage, living IN CHRIST but not IN SIN.
- Romans 6:22, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
- When we are born, we are born into sin
Body:
- Situation
- Verses 14 through 22 of the text describe the SITUATION that the child of God, the Believer, faces.
- As it says in Romans 8:10, “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” à However, is it that easy?
- The answer is YES! The Word of God makes it plain!
- As it says in Mark 8:34, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”
- The unbeliever, those of a carnal mind, cannot have Christ within them.
- Romans 8:7, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
- Titus 1:15, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”
- Believers, those of a spiritual mind, make it difficult for ourselves!!
- As it says in verse 15 of our text, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I”
- We have a mind to do right BUT we give in to the desire, temptation, and distraction of SIN!
- At our best, we still fail!
- As it says in verse 15 of our text, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I”
- Regardless, we are challenged to CHANGE!
- Romans 12:2 explains, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
- To make this change, a struggle is inevitable!
- The flesh is carnal – the soul is spiritual —– the MIND becomes the deciding factor!
Where is your head?
- To make this change, a struggle is inevitable!
- Romans 12:2 explains, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
- The answer is YES! The Word of God makes it plain!
- As it says in Romans 8:10, “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” à However, is it that easy?
- Verses 14 through 22 of the text describe the SITUATION that the child of God, the Believer, faces.
- Struggle
- Verses 23 and 24 of the text describe the STRUGGLE that the child of God, the Believer, faces.
- Verse 23 – the War!
- The war is not against the flesh … against evil spirits that influence the flesh!
- As 2Corinthians 10:3-4 says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”
- Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
- The war is not against the flesh … against evil spirits that influence the flesh!
- We tend to say as the old hymn says, “I got a mind to serve the Lord”
- What do you do when you have a mind to serve God and friends that serve sin?
- What do you do when you have a mind to serve God and your flesh has tendencies to do evil?
- What do you do when you have a mind to serve God but you are weak and sometimes fail?
- It’s a struggle to do right, but remember that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions!
- We must give God ALL!!!
- Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
- It’s a struggle to do right, but remember that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions!
- Verse 24 – the Frustration
- Sometimes we get frustrated along the way
- The text shows David crying out “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
- But then our victory in Jesus gives us consolation!!
- 2Chronicles 20:15, “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
- God has already worked it out. We just have to submit ourselves to Him in order to receive the victory!!!
- Sometimes we get frustrated along the way
- Verse 23 – the War!
- Verses 23 and 24 of the text describe the STRUGGLE that the child of God, the Believer, faces.
Conclusion:
- Solution
- Verse 25 describes the SOLUTION to the human problem of sin that plagues the flesh of the Believer.
- Through Christ we have atonement and sanctification!
- “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- Colossians 1:21, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled”
- Then we should obey the greatest commandment, Matthew 22:37, when it says, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
- So, WHERE IS YOUR HEAD??
- “So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God”
- Romans 15:6, “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
- “So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God”
- The heart, soul, and mind are covered but what about the body/flesh!
- “but with the flesh the law of sin.”
- Verse 18 of the text explains, “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.”
- The flesh in and of itself has nothing good!
- Isaiah 64:6 explains, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away”
- “but with the flesh the law of sin.”
- So, WHERE IS YOUR HEAD??
- Through Christ we have atonement and sanctification!
- Verse 25 describes the SOLUTION to the human problem of sin that plagues the flesh of the Believer.
Where is your head???
- A gospel song that I sang in college said,
“When I think about the hour, then I know what I must do. When I think about what God has done for me, then I will open my heart to everyone I see and say, Jesus Christ is the Way!”
#173
