For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 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. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 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. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 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.
Romans 7:14-25
Outline
- The Gospel, properly taught and understood, gives clarity to sin and the law.
- All who are saved will battle against sin.
- The doctrine of Free Will ( the ability to freely choose right and wrong independent of anyone or anything) that is commonly taught promotes confusion and a lack of assurance.
- When the gospel is preached, we realize how wretched we are and how good and gracious our Savior is.
Summary
- The Gospel is only good news if we know what we are being saved from and who we are being saved to.
- Believers, mature and immature alike, will wage war against sin while on the earth; while we are here, let us await the day with diligence until we are set free from this body sold under sin.
- God exercises his will freely to save those whom he has called. Praise God that our will, which was once a slave to sin, is freed to freely obey our Savior. Not having free will is a great grace we have been afforded; let us humbly walk in the freedom of God’s will to orchestrate our lives and works he has prepared for us.
- If we are to grow in grace and sanctification, our hatred for sin must increase, and our love for God must be acted upon. Let us pray our greatest desires will show themselves in the choices we make daily to glorify Him.