Bible Study - Do Over - A Fight Can't Win By Yourself - Romans 7:14 - 8:2 - January 5, 2014

Bible Study – Do Over – A Fight You Can’t Win By Yourself – January 5, 2014

This is lesson five in our series entitled “Do Over: Experience New Life in Christ” but it is the sixth lesson when you include the Christmas study.

Note: Since we have been studying Christians being free from sin, those who call themselves Christians and habitually dwell in sin must keep in mind:

1 John 3:9

No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God. (AMP)

The Christian who confesses CHRIST and remains in sin needs to come before CHRIST for a Spiritual checkup.

Our focus scripture is Romans 7:14-8:2.

All Christians struggle with sin because we dwell in this body of flesh. Yet, last week’s lesson led us to think that Christians are above sin. Christians are above sin being their master. Yes, Christians sin and if they allow sin to remain unchallenged or un-confessed it can take root in their lives and control them. Christians are to acknowledge sin in their lives, confess it to CHRIST, ask for HIS forgiveness and ask for HIS strength to overcome the sin.

Some sins Christians enjoy and do not want them out of their lives. We give lip service but our hearts want some sin or compromise to remain. It could be that a certain sin has become addictive and we need help to overcome it.

GOD’S desire is for Christians to live without the influence and weight of sin in their lives. That is part of the sanctification process. In essence, Christians already are living free of sin but they are not living free from the weight of sin. When CHRIST lived upon earth, HE did not do away with the Law but HE fulfilled the Law. When HE gave HIS life upon the cross, the Law was also nailed to the cross, therefore, when a person accepts CHRIST as his or her Savior, he or she has also been set free from the Law being his or her master. CHRIST is his or her new Master.

I can tell you, Satan does not want a Christian to live above the weight of sin and the weight of sin is the law. Satan does not want any Christian to get to that level of freedom; he wants all Christians to feel defeated.

Paul referred to several key words in Chapter 7:

Carnal or nature of the flesh – the life that is under the control of base or animal appetites is a life that refuses to acknowledge GOD or CHRIST. It is a self-sufficient life as compared to the life that is under the control GOD and the Holy Spirit.

The law of my mind – the law or principle of the mind is parallel to the law of GOD. The law of the mind is at war with the law of sin. The “mind” refers to a person’s intellect, reasoning or ability to make right judgments. A Christian never gives up his or her right to process the facts and principles to make the right choice regarding obediently serving GOD. When a person’s desire is to obey GOD it influences and shapes his or her way of thinking and living.  

It is in the mind where we process information in an effort to make a decision. Using the mind is a fact of life and there is nothing wrong with that process. We must keep in mind that Spiritual matters are Spiritually discerned - 1 Corinthians 2:10-16:

10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the • world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. 15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. 16 For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The law of sin – the law of sin relates to the principle of unrighteousness. The law of sin is at war with that which we know is right to GOD, which is processed by the principles of the law of the mind.

Condemnation – Condemnation is opposite to justification.  It is an adverse judgment against a person who is waiting to be sentenced for an offense.

The law is powerless to save the sinner, the law keeper or the person who becomes a member of a Christian or religious institution. It is CHRIST in a person that makes him or her a Christian. Even when a person places his or her faith in CHRIST there is a growing process. I joined the church many years ago but I did not knowingly join the family of GOD until 1971. That is when I knew CHRIST was present in my life and that I was indwelled by the Holy Spirit. It was the result of me giving up on my ability to live the Christian life in my strength and allowing CHRIST to live through me. Even making that commitment did not mean that I did not have major issues in my life. But one thing was absolutely sure; CHRIST and my loving wife were with me every step of the way.

Christians have notions about GOD, CHRIST and/or being a Christian. Often during the sanctification process GOD allows these notions to be tested. When they are tested these notions are either proved to be true or false. When a notion is revealed to be false, it often shakes a Christian’s faith. But that is good because that is what the sanctification process is all about. GOD’S purpose is to build a solid foundation in the lives of all of HIS Children based upon truth. Thus when difficult times come and the storms of life come, HIS Children remain firm in their faith.

There is still much Spiritual growth ahead and at 76 years old, I am still growing Spiritually. Yes, even knowing that I am a born-again child of GOD and know the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life, I still struggle with sin. There are sins of omission and commission. I am still under construction.

Bible scholars raise the questions, “Was Paul revealing his struggle before he became a Christian or after he became a Christian?” I will take the point of view that for the most part this was Paul’s struggle after he became a Christian.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Romans 7:1-6: (Background regarding the law)

An Illustration from Marriage

1 Since I am speaking to those who understand law, • brothers, are you unaware that the law has authority over someone as long as he lives?

Paul had been writing about dying to self and being dead to sin. He used marriage to help his Christian readers to understand Spiritual conversion using the example of physical marriage. He likely knew that his readers were Jews and would understand the law. When a person dies the law no longer has authority over him or her. Let’s continue to read our next scripture.

2 For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. 3 So then, if she gives herself to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she gives herself to another man, she is not an adulteress. 4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the crucified body of the • Messiah , so that you may belong to another—to Him who was raised from the dead —that we may bear fruit for God.

Several lessons ago, we studied that when CHRIST died on the cross, those who place their faith in HIM also died with HIM. They were buried with HIM and raised from the dead with HIM on the third day. In essence, Christians have died and been buried, resurrected, ascended into heaven and returned to live upon earth to obediently serve GOD.

Christians were bought with a price, the shed blood of CHRIST, and redeemed from sin and eternal death. Christians are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and obediently serve GOD to produce good fruit. They are grafted into the vine of CHRIST and can only produce good fruit that remains because they are intimate with the vine. Apart from the vine, which is CHRIST, they cannot produce Spiritual fruit. Keep in mind that fruit has seeds for it to reproduce and multiply.

Christians obediently serve not by obeying rules but out of their love for GOD and their relationship with GOD through CHRIST. Christians serve out of grateful and enlightened hearts. It is through their relationship with GOD which can come only through a personal relationship with CHRIST through faith and the renewing of their minds. GOD becomes real and genuine as revealed by the Holy Spirit. It is no longer guessing but a knowing. Paul continues:

5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions operated through the law in every part of us and bore fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.

Observing the letter of the law was mechanical and did not internalize the Spirit of the law. In fact, when a person did not measure up to the requirements of the law, he or she was defeated because he or she could not receive forgiveness. That sin hung over their heads, so-to-speak. Since, Christians have been set free from the law, through CHRIST, they are free from the Law being their task master. The Holy Spirit is their teacher and helps them to correctly internalize the Spirit of the law through the empowerment, enlightenment, GOD’S grace and assurance that they are eternally secure, through the shed blood of CHRIST, as GOD’S child.

At the moment of salvation, Christians die to their old life and have been resurrected to a new life in CHRIST. It is a totally new life where Christians learn to walk with CHRIST and build an intimate relationship with HIM. A Christian’s desire, out of love and gratitude, is to live as directed by the Holy Spirit. When a Christian is in the right relationship with CHRIST, he or she will be in the will of GOD. Sanctification produces trust such that when the Holy Spirit says to act, he or she responds. It is important that the Christian not get out ahead of the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  

Let’s continue with the background – Romans 7:7-13:

Sin’s Use of the Law

7 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, 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 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.

The Problem of Sin in Us

13 Therefore, did what is good cause my death? Absolutely not! On the contrary, 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. Let’s read using another translation:

[13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.] (NLT)

Paul posed a question, “Did the law cause his Spiritual death?”  Absolutely not! All the law can do is to reveal how far short a person fails to meet the dictates of the law. The law is powerless to do anything about sin except to reveal it. It is a vicious circle. GOD revealed sin through the law and Satan used it to compound the nature of sin, which is hopeless Spiritual death. Yet, the law is spiritual. So what is the problem?

Let’s read Romans 7:14:

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am made out of flesh, sold into sin’s power.

Notice the word “know.” It means “to know with understanding, to perceive.” We can know about something or we can truly know something which comes from experience. Paul had studied the Mosaic Law and he knew it as “the law” absent human traditions which had been added to it.

GOD’S ideal is for mankind is to live according to HIS law – letter and Spirit. The law does not flex. Failure to obey the law in Spirit and the letter is sin. It is impossible for those living in the flesh to obey the letter and Spirit of the law. That leaves humans with a dilemma.

When Adam and Eve sinned, as GOD promised, mankind was separated from HIM by sin and its consequence eternally. In essence, mankind’s disobedience resulted in mankind being made a free agent or being given over (sold themselves) to another master, the flesh. In doing so, mankind chose the rule of the flesh over the rule of GOD in their lives. Thus, mankind sold itself into sin’s power and mankind became a slave of sin, which has its home in the flesh.

This is the worst kind of bondage because there is no way to escape the rule of the flesh, when left to its own solution. But GOD had a plan to redeem mankind from its helpless, lost and impossible condition.

CHRIST is the only perfect sacrifice Who can redeem mankind from this slavery of sin. Paul, at a time in his life, was very perplexed as we will read in our next scripture. I think many of us can relate. We as humans search for truth and true light. Many of us attempt to live our lives in an effort to please GOD but we fail miserably. We are much like Paul in our next scripture.

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 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good.

Paul reveals that the law does its work by revealing a person’s inability to keep the law but that is good. The law does its work. It is a person’s inability to keep the law that is the problem because of the flesh he or she lives in. So what is the solution?

In his search, Paul discovered that the culprit was and is our sin nature. When Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, it resulted in them being transformed from a personal, intimate relationship with GOD to having to choose. In their bodies of flesh because of their disobedience, as GOD promised, they lost eternal life and their eternal, intimate, personal relationship with HIM. In turn, they received eternal death or separation from GOD because of sin.

Only GOD can restore this separation and since mankind chose to disobey GOD, now mankind must choose to accept GOD’S provision for redemption and restoration. Sin living within each human is the problem. What is the solution? Is it the devil made me do it? Is every human responsible for his or her actions? Let’s continue.

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 doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me. 21 So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me. 22 For in my inner self I joyfully agree with 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.

I think most of us have been there and felt this helplessness. It is very frustrating because we are seeking our own solution. Yet, we are looking to GOD but hanging onto our flesh nature while we are searching. So what is the solution? Who is the culprit? It is me, oh LORD.

Many Christians want conditional salvation. They want their fire insurance without having to give their life to CHRIST. Christians are often concerned that CHRIST might ask them to do something that they do not want to do! We must be willing to give our lives to GOD, trust HIM and hold back nothing. We must die to self or the flesh and live as GOD leads and guides our lives. HE is our new Master when we place our faith in CHRIST.

When we die to self, our new life is in harmony and in right relationship with GOD through CHRIST. This is when the Christian can discern his or her new life in CHRIST. It is a wonderful journey but it is not easy and only possible when Christians depend upon the power and leadership of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

In our next scripture, we see the frustration of Paul as he gets to the point of attempting to figure it out using human effort.

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body?

Paul was building up to a helpless situation. He knew that he had the desire to do what was right but his flesh or sinful nature lured him into sin. He could not escape. How could he overcome this helpless situation? Keep reading!

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.

Romans 8:1-2:

1 Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Eureka!!!  CHRIST is the answer. CHRIST has done what human effort cannot do. The Spirit’s law of life in CHRIST JESUS sets those who place their faith in CHRIST free from the law of sin and of death. There is NO Condemnation for those secure in their faith in CHRIST. JESUS said it best in John 5:24:

24 “I (JESUS) assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

Do you want a guarantee? Ask CHRIST to forgive you for your sins and to come into your life. HE will and you will experience the miracle of the rebirth and all the benefits of being GOD’S child, which is confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

For Christians to fully embrace their new life in CHRIST, they must die to self so they can take off their old life and put on their new life in CHRIST. That is a decision each Christian must make. Many Christians want to hang onto their old clothes or old habits because they think they are so comfortable. What they do not realize is that GOD is tailoring them, through the process of sanctification, special new clothes that are awesome because HE is the designer and the tailor.  

The choice is yours to make. Blessings!!!