February 27, 2002 Lesson 26

Intro Review:

Ø In vs:16-17 2 conclusions drawn from what he just said;

7:16 But if (since 1^cc) I do the very thing I do not wish (to do), I agree with the Law, (confessing) that it is good.

- Says that within me there is a good dynamic functioning. i.e. the new man.

* 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!

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.

* 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.

7:20 But if I [old nature] am doing the very thing I [new nature] do not wish, I [whole person] am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

- What he is saying here is that at this point he is struggling with deliverance from the power of the indwelling sin nature;

7:21 I find then the principle [the law, to.n no,mon] that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good.

- When he wants to do what is right, he ends up producing from the Sin nature here referred to as "that evil" which keeps on being present in him.

7:22 For I joyfully concur [rejoice with] with the law of God in the inner man, [can only be said of a believer]

- When he wants to do what is right, he ends up producing from the Sin nature here referred to as "that evil" which keeps on being present in him.

7:22 For I joyfully concur [rejoice with] with the law of God in the inner man, [can only be said of a believer]

- the inner man = the new nature from which comes the capacity to relate to and to love the truth.

- This is synonymous with the I that desires to do good, and hates evil; 14-17,19; and the mind of v.23, 25

7:23 but I see a different law [e[teron no,mon] in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

- Different law [e[teron no,mon] different in character from the law of God being written in the inner man, the new man;

* What is Paul describing??

1. We have that Sin nature, that wants to keep us in bondage;

2. We respond to that conflict/pressure by saying to our selves; I will get free from this sin; through self-determination we conclude that we will not do this any longer!

3. Why will we not succeed but for the short haul? Why?

4. Though we delight in the law of God in the inner man, new man; it by itself gives us no power to handle the sin natures desires.

You can no more overcome the strong desires of your sin nature by your own power any more than you can separate yourselves from your shadow!

Ø Paul's great lament 7:24 cry of despair

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

- Wretched man that I am! talai,pwroj miserable, wretched, distressed;

implies exhaustion from hard labor; everything he's tried to do to combat the Sin nature has not worked

- His cry here is a recognition that he must have help from an outside source.

Ø 7:25 Source of Deliverance! Who is going to rescue us??

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

- The answer to his question (vs:24), who shall deliver me is given here in a context of praise and thanksgiving;

* It will be by the Holy Spirit that this deliverance is wrought in us; as we shall discover in ch-8.

Summary of Paul's great discoveries about this struggle in Chapter 7.

1. That the sin nature dwelt within him even though he delighted in God's law.

2. That his own will and self-effort, self determination was powerless to handle it.

3. The sin nature dwells in you but it's not who you are totally, only a part! Also have a new nature, being built up by the Word!

4. That there was deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ!