“The Problem of Sin in Us!”

Introduction:

(v.14a) - “For we know…”

Because (v.14) starts with a GROUND—the proof or evidence that the preceding statement is true, for the sake of CONTEXT in our study this morning, we need to back up to (v.13)!

Which acts as a BRIDGE between last week’s message, “Sin’s Use of the Law,” and this morning’s message, “The Problem of Sin in Us!”

Romans 7:13–25 CSB

13 Therefore, did what is good become death to me? Absolutely not! But, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave under sin. 15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. 19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me. 21 So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me. 22 For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, 23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.

NOTE: You might be thinking, “Didn’t we cover (v.13) last week? Why are we backing up?”

(v.13a) - “Therefore…” indicates an INFERENCE—the statement that must be believed, based on the evidence Paul presented in (vv.7-12) on sin’s use of the Law.

So last week, we rightly used (v.13) as a conclusion of the preceding verses; BUT because (v.14) begins with “For…” this indicates a GROUND—the reason the statement above (v.13) must be believed!

For the purpose of our study, (v.13) acts as a BRIDGE between two TRUTHS that Paul wants the Romans (and us) to be clear about: Namely, that sin uses the Law to become “…sinful beyond measure”; and that sin also is also “living in me” and “waging war” in order to make me “prisoner to the law of sin!”

I. The ISSUE: “Therefore…” (οὖν) - (7:13)

A. Rhetorical Question: “…did what is good become death to me?” - (7:13a)

B. Emphatic Answer: “…Absolutely not!” - (7:13b)

C. Refutation: Sin Uses the Law to Produce Death! - (7:13c)

II. The FIRST EXPLANATION: “For we know…” (οἴδαμεν γάρ) - (7:14–17)

JUST as we studied the relationship between the LAW and SIN (last week), John Walvoord and Roy Zuck write in the Bible Knowledge Commentary, “Understanding the conflict in personal sanctification involves seeing the relationship between a believer and his indwelling sin.”

Another OBSERVATION: I have tried to AVOID the rather extensive discussions/writings concerning the questions, “WHO is the ‘I’ Paul is writing about?” Is Paul writing about himself? Humanity in general? or Israel?

There is also the question of WHEN was Paul speaking about? Pre-regeneration/salvation, or post-salvation?

Along with Walvoord & Zuck, I believe that Paul is “…relating his personal experience in 7:14-25. Paul consistently used the present tense whereas he had used the imperfect and aorist tenses. Obviously he was describing his present conflict as a Christian with indwelling sin and its continuing efforts to control his daily life.”

ALSO, that is the clear, plain and simple meaning a reading of the text—specifically the PRONOUNS, “we” and “I” would indicate. Paul is talking about HIS experience!

What do “we know”?

A. The Law is SPIRITUAL, but Human Beings are CARNAL! - (vv.14–16)

ἐγὼ δὲ σάρκινός εἰμι - ‘I but fleshly am’ - Some versions translate this as, carnal, sinful, or worldly!

1 Peter 2:11 CSB

11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.

1. We are ALL captivated by sin! - (v.14c)

“…sold as a slave under sin.” - Lit., ‘sold under sin’

Matthew 18:25 CSB

25 Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.

2. As a CONSEQUENCE, detested acts replace desired acts! - (7:15)

Regardless of all the arguments that say these verses are NOT talking about a person who is saved, I have never met a Christian who does not identify with (v.15)!

Like a child when asked, “Why did you do that?” He or she honestly replies, “I don’t know…”

(v.15a) - “For I do not understand what I am doing…”

3. The RESULT is an affirmation of the Law’s goodness! - (7:16)

In other words, “My desire to DO what the Law says NOT TO DO, PROVES that the Law is in fact, good!”

(v.16b) - “…I agree with” - from σύμφημι - a compound word, sun - ‘with’ and phēmi - ‘to speak or say’ means ‘agree or consent’!

I agree with and/or consent to what the Law says about sin!

The SECOND thing “…we know” is,

B. Indwelling Sin is RESPONSIBLE for Producing Sinful Acts! - (7:17)

This same sentence is REPEATED in (v.20)!

How are we to understand what this means?

I want to share with you the words of William Hendricksen:

Romans Paul Himself, and by Extension, Believers Generally, Including Even the Most Mature

The logical deduction—note the words “this being so”—derived from the situation as described in verse 16 is that, since Paul himself does not want to act contrary to God’s will, the sins committed should be basically ascribed

He goes on to write that this way of thinking is in no way, “…disavowing responsibility for his own sins.” Because, “…the squatter is not a total stranger but is Paul’s own sinful nature; and a wicked intruder.”

There are TWO NATURES in every believer! The OLD nature—corrupted and enslaved by sin, and the NEW nature, born again and set free from the penalty and captivity of sin!

2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

We will explore this NEW NATURE, empowered by the Holy Spirit of God in the coming weeks as we study (Romans 8)!

III. The Second Explanation: “For I know…” (οἶδα γάρ) - (7:18–20)

(vv.18-20) are PARALLEL to (vv.14-17)!

They repeat the SAME TRUTHS, but instead of First-Person Plural - “For we know…” it is First-Person SINGULAR - “For I know…”!

What is GENERALLY true of everyone is also SPECIFICALLY true of ME!

A. Nothing Good Dwells in the Fleshly Body! - (vv.18–19)

1. The DESIRE to do good is present, but the ABILITY is not! - (v.18b)

2. The RESULT is doing evil, not good! - (v.19)

B. Indwelling SIN is Responsible for Producing Evil! - (v.20)

IV. The CONCLUSION: “So I discovered…” (εὑρίσκω ἄρα) - (7:21–25)

“What did Paul discover?”

A. The LAW of SIN: Evil is Present Despite the Desire to Do Good! - (vv.21–23)

1. The “…inner self” delights in God’s Law - (v.22)

2. The “…parts of my body” are prisoners to the law of sin - (v.23)

B. A Cry for HELP: “…Who will rescue me?” - (v.24)

C. An Expression of HOPE: “...through Jesus Christ our Lord!” - (v.25a)

D. CONCLUSION: (ἄρα οὖν) - “…So then”

What did Paul CONCLUDE?

“…with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.” - (v.25b)

His CONCLUSION is that he (and every one of us) has TWO NATURES: The SIN nature, enslaved to the law of sin, and the NEW nature that is serving the Law of God!

“Well, WHO WINS?”

“Who is in charge?”

“How do I make sure the NEW nature is the one who calls the shots in my life?”

A: RETURN NEXT WEEK as we begin to learn about, “…the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus!”