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Romans: The Power of the Gospel Message 86 of 150
The Battle Against Sin – Week 1
Pastor Anthony King· June 2, 2024
Romans 7:15-25
If our nature is to follow the flesh, how can we find victory over sin? Part one of a two-week study on the believer's battle against sin.
“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”
Romans 7:15
The series
Verse by verse through Paul’s letter to the church at Rome: the Gospel of God’s righteousness, from our ruin in sin to life lived as a living sacrifice.
Is this man saved or unsaved?
Perspective A: The saved man has power over sin and would not struggle like this. This man must be unsaved.
Perspective B: The unsaved man has no delight for the law of God or a desire to obey God. This man must be saved.
This passage is an explanation of the war between our flesh and our spirit.
Romans 6 makes it clear that despite our deliverance from sin, we must choose to yield to sin or yield to Jesus.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 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. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.Romans 6:11-14
Struggling with sin carries the idea of being engaged in battle against our sinful nature.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.Galatians 5:16-17
We have been promised victory as long as we continue to fight.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?1 John 5:4-5
To appropriately do battle, we must identify the enemy and become wise against the tactics of the enemy.
Satan is our enemy.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.1 Peter 5:8-9
The world’s system is our enemy.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.1 John 2:15-17
Our greatest enemy is our own flesh.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.Romans 8:5-8
Our heart is prone to temptation.
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.James 1:14-15
Lust -> Sin -> Death
Our heart is eager to believe lies.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?Jeremiah 17:9
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.Romans 1:21
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;2 Corinthians 10:5
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.Proverbs 28:26
“The oasis tempting you to leave the path is not a refreshing spring. It is a poisoned water hole. It is literally going to kill your soul if you keep drinking it. You may be hot, weary and parched, but this is the last place in the world you want to find a drink.”
Our heart is prone to selfishness and pride.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.Mark 7:21-23
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:Colossians 3:5
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.Proverbs 8:13
Protect your heart.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.Proverbs 4:23
Megadose on Truth. Stop and ask, “Is this really true?”
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.John 17:17
Daily practice humility and submission.
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.James 4:6-10
Become an expert at looking into your own heart and asking “Why?”
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.Psalm 139:23-24
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.Proverbs 28:26
15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But 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. 24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:15-25
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