"The Battle with sin"

Text: Romans 7

7 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! But, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet., 8 And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again 10 and I died. The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. 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. THE PROBLEM OF SIN IN US 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.

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ro 7:7–25.

Introduction

“Church is full of Hypocrytes” Have you ever heard this statement?

This is probably one of the most common excuses people ever give for not wanting to go to church.

Illustration of gentlemen he wouldnt let his good dogs and bad dogs together.

I believe this text can help us turn this statement oabout hypocrytes into a witnessing tool.

Romans 7 gives us a detailed explanation of the battle we all face with Sin.

I.) Purpose of the Law

Romans 7:7–13 LEB

What then shall we say? Is the law sin? May it never be! But I would not have known sin except through the law, for I would not have known covetousness if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin is dead. And I was alive once, apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died, and this commandment which was to lead to life was found with respect to me to lead to death. For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Therefore, did that which is good become death to me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be recognized as sin, producing death through what is good for me, in order that sin might become sinful to an extraordinary degree through the commandment.

Paul tried to make it clear the law was not sin, and it was not evil.

Many have described sin as “missing the mark”

Golf Ilustration: Describe the 14th hole Par 5 at booneville. Gods par is 1

God has a devine mark.

The jews tried very hard to keep the law.

Take a look what Jesus said in Sermon on the mount

Murder: Guilty

Adultry: Guilty

Divorce = Adultry

My grandfather said the ten commandments were like a stethascope.

The law goes deeper than just what we read in the ten commandments.

In Deuteronomy there were conditions for conditions.

Jesus made it simple (Guilty)

Matthew 11:29-30

Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Mt 11:29–30.

II.) Problem of Sin

Romans 7:13–25 LEB

Therefore, did that which is good become death to me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be recognized as sin, producing death through what is good for me, in order that sin might become sinful to an extraordinary degree through the commandment. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold into slavery to sin. For what I am doing I do not understand, because what I want to do, this I do not practice, but what I hate, this I do. But if what I do not want to do, this I do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that lives in me. For I know that good does not live in me, that is, in my flesh. For the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but the evil that I do not want to do, this I do. But if what I do not want to do, this I am doing, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that lives in me. Consequently, I find the principle with me, the one who wants to do good, that evil is present with me. For I joyfully agree with the law of God in my inner person, but I observe another law in my members, at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that exists in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself with my mind am enslaved to the law of God, but with my flesh I am enslaved to the law of sin.

Question: Can christians struggle with sin?

There have been some debate on if this refers to belivers or not. Paul uses himself as an example, I believe it can refer to belivers.

Think of what Paul is saying. There is a battle between flesh and spirit. We have a new spirit and the same old flesh. Remember in the sermon on the mount Jesus referred to the heart alot.

An alcoholice might say i dont have a drinking problem I have no problem drinking at all

Question: Have you send this year, last month, this week, this morning.

Question: Did you feel regret, or guilt.

If you sin and dont feel bad, you have no problem with it, if you feel guilt and dirty than you struggle, you have a battle.

David Jeremiah and his Mercedes converted.

I want you know you are not alone and their is hope, We have resources in this battle.

III.) Power in our spiritual Armor

Ephesians 6:10–20 LEB

Finally, become strong in the Lord and in the might of his strength. Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Because of this, take up the full armor of God, in order that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand therefore, girding your waist with truth, and putting on the breastplate of righteousness, and binding shoes under your feet with the preparation of the good news of peace, in everything taking up the shield of faith, with which you are able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one, and receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, with all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and to this end being alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me, that a word may be given to me at the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for the sake of which I am an ambassador in chains, that in them I may speak freely, as it is necessary for me to speak.

Look at some Key Words:

Strengthened, Armor, Stand against, Struggle.

Examine this Armor:

Truth

Righteouness

Gospel of peace

Shield of Faith

Helmet of Salvation

Sword of spirit

All of these are Defensive except for the sword.

God wants us to be protected.

We must realize the severity of this battle.

A young person ask a pannel of Seminary professors, If you are stuck in sin, how do you get out. The Answer was Fight, The battle is violent.

Matthew 5:29–30 LEB

And if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it from you! For it is better for you that one of your members be destroyed than your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it from you! For it is better for you that one of your limbs be destroyed than your whole body go into hell.

We are going to be in a violent battle we need prtected.

Closing

Lets go back and look at the Statement about hypocrytes.

Yes Christians mess up, yes we are flawed. Paul a man that wrote most of the NT struggled. He did things he shouldnt and didnt do things he should have, Thankfully God provides us with Grace. We can tell the person about Sin and Grace.

Ivitation:

Are you struggling with sin, put on the Armor and fight.

I would love to pray with you.

Maybe you need to repent of sin today.