The Conflict Within
Righteousness of God revealed - Book of Romans • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 42:29
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Fighting with self
Fighting with self
Have you ever had a fight or argument with yourself?
Some of the most painful fights are within, with ourselves for we are our own worst critic
What kind of battles can we face inside?
Relational
Financial
Emotional
Spiritual
Different views
Prior to availability of Holy Spirit to all
Paul’s pre-conversion story
The believers struggle within today
In our passage today you will see that Paul is not speaking in past tense but in present tense. For:
We have died to sin (6:2)
We have acknowledged dead to law (7:4)
We have been raised to walk in the newness of life (Rom6:4)
But yet, there is a battle within, so I will lean towards the battle within, the struggle is still real today, but a better solution today.
One more thought, maybe a summary if you needed to put this section into one simple statement, and a biblical statement at that.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
As simply Christians we need to look to the word more than just one summary verse, so lets look at context then break down the passage to glean from it.
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
General observations, first impressions of this passage?
What does Paul admit to, or know (v.14)?
That he is of the flesh, that he is sinful sold under the bondage to sin.
Why does Paul agree with the law (vv.15-16)?
The he is doing what he does not want to do, that the law makes him aware of his sin and sinful nature.
What does Paul know (vv.17-18)?
He knows that sin dwells within him
Nothing good dwells in him, as in the flesh.
There is a willingness (in spirit) to do good but not in the flesh.
What does Paul want to do, and what does Paul do (v.19-20); Why?
Paul wants to do good, but practices evil.
Why? Because of the sin which dwells in him.
What is the principle that Paul finds (v.21)?
Evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
What is the war going on within Paul (vv.22-23)?
War of body, war of mind
Why? Because of the law of God in him.
Not a very good feeling section of scripture is it?
Now that we have looked at the questions what do you see as the point, theme, of this passage?
This passage with the present Christian in mind may be true, the struggle, the battle between flesh and spirit, good and evil, does not change our place positionally for we are in Christ Jesus, but it may not always be practical in our life and experiences.
The Battle within today
The Battle within today
Going back just for a minute to cover something mentioned a few minutes ago, this time with the scripture to back it.
The battle today is present tense, no longer is Paul speaking past tense. for in the past
We have died to sin (6:2)
2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
We have died to the Law (7:4)
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
We have been raised (6:4)
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
As you can see, all of these are past tense. Now when it comes to the practical, the application of walking in the newness of life, well, it may not be so easy at times.
We want to do what is right, but the world wants us to love it (1Jn2:15-17)
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Paul knows that the spiritual law cannot help a carnal man, and we all suffer from the carnality.
Carnality speaks of the Greek word “sarkikos” meaning “characterized by the flesh” and that comes down to a person who can and should do differently but does not.
Paul admits his struggle he knows the law is spiritual but it, in and by it self does not have an answer to overcome the flesh.
Paul knows was sold under sin, like someone arrest and thrown in jail. The law is only good if the person is innocent, but Paul knew, and admitted his guilt.
Luther said “That is the proof of the spiritual and wise man. He knows that he is carnal, and he is displeased with himself; indeed, he hates himself and praises the law of God, which he recognizes because he is spiritual. But the proof of a foolish, carnal man is this. that he regards himself as spiritual and is pleased with himself.”
Paul has a sense of helplessness, powerlessness. He wants to do what is right.
The problem is not lack of desire, and it isn’t knowledge either. He wants to do what is right. He knows what to do that is right.
His problem is lack of power. He lacks power because the law gives no power.
The law tells us “here are the rules and you better keep them.” But the law does not give us the power to keep them.
Look back at (v.17) does Paul shy aware from his acknowledging the problem or taking responsibility for it?
17 So I am not really the one who does this thing; rather it is the sin that lives in me.
Paul knows he sins, and he knows the root of the sin (carnal nature). He acts against the nature of the new man, the born again man in Jesus Christ.
As a Christian we must own up to our sin, and also know that the impulse, desire to sin does not come from who we are in Christ Jesus.
Wuest said: “To be saved from sin, a man must at the same time own it and disown it; it is this practical paradox which is reflected in this verse A true saint may say it in a moment of passion, but a sinner had better not make it a principle.”
The Battle between two selves
The Battle between two selves
Anyone who has tried to do good is aware of this struggle. We never know how hard it is to stop sinning until we try.
Have you ever struggled with sin? Or stopping a particular sin?
C.S. Lewis said: “no man knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good.”
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
Paul understands the battle, the real self is the one who delights in the law of God, wants to do what is right. The New man, the real man has a challenge to live like God has made him, not let the flesh, the carnal self have control.
The struggle is real, we maybe dead to sin, but sin is not dead and wants to draw you back, it draws on the carnal self. The problem is that we often try to handle it on or own power, our own strength, and that is the wrong power.
Here are some reminders before we conclude this message for today. Now, I know I left out two verses out from today, we will get to them as we go into chapter-8.
We need to remember
God did not give us a weak Spirit (2Tim1:7)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
It is God’s power that works in us and through us to give us victory (1Sam17:47)
47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”
More to follow on that in chapter-8
This passage deals with the conflict within, between the flesh and the spirit, the carnal and the spirit. (Gal5:17)
17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
We do not have the power, but we have the One who has all power to walk in victory over the draw of sin and death! (Mt28:18; 1Cor15:57)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All power in heaven and on earth is given to me.
and then
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Contemplate today are there areas that I am struggling with that I am relying on my own power and not God’s? Am I willing to surrender to God’s power?
(Prayer)