Lesson 94
Romans Chapter 7
Freedom
from the Law's domination
or the total failure of the law to sanctify.
Intro next section:
7:15f
What this section covers is
what can be reality in our life as
believers but should not be, and
won't be if we utilize the grace
provision we've learned from chapter 6.
Any conduct; any thought,
whatever you say will be influenced by one of 2 sources:
#1 the flesh/Sin nature >
result > sin or human good
#2 the indwelling H/S >
result > D/G/P
[divine good production]
In this context, Paul is
dealing with the struggle that will always be present when the indwelling H/S is not empowering the life.
It's
comforting in a sense to find that such a great apostle as Paul faced the same
kind of issues that we do!
Law is spiritual, not the
problem, I am of the flesh sold under the authority of sin; that's the problem;
that's the condition when the H/S is not empowering; that's a clear statement
of the present state/condition Paul is
dealing with here.
In vs:15-25
Paul gives us an explanation of what he just said;
How would you know that
there are 3 different words here for doing?
#1. doing katerga,zomai -
working; producing
#2. practicing pra,ssw - practice
#3. doing poie,w - to make, create, manufacture; idea here is performing
Look carefully at
#1. What I am
producing, Paul says, I do not understand;
#2. I am
not practicing what I would like to do!
I'm baffled!
#3. I'm performing
that which I hate!
Everything
that you are mentally, volitionally, and emotionally is involved in this
struggle.
New man
sin
nature
What Paul is saying!
What I think in my mind (new man) is not what
I am producing!
What I choose to practice is not what I would
like to do!
What I hate that I am performing!
- Our ability to handle the
onslaught of the old nature is not a matter of choice based on
self-determination! Not at all!
Its based on fact; on truth the
reality of what Christ did on the cross!
And my attitude towards
those facts!
- Anytime we attempt to deal with the exigencies of life, - the
pressures that will come from the indwelling sin nature, on the basis of our
own merits/abilities;
the result is the struggle Paul is detailing here.
Ø
In vs:16-17 2 conclusions drawn
from what he just said;
- Says that
within me there is a good dynamic functioning.
i.e. the new man.
- What is it that is in Paul that agrees with the
law? Identifies what is right! vs:22 new
man, new creation;
* When you have the law of God in
your mind, in your thinking, in your conscience; your not going to approve what
you practice that is outside of that framework.
Ø
In vs:17 have a second conclusion;
there is an inner evil - sin
"So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me."
We must be careful here, at
this point and not excuse our sinning by passing it off to the indwelling sin
nature. Therefore, somehow, I can't help
it!
We must be careful here, at this point and not excuse our
sinning by passing it off to the indwelling sin nature. Therefore, somehow, I
can't help it!
What Paul is doing here is
pointing out the source of his sinful behavior, not excusing it!
- Rem: You choose who influences - dominates! new or the old
man! How?
Ø
7:18-19 How he knows what he
just said in vs:17
- We will have no success as a believer in the
sphere of a worthy walk; living a holy life!
Until we learn the same lessons that Paul learned and is reporting on
here.
7:18 For
I know that nothing good [avgaqo,j( intrinsic good] dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for
the wishing [qe,lw fr.
resolve, decision, intend purpose, aim] is
present in me, but the doing [katerga,zomai - producing] of
the good (is) not.
7:19 For
the good that I wish [qe,lw, desire] I do
not do [poie,w performing]; but I practice the very evil that I do
not wish.
* Paul makes a very strong dogmatic statement; there is nothing intrinsically good in my
flesh that is in my sin nature!
* I have the desire to do what
is right, but I don't have the resources in and of myself to translate this
desire into action.
* As long as we continue to look inside or to ourselves; we will be one mass of contradictions and
paradoxes!