Romans 7:14

Every Believer’s Conflict #

Romans 7:14-20

Introduction

Can I give you a little reassurance of your salvation tonight. If you are truly born again, you are going to struggle with sin. Lost people do NOT STRUGGLE with sin! It doesn’t bother them to get high, drunk, or live a sinful life. They live that way on a regular basis, without concern.

Some people have been taught certain things are morally wrong. Therefore, they try not to do things, because they are smitten by their conscience from what their mom and dad have taught them. But as society decays, and normal slides, so does morality. Paul really covered that in the first few chapters of Romans. Societal rules become a guide of right and wrong.

We are often tempted to think, because we sin, we are not saved. I would remind you that this chapter was written under inspiration of God by the Apostle Paul. In my opinion, these men that followed Jesus Christ to the grave, and died a martyrs death, have the highest degree of loyalty. They paid a price, that you and I have not faced. And yet Paul, bruised, beaten, jailed, for the cause of Christ, struggled with his flesh! If we were to classify people in terms of spirituality, I would put the Apostle Paul towards the top, and he struggled. So don’t think you and I will not struggle. The struggle is positive proof of a persons salvation.

I. Dwelling sin (17, 18a, 20) #

A. Corruption of the Flesh #

1. We are born with a sin nature! #

Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

  • That is the reason we need a Saviour!

2. Salvation doesn’t erase the carnal flesh #

3. Salvation does start the indwelling of the Spirit #

B. Change of the flesh (1 Corinthians 15:51-54) #

1. Change coming (future) (51) #

2. When? - Coming of Christ (52) – The trump, or rapture, when the saved are called out! #

3. What? - Change (53-54) #

4. Why? - Christ (57) #

5. We look forward to that day, but until then, fight! #

C. Conflict (21) #

1. Opposition - Every time you attempt something for God, there will be opposition, your flesh! #

2. Don’t stop, and give in! #

  • Keep, denying the flesh!

Matt. 16:24 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

1Cor. 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Phil. 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

II. Delight in the Word (Romans 7:22) #

  • You will notice that even with the dwelling of sin in our flesh, there is still a desire to do right! You will notice also, a delight in God’s Word!

A. Inward man #

1. The Holy Spirit of God dwells within the believer #

2. You should have a desire to do right, and a desire to God’s Word! #

2Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

3. That NEW man, inside of you, desires God’s things #

4. Don’t quench the Spirit! #

  • In 1 Thessalonians he gives a list of things that we need to work on,

1Th. 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

B. The delight #

Psa. 1:1 ¶ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

1. It is the cleansing Word! #

Psa. 119:9 ¶ BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 ¶ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 ¶ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

III. Deliverance (Rom 7:24-25) #

A. Salvation delivers (25a) #

  • He expresses his gratitude to God, through Jesus Christ, because Jesus is the way of Salvation!

    • This has been throughly covered, but Paul, constantly refers back to it.

1. Deliverance comes at Salvation! #

Rom. 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • Salvation, gives us freedom from the penalty of Sin!
  • Salvation also gives us freedom from the power of sin!

Rom. 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

B. Submission to the Spirit (Romans 8:1) #

1. It is NOT automatic! #

  • When you get saved, you do not just automatically do what is right from that point forward.

2. “who walk not after the flesh” #

  • It will come natural, and easy to follow the flesh! Automatic

3. “but after the Spirit” #

Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15

Gal. 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Tags: Spiritual Battle Romans Outlines Preaching Sin Bible