The War Within
The Book of Romans • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
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.
We learned last week out of Romans chapter 6 that, as a believer, we have been freed from the slavery to sin! If you are saved this morning, you have been saved from the penalty of sin and the dominion of sin!
That old man is dead, he’s not your master anymore, there’s a new master in town and it’s the Lord Jesus Christ!
So many people, even though they have been freed from sin, still struggle to overcome the presence of sin in their lives.
Like I preached last Sunday in the message, the Bible gives us three keywords in chapter 6 to hold on to: KNOW, RECKON, and YIELD.
We are to know what God says about our position in Christ, we must reckon ourselves, not to our feelings, but to God’s facts, and then, we mustn’t yield to the flesh, or the old man.
I don’t know about ya’ll, but I’m encouraged to know that the Apostle Paul struggled with the same things I do. And I’m encouraged that God moved Him to right about it.
What we see in Romans 7 is that every Christian has two “I’s” just I mentioned at the close last Sunday morning. The “I” of the flesh, and the “I” of the Spirit.
Today, I’d like to preach for a little while this morning on the subject of “The War Within”
1-The Condition of Man
1-The Condition of Man
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.
Paul was somewhat perplexed by his own conduct. He could not understand himself, because, though he knew what was right and acknowledged that he ought to do it, he did not always obey.
The pronoun “I” occurs no less than thirty-two times, and the sum of all this self effort is failure and defeat. - We always need to remember the word sin always has “I” in the middle of it!
Because Paul loves the Lord, he is concerned about what he neglects to do. We should too!
Our failure to do what is right, to serve Christ, to let our light shine for Him should bother us. Paul continues to express his frustration. What I hate, I do! We hate our selfishness, pride, jealousy, anger, losing our temper, greed, etc. We still do these things sometimes.
In verse sixteen, we see that our disobedience reveals the function of God’s Law. It brings out the worst in man. It brings out our wickedness. It shows we are sinners and need a Savior.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
He says that the real problem is his old sin nature. The old nature is wayward, wicked and weak and the Christian can get into a lot of trouble by following it.
Sin dwells in us, even though we are saved. There are two wills in constant conflict: the old man and the new man.
Whether you are Christian or not, the root of our problem is sin!
The old nature is wayward, wicked and weak and the Christian can get into a lot of trouble by following it.
You can become born again in a moment, but becoming like Christ takes a lifetime.
The Christian life is a war!
2-The Confession of Man
2-The Confession of Man
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.
We often hear people say, "There is a little good in everyone." However, one of the greatest Christians who ever lived said, Romans 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing...”
The Bible tells us Romans 3:12 “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
The reality is, no man has anything to brag about.
Paul writes, Romans 7:18 “...for to will is present with me...”
The phrase to will speaks of Paul's personal desire. It was his will to obey the law and do right. He strove for victory and he desired it with all of his heart.
Paul goes on,
Romans 7:18–20 (KJV 1900)
18 ...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.
Paul refers to “sin that dwelleth” in us.
It’s always there...
This word “dwelleth” is a Greek word that describes a husband and wife that live together. Sin dwells within us.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Paul also says “evil is present” with us. The word “present” is a Greek word that means “to be near or at hand,” but it also means “to lie down beside a person.”
Sin is with us day and night, like a ball and chain cuffed to our body.
The desire to do right is not enough. But it is certainly a good place to start. The sad fact is that many people don't even have the desire to do right. However, every believer, like Paul, ought have a burning desire to obey and please Christ.
Paul stated that it was not a lack of desire, but the weakness of his flesh that hindered him.
He says, "I want to obey the law, but my old sin nature is ever present with me and I am hindered by it."
3-The Conflict of Man
3-The Conflict of Man
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Paul expresses his desire to do right. He says, “I delight in the law of God.” Every Christian should have this attitude.
The inward man is the new man in Jesus Christ that has a love for God’s Word.
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
It is the Divine nature that delights in and desires the things of God.
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.
The law of sin is powerful too.
A battle rages everyday between our spiritual nature in Christ and our old sinful nature that claws to take control of our decisions.
When we yield to our sinfulness, it takes control. Paul is expressing his frustration with his flesh, he does so by crying out!
4-The Cry of Man
4-The Cry of Man
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
The word “wretched” means “wretched though exhaustion of hard labor.” It describes a man who has fought hard to free himself from captivity and failed. But once all self help has failed, and he has made a frantic appeal and cry for a deliver.
He cries, “Who will deliver me?!” Do you feel this way sometimes? Are you trapped and frustrated? Are you crying, “Who will deliver me?”
There is an interesting picture in the statement, “Who will deliver me from the body of this death?”
I really don’t want to gross anyone out, but I feel it’s important to explain this so that we really get the picture of what Paul is writing about here.
Rome was known for it’s sadistic manner of dealing with criminals. Most everyone is familiar with crucifixion, but that wasn’t the only method of punishment that was shocking.
A person who was convicted of murder in that day would often face a horrible sentence: they would shackle the convicted killer to the dead body of his victim.
Shackled to his victim, eye-to-eye, hand-to-hand, waist-to-waist, and foot-to-foot, the murderer—still very much alive—was forced to live out the remainder of his life directly bearing the weight and the putrefying stench of the dead body.
In time, of course, the rotting flesh of the corpse would become full of disease, infecting the killer and leading to a most horrible and grisly end.
Some murderers wound up being buried with their victims.
Paul desired to be free from the body of death or body of sinfulness that shadowed him.
It may not be a pretty one, but what an accurate picture of our sin! The body of death!
Paul wondered, “Who will deliver or rescue me?” The answer is given in the next verse.
5-The Consolation of Man
5-The Consolation of Man
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.
Without this verse, this would be a very depressing chapter.
Jesus Christ, the mighty Son of God steps in and looses the shackles of sin, setting the prisoner free. The Lord liberates from the “guilt” of sin and the “grip” of sin.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Watchman Nee tells the story of his stay in China with twenty other Christians.
The bathing accommodations were inadequate in the home where they were lodging, so they went for a daily dip in the river. On one occasion, one of the men got a cramp in his leg and began sinking fast.
Mr. Nee motioned to one of the other men, who was an excellent swimmer, about the drowning man. To his astonishment, however, the man did not move. He just stood there and watched the drowning man.
Mr. Nee was agitated, but the swimmer was calm and collected. Meanwhile, the voice of the drowning man grew fainter and more desperate. Mr. Nee hated the swimmer who just stood and watched on the shore when he could have jumped into the river and rescued the drowning man. As the drowning man went under for what looked like the last time, the swimmer was there in a moment and both were soon safely on shore.
After the rescue, Mr. Nee chewed out the swimmer, accusing him of loving his life too much and being selfish. The response of the swimmer revealed, however, he knew what he was doing. He told Mr. Nee that if he had gone too soon, the drowning man would have put a death grip on him and they would have both drowned in the river and he was right.
He told Mr. Nee that a drowning man cannot be saved until he is utterly exhausted and ceases to make the slightest effort to save himself.
It’s the same with our salvation. When we stop trying to save ourselves, then the Lord can step in and save us when we yield to Him.