Blake Jennings

Grace Bible Church

“The War Within”

Romans 7

In verses 14-25, Paul reveals that the normal Christian life is a continuous battle against the sin nature that still dwells within all believers. This sin nature still has mastery over our flesh, our fallen human nature, and as a result, when we try to win this battle with our own strength and will-power, we inevitably fail.

Overview:

Romans 1-8

I. Introduction/Theme (1:1-17)

II. Condemnation: All of Humanity Condemned Because of Sin (1:18-3:20)

III. Justification: God Gives us the Position of Righteousness (3:21-5:21)

IV. Sanctification: God Grows us in Practical Righteousness (6:1-8:39)

Sanctification: Romans 6-8

I. Romans 6: Why bother?

II. Romans 7: Why is it so hard?

III. Romans 8: How do I do it?

Romans 7

• 7:1-6: Explain/prove 6:14b

– I’m no longer under law because I died

• 7:7-12: So is the Law sin?

– Problem isn’t law, problem is me!

– Paul’s pre-conversion example

• 7:13-25: So is the Law the cause of my spiritual death?

– No, problem is still with me!

– Paul’s present example

Romans 7:14-25

Why is this Paul as a mature believer?

– Verbs all present tense

– Overall flow of the book – this is sanctification section

– Bold statements ONLY true of a mature believer

• “Flesh”

– Skin

– Whole material body

– All of me, body and soul

– All of me without God, as a fallen human being with corrupted body and soul

• “sold into slavery to sin”

– Romans 6:1-6 – Legal slavery to sin

– Romans 6:15-16 – Experiential slavery to sin

– Romans 7:14 – Slavery by nature to sin

• “I” (egw)

– Emphatic, not needed

– 6 times in this section

– It is me doing it alone, in my own resources

– Never in chapter 8

• 2 Conclusions:

– V16 – not the law’s fault

– V17 – it is sin’s fault – my sin nature

• V21 – the general principle

• V22-23 – the explanation

– There are 2 “laws” in me!

• V24 – the result: frustration

• V25a – our hope in God

• V25b – our struggle for now

Two Big Lessons

• The Normal Christian life is STRUGGLE

– So struggling with sin is NOT a sign of immaturity or lack of faith!

• When you try to do it on your own YOU WILL FAIL

– None of us are strong enough!

Application

• HUMILITY

– With God – confess our brokenness

– With one another – seek wise accountability