The Divided Man and The Hope of The Gospel

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Life in the Spirit

8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

A few weeks ago our brother gave a fantastic presentation of .

Three Questions I hope to Answer this Morning.

What is a proper view of the Law?

Paul tells us in vs. 1-6 that we are freed from the law.

Then in verses 7-13 that the law is good.

So how do we as new covenant believers view the law?

Who is this divided man?

This is probably one of the most controversial questions in the book of Romans, and there are varying theological interpretations regarding this question.

The debate basically comes down to this.

Is this a believer?

Perspective of a man who is not a believer?

I will tell you later what I think the answer is to that question.

What is a proper view of the Law?

Paul tells us in vs. 1-6 that we are freed from the law.

Then in verses 7-13 that the law is good.

So how do we as new covenant believers view the law?

How does this passage apply practically to us?

My prayer this morning is that this passage will have the same impact on you that it had on me about 7 years ago.

Pray

Outline of Romans 1-7

A few weeks ago our brother Subash gave a fantastic presentation of .

In that sermon he outlined the book of Romans.

I would quickly like us to go back and outline Chapters 1-7 as I believe it will help us understand Paul’s flow of thought.

Ch.1-2: Tell us that angry toward all because of their sin.

Ch.3: God sent his Son as a Propitiation for our sin.

Ch.4: The believer is counted righteous solely by faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ.

Ch.5: We therefore have peace with God.

Ch. 6: Our old nature is crucified and we now are “slaves to righteousness.”

Ch. 7: Then we get to chapter 7.

What is a proper view of the Law?

A Proper Understanding of the Law.

We will never be able gain our righteousness through the Law.

The law is no longer

As we saw a few weeks ago from brother Subash the biggest problem Paul faced was an improper view of the law.

Paul responded to those who know the law in Chapter 7.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

Vs. 1-4 What is Paul saying?

Vs. 1: He’s speaking to those who know the law.

Vs. 1-2: In this case that likely included Jews and Gentiles who were familiar with the Law of Moses.

The Law is binding as long as person lives.

Note Paul’s language here.

He is using a theme seen in his letters referring to death. He uses an illustration about marriage.

“a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives”

“but if her husband dies is released from the law of that marriage.

Paul says that in the same way we have died to the law. And this how...

“Likewise, my brothers, you have died to the law.”

How? (vs.4)“through the body of Christ,

Why? (vs.5) “so that you may belong to another.

Who? “to him who has raised from the dead”

For what purpose? “In order that we may bear fruit for God.

The Purpose of The Law Never intended to bring us Salvation?

The purpose of the law is to expose our sinful passions.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.

Our flesh is aroused by the law.

That is in my natural state when I see the law of God the only thing I want to is to Rebel against it.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.

What is ironic is that the law is intended for our good.

My Son is a great example of our inherit sinful nature to be rebellious.

If I tell him “Don’t do that” I can guarantee you he’s going to do it.

William is

My little boy William shows his sinful nature in the same way. If I tell him “no no don’t do that” I am doing it for his good, but he is sinful so

Biting.

Don’t touch that.

Don’t put that in your mouth.

We are released from the condemnation of the law .

We are released from the condemnation of the law

We are released from the condemnation of the law .

We are released from the condemnation of the law

The only thing the law alone brings us is condemnation.

He Contrasts the death the law bring us with the life we receive in Christ.

He returns to the completed work of Jesus.

Note the contrast.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

But now we are released from the law.

We “died” (again note the language here in vs. 1-3) to that which held us captive.

What held us captive? It was the requirement of the law.

For what purpose have we been released?

So that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written law.

Answering Our First Question: What is a proper view of the Law?

Paul has spent a lot of time looking at the law from the negative, but then in verse 7 he turns to the positive.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

“What shall we say then? That the law is Sin? By no means!

Note Paul’s rhetorical question in response to someone who would accuse him saying the law is sin.

He asks “Is the Law Sin? By no means!

Greek “Me genoito” this is a very strong phrase in greek to emphasize. Its like Paul is yelling “absolutely note” to anyone who would accuse him of saying that.

“Yet if it had not been for the law I would not have known Sin”

The law to the believer is a good thing because it exposes his sin.

vs. 8 “But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment produced all kinds of covetousness”

Its like the sinful nature sees the commandment of God and wants seize the opportunity to rebel against God.

Vs. 9-11 show us that only the one who could keep the law perfectly can have life.

The commandment promises life to those who keep it perfectly (vs. 10)

But the very delimma is none us can keep the law perfectly.

Vs. 10-11 Show us that sin against the law brings us death.

Vs. 12 The law is holy and righteous because it reflects the righteousness of God.

Vs. 13 tells us that it is our sin that brings us death. The law exposes our sin before God.

The Law thus good for

The proper view of the law then is to realize this.

We can never gain our righteousness by trying to keep the law.

The law is holy and righteous because it exposes our sin.

We died to the condemnation of the law when Christ died on the cross.

He kept the law perfectly, because we could not.

Christian or Non-Christian?

Is this a believer or unbeliever speaking in verses 14-25?

There are many theologians who have wrestled with this very question. There are many Godly scholars who think Paul is speaking from an unbelievers perspective because of the following verses statements:

vs 14. “I am of flesh. Sold under sin.”

vs. 18 “I know that nothing good dwells in me.”

vs. 24 “Wretched man that I am.”

Some ask if a Christian could ever say these things about themselves.

Why I am preaching from this text.

I absolutely believe this text is speaking of Christian experience.

And that Paul is speaking from a believers point of view.

Why I am preaching from this text?

Because its very personal to me.

A few years ago I remember having very similar feelings to this man.

For the better part of 10 years I had been dealing with a habitual sin in my life that was continually driving me back to God pleading with him like Paul is in this verse for help

I remember feeling so guilty in that period that I thought I would never be able to the things God had called me too.

And yet I know I was a believer.

So the reason I am preaching from this text is because I don’t want anyone to leave here without hope because they feel they have sinned.

Four Reason why I think this passage refers to Christian experience.

As long as we live as Christians we will be at war with our flesh and indwelling sin.

Though we have been justified and have salvation through the work of Christ we will continue to battle with indwelling sin until either we die or Christ returns.

All of us in this room struggle with sin and if you say that you don’t struggle with then you have just lied and committed a sin :).

But I believe one of the true marks of a believer is seen in “vs 15: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but the very thing I hate.”

This man is convicted by his act

The lack of understanding of his own actions.

This man feels conviction for his actions

Further as we saw in verse 15 he actually hates his actions.

An unbeliever doesn’t speak like that.

He has the desire to do right.

This is a man who is in turmoil over the fact that he desires to do what is right but he keeps messing up.

He delights in the law in his inner being, and yet he’s torn up because he keeps breaking it.

He knows where his deliverance comes from.

7:24 “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me...”

He knows where his deliverance comes from…

7:25 “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Jesus is his deliverance.

How Do We Apply this Passage to Our Life?

Understanding of the Law properly

Four Challenges

Challenge # 1- Have a proper understanding of the Law.

One of the greatest tragedies in the church is that we fall into one of two extremes in regarding the Law.

They either view keeping the law as a means to our salvation. Or they right out reject the law as not having any weight on our lives.

Or we right out reject the law as having any weight on our lives.

Paul responds to both of these issues.

To those

To those who would say you must keep the law to be saved Paul says,

“2:12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

“ 3:20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

“3:20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

We are not a religion that believes our works appease our God.

The main difference between Christianity and every other religion is that in every other religion a person is trying to make “themselves righteous” through the works.

In Christianity God is the one who does the work. In other religion its mans work. In Christianity its God accomplishing the work necessary to save you.

For by the works of the law no man will be

The ladder illustration.

Likewise, Paul also responds to those who would say we should disregard the law entirely.

There is probably someone in here saying. This is great I am not bound by the law. I can just continue on in my sin.

Paul knew about you, and he quickly he responds to such suggestions.

“6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

It exposes our sin.

“

The law’s whole intention was to expose our sin. Just because we are freed from the condemnation of the law doesn’t mean we are free from indwelling sin.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

Again Paul tell us in Chapter 7: that “Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.”

So again the whole intention of the law is to show us our sin.

Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.

Challenge # 2: Remember the Glorious truth of

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

English Standard Version Chapter 8

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

If you are struggling with sin and you truly hate it and want to be free from it. This verse is for you.

English Standard Version Chapter 8

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (vs.1)

Remember that!!!!

If you have placed your faith him. There is no condemnation

The Law of the Spirit of Life has set you free.

God did what the law could not do. GOD DID IT!

By sending his own Son he condemned sin in the flesh.

So that the good and righteous requirement of the law could be fulfilled in us.

So walk according to the spirit.

Challenge # 3: Preach Truth to Yourself

Satan wants you to know you are guilty. So how do we fight his accusation?

Feeling Guilt over our Sin

Remember that conviction of sin is a good thing.

Its like if when we are wounded and bleeding. We feel pain.

If we didn’t feel pain would bleed out and die.

n the same way the law works to make us feel our guilt so that it will lead us to repentance.

In the same way the law works to make us feel our guilt so that it will lead us to repentance.

There is a difference between feeling guilty because our sin and the condemnation the enemy wants you to feel.

I fight with scripture.

Conviction leads us to repentance.

The enemy wants to lead you to condemnation and that you aren’t worthy of God’s love.

How do we fight accusations of the enemy. I fight with scripture.

About 10 years ago a preacher at a conference changed my life when he showed me how to use scripture to fight back

“ 8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;

8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;

when I fall, I shall rise;

English Standard Version Chapter 7

8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;

when I fall, I shall rise;

when I sit in darkness,

the LORD will be a light to me.

9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD

because I have sinned against him,

until he pleads my cause

and executes judgment for me.

He will bring me out to the light;

I shall look upon his vindication.

when I sit in darkness,

the Lord will be a light to me.

9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord

because I have sinned against him,

until he pleads my cause

Respond to accusation with Scripture.

and executes judgment for me.

He will bring me out to the light;

Rejoice not over me, O My enemy.

Here you are rejoicing you think I like what i did!

I shall look upon his vindication.

Though I fall, I will rise!

I hate that I have fallen

But O my enemy I will rise.

God will raise me up!

Though I sit it darkness. The lord will be a light for me.

My sin has taken me into darkness.

But O enemy my God is light and he will shine into my darkness.

I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because i have sinned against.

Yes enemy you have made it clear that God is angry at my sin.

But the very God who is angry is the same God that that will plead my cause and execute judgment on my behalf.

And He will bring me out to the Light and I shall look upon his vindication.

I can’t bring myself into the light

But O Enemy you have lost MY GOD will bring me into the light and I will see his vindication.

Romans

Romans 8:1 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

You have lost this war enemy.

Challenge # 4- Make War against you sin.

Preaching to yourself (mal 7:8-9: Psalm. why are you cast down)

The bible tells us to take radical means to fight our sin.

We are at war with our flesh.

Jesus uses radical language when it comes to fighting sin. : “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Now Jesus is NOT saying that we should literally cut off or pluck out our eye.

However this is how serious sin is.

We must take radical action in fighting our sin.

Not because we are trying to gain our salvation. That has already been accomplished.

But because we have the spirit of God living in us.

And we are at war against any sin and unrighteousness.

The best way to fight sin is:

To take action against in any way possible.

And to confess your sin to a trusted brother in Christ.

Close in Prayer. Pray for those who are struggling with sin

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