The Persistence of Sin
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
3 These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.
Last time we ask the question if the Law is bad, Paul’s answer, may it never be. In fact in he said the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. He also said in the following verse that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. Part of Paul’s declaration was that as believers we are no longer bound to the Law which the devil uses to make us sin. But having died to the Law through the body of Christ and are joined to Him, in order that we might bear fruit for God, then why is it that we still choose to sin?
As Paul reveals his struggle with sin as a believer, he confesses to the following reality which we can identify with him. This confessions are not excuses but explanations to help us deal with sin which Paul will discuss in Chapter 8.
Romans (King James Version) C. The Confessions of a Man’s Struggling Soul, 7:14–25
1. Confession 1: he knows that the law is spiritual (v. 14)
1. Confession 1: he knows that the law is spiritual (v. 14)
1. Confession 1: he knows that the law is spiritual (v. 14)
The Law was given to man by the Spirit of God.
The Law is spiritual because it the expression of the will and nature of God, telling man what God is like.
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The law is spiritual because of its nature and purposes.
The law is spiritual because is addresses the spiritual problem of man.
2. Confession 2: he is unspiritual, carnal, a slave to sin (vv. 14–17).
2. Confession 2: he is unspiritual, carnal, a slave to sin (vv. 14–17).
The word carnal or fleshly refers to our physical body. We have our spiritual side contained by our physical body. We are made up of spirit, soul and body.
2. Confession 2: he is unspiritual, carnal, a slave to sin (vv. 14–17).
With our physical construction comes a disposition to live a fleshly, sensual life, to be given over to animal appetites, to be controlled by our sinful (fallen) nature.
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
When Paul says “HE IS SOLD UNDER SIN”, he simply means that being in the flesh he is...
a slave to sin - giving up to sin despite Christ giving up His life for him.
under sin’s influence - despite the Holy Spirit dwelling in him calling for his attention.
,
• a slave to sin
subject to sin - if the devil can’t have us then he will have us disobey our heavenly father
• under sin’s influence
capable of sinning - having a flesh still having the predisposition to sin
• subject to sin
• capable of sinning
guilty of sinning - have committed sin
• guilty of sinning
cannot free himself from being short of God’s glory - because we are still in the flesh which in a way make us look forward to death where evil will no longer have control over us.
• cannot free himself from being short of God’s glory
cannot keep from sinning—not perfectly
• cannot keep from sinning—not perfectly
cannot erase sin’s presence—not completely
• cannot erase sin’s presence—not completely
cannot cast sin out of his life—not totally
• cannot cast sin out of his life—not totally
cannot get rid of sin—not permanently
• cannot get rid of sin—not permanently
Three key points that Paul is trying to teach us:
Three key points that Paul is trying to teach us:
As long as we are in the flesh - sin will still have an appeal to us but we have a choice to say YES or NO to sin. God has given us the power and reason to say NO. We are His children and ought to reflect on Him our heavenly father.
Human power and and carnal wisdom alone is not adequate to address a spiritual problem. We need the Holy Spirit who happens to dwell inside us.
Man continues to sin because sin dwells in our flesh. The carnal side of man finds a principle, a law of sin within his flesh that tugs and pulls him to sin. He finds that no matter what he does, he sins by
The carnal man finds a principle, a law of sin within his flesh that tugs and pulls him to sin. He finds that no matter what he does, he sins …
LIVING FOR HIMSELF before living for God and others.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 135). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
BY PUTTING HIMSELF before the laws concerning God and the laws concerning man. Within the 10 commandments the first part govern our relationship to God and the second part govern our relationship to man.
first laws govern our relationship to God and the last laws govern our relationship to man.
We may have a new spirit, the spirit and mind of God but at the same time we are incased in the flesh where you will find the seed of corruption planted in it.
As a child of God we are to rebel against it (flesh) and develop the new life given to us in Christ.
3. Confession 3: he is void of any good thing (vv. 18–20).
3. Confession 3: he is void of any good thing (vv. 18–20).
3. Confession 3: he is void of any good thing (vv. 18–20).
3. Confession 3: he is void of any good thing (vv. 18–20).
Paul confesses that in the flesh (sarki), his human nature is sinful, depraved, and corrupt.
Paul knows that in the flesh (sarki), his human nature is sinful, depraved, and corrupt.
Paul declares: there is no good thing in his flesh. This does not mean that he never did any good thing or work. It means that his flesh …
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• is unable to please the goodness of God
• is unable to be as good as it should be
• is unable to be perfectly good
• is unable to conquer the tendency and push toward sin
• is unable to be conformed to the image of Christ
Paul declares: there is no good thing in his flesh. This does not mean that he never did any good thing or work. It means that his flesh …
• is corrupted and short of God’s glory
• is contaminated and diseased by sin
• is incapable of reaching God on its own and by itself
• is aging and deteriorating, dying and decaying
• is condemned to face the judgment of God
Because we are in the flesh we will continue to sin but as children of God our attitude toward sin is HATE!
Sin should be repulsive to every child of God.
It is the nature of the flesh to want to sin but it is also the nature of the spirit of God within us to hate sin.
When you operate under legalism, you will find yourself trying to stop committing a certain sin because you are convinced that specific sin your problem. Don’t be fooled! The REAL problem is when we function out of our flesh. The real sin is living independently from God. Our fleshly desires want to leave apart from God. WE SHOULD LIVE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SPIRIT INSTEAD!
3. Confession 3: he is void of any good thing (vv. 18–20).
4. Confession 4: he finds two laws or forces within (vv. 21–23).
4. Confession 4: he finds two laws or forces within (vv. 21–23).
4. Confession 4: he finds two laws or forces within (vv. 21–23).
1. Confession 1: he knows that the law is spiritual (v. 14)
The fourth confession of Paul is that he finds two laws or two forces within him. Very simply, as soon as Paul wills to do good, he is immediately confronted
the fourth confession of Paul is that he finds two laws or two forces within him. Very simply, as soon as Paul wills to do good, he is immediately confronted …
a. THE LAW OF EVIL (V.21)
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 135). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
b. THE LAW OF SIN (V.23)
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.
Romans 7
THESE TWO LAWS BATTLE WITH THE MIND of man.
BEING A LAW it is a a rule, a force, a principle, a disposition, an urge, a tendency, a pull, a tug, a corruption, a depravity within man’s nature or inner being.
a rule, a force, a principle, a disposition, an urge, a tendency, a pull, a tug, a corruption, a depravity within man’s nature or inner being.
How do we fight with it then? WE FIGHT WITH THE DIVINE NATURE OF GOD IMPLANTED IN US - The HOLY SPIRIT.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
5. Confession 5: he is a desperate, wretched man who needs a Deliverer (v. 24).
5. Confession 5: he is a desperate, wretched man who needs a Deliverer (v. 24).
5. Confession 5: he is a desperate, wretched man who needs a Deliverer (v. 24).
Paul struggle is he knows what he does is wrong but he still does it.
But it is this awareness the drives the believer to the awareness that deliverance is found only through Jesus Christ our Lord.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
But how does the Holy Spirit enter a person?
7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
6. Confession 6: the Deliverer is Jesus Christ (v. 25).
6. Confession 6: the Deliverer is Jesus Christ (v. 25).
6. Confession 6: the Deliverer is Jesus Christ (v. 25).
The deliverance comes through the great Deliverer Himself, Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the Deliverer from sin; He alone can deliver from sin. He is perfectly clear about this.
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
The deliverance comes through the great Deliverer Himself, Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the Deliverer from sin; He alone can deliver from sin. He is perfectly clear about this.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 137). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
1 Tim 2:
It is Christ work on the cross the justifies the believer.
It is Christ who place the believer under God’s grace.
As believers we need to serve the law of God with our mind, this our RENEWED MIND.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good
Conclusion
Conclusion
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Although we have been joined to Christ spiritually, physically sin still appeals to us. Though as Christians we need not be enslaved to sin’s dominion, our current sins proves that we could still have strong attractions to it. Chapter 6 is from the standpoint of our new nature in Christ, Chapter 7 on the other hand, speaks of the person from the standpoint of his fallen nature also know as FLESH or CARNAL which the believer may try to curtail through the Law. As former unbelievers, dead in sin (prior to dying to sin), the remnant of our past nature still tries to bring us back to our old life style. We may be dead to sin but the Devil is still alive tempting us to sin. But thanks be to God that He has overcome the world. Thus “choose” (free will) to live under the new being because you can and bear fruit for God. Later on in Chapter 8 Paul will further discuss a component to overcome the problem of sin.