INTRODUCTION
Two weeks ago … the title of the sermon was “Wanted: Dead, But Alive”. The point was that God wants us dead to sin, but alive to Him … being “dead to sin” means being “free from the power of sin” … NOT that we can’t/won’t sin, BUT that we are able to resist and overcome the power of sin.
Last week … the title of the sermon was “From Slavery to Slavery”. The point was that one key to overcoming the power of sin is to resolve to be slaves of God, rather than slaves of sin … and by resolving to present our members as instruments of righteousness.
This week, in today’s message, we’re going to see that doing so (presenting our bodies as instruments of righteousness) is easier said than done … it can be harder than we may think … but we’ll also see that there is hope BECAUSE God will give us the help we need.
Let’s begin by turning to our text for today …
| Romans 7:15–25a (NKJV)  | Romans 7:15–25a NRSVUE |
| 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practise; but what I hate, that I do.  | 15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.  |
| 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.  |
16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good.  17 But in fact it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells within me.  |
| 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but  how to perform what is good I do not find.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practise. |
18 For I know that the good does not dwell within me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do the good lies close at hand, but not the ability. Â
19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.  |
| 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. | 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells within me.  |
| 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.Â
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. |
21 So I find it to be a law that, when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. Â
22 For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self,  |
| 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. | 23 but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  |
| 24 O wretched man that I am!Â
Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!  |
24 Wretched person that I am!Â
Who will rescue me from this body of death?  25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!  |
What can we take away from the text?Â
Problem … Cause … Solution …
Paul had a PROBLEM.Â
- It seems to have been a recurring problem. (Romans 7:15 and 19)Â Â
- He didn’t have the solution (Romans 7:18) … He had the desire, but NOT the ability. Â
The CAUSE was in his body (Romans 7:24)Â
- The cause was his flesh (Romans 7:18) , which gives rise to a war within him (Romans 7:19-22). Â
- law in his members = law of sin (Romans 7:23)Â
versus Â
-
- law of his mind <<<< law of GodÂ
The SOLUTION … is not something that Paul could provide … SO he has to look outside of himself
- He asks who (Romans 7:24)Â Â
- He answers his own question (Romans 7:25)Â Â
CONCLUSIONÂ Â
A. Paul’s problem IS our problem … we sin even when we don’t want to.Â
B. The cause of our problem is the same as for Paul’s problem … the flesh.Â
C. The solution to our problem is the same solution as for Paul’s problem … God, through Jesus Christ.Â
Romans 7:24-25Â Â
- NKJV … 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! Â
- NRSVue … 24 Wretched person that I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Â