Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church [for another interpretation, see other
West Lafayette, Ohio sermon on Romans 7.]
May 7, 1989
TORN IN TWO! Romans 7:14-8:16
I. Just how perfect are Christians, anyway?
A. Letter from group in Iowa - Christians cannot sin.
We write to warn about the false doctrine being taught today.
According to the word of God, if you do not become as a little
child, are unrighteous, work iniquity, are not perfect, if you
live to the flesh, [are] unholy, or a sinner, then you will
not enter the kingdom of God. ... Another lie of the antichrist
today is that they say you cannot be perfect. ... The word of
God plainly states, them that still sin are not of God but of
the devil.
#749
B. However, obvious that they do.
1) Liberals, infidels.
2) Fake conservatives.
3) Real conservatives.
[Examples given. You won't have any trouble filling in
the blank yourself.]
II. Spiritual struggle. [section on the law could be eliminated]
A. Paul was happy once, before he knew what God expected. 7:9
1) God's expectations is expressed in the Law.
2) Sin came to life when he learned the Law.
B. What the law does.
1) Law makes us want to sin. 7:8
a) No smoking sign entices a smoker.
b) But Law does not give us power to overcome sin.
2) Law makes sin utterly sinful. 7:13
a) It shows sin for what it really is.
b) Rich young ruler thought he was OK,
till he saw intent of Law.
C. Is the Law therefore evil? 7:7
1) No, it is good. It expresses God's character. 7:12
2) But the law has no power to change us.
a) The law is good. 7:14
b) We are rotten.
D. Result - Paul wants to obey the law of God, but cannot.
1) Role of conscience.
a) Paul wants to do good. 7:15
b) But he does what is evil instead.
2) Mind tells us we agree with law. 7:16
a) We know in our hearts that adultery is wrong,
though we do it anyway.
b) We do it, but are plagued by guilt.
III. What experience is Paul describing here?
A. As a non-believing Jew.
1) Many expressions are incompatible with being a Christian.
a) Sold in bondage to sin. 7:14
b) Practice evil. 7:19
c) Prisoner, wretched man. 7:23-24
B. As a sinful, disobedient Christian?
1) Person desires to do what is right but lacks power.
2) No mention of Spirit:
a) Living for God through legalism. (dead-end)
C. As a normal Christian. *
1) Expressions incompatible with non-Christian state.
a) He joyfully agrees with God's law. 7:22
b) He wishes to do good. 7:19
c) He serves God with mind. 7:25
2) Paul's life reflects struggle, even as a Christian.
a) Victory did not come in an instant.
D. Anyone can fall. Anyone in this room.
IV. Everyone can identify with his struggle.
A passage from the classic devotional, "The Imitation of Christ" by
Thomas a' Kempis (AD 1400), reflects modern struggles:
"Lord, I confess my sinfulness, and acknowledge my weakness.
Often it is but a small matter that defeats and troubles me.
I resolve to act boldly, but when I am assailed even by a small
temptation, I am in sore straits.
From a trifling thing sometimes arises a strong temptation;
and when I am secure, I am almost overwhelmed by a mere breath.
I am weary of living constantly at conflict.
My weakness is apparent to me, for evil fancies rush in on me more
readily than they depart." #533
V. Nature of the struggle.
A. Sin takes on a life of its own. 7:17,20 (repeated twice)
Rev. Walker Railey was until recently one of the most powerful
preachers in Dallas, Texas.
His salary was $100,000 a year and he was provided with all
the trimmings, including a new car.
Railey's Methodist church had 5,300 members, a $2 million budget
and a staff of 65.
He was 33, the same as me.
Railey was a fantastic preacher and was not afraid to tackle
difficult issues like racism and social justice.
He began getting threatening notes.
In March 1987 an intruder came up to his wife Peggy and
strangled her outside their home.
She did not die, but went into a deep coma where she remains
to this day.
The doctors say she is little more than a vegetable.
The police did a thorough investigation and came up with some
disturbing evidence.
They found that the threatening letters were written by
Rev. Railey himself on a church typewriter.
The message he left on their home answering machine made it
sound like he was in another city at the time, but it was
faked.
And for the last year he had been having an affair with a
psychologist.
When they confronted him with the evidence, he denied it.
But Walker Railey had inner compulsions that no one understood.
The next day he locked himself in his room and took an overdose
of drugs.
He left a note which read:
"There is a demon inside my soul.
For almost 40 years God has been struggling with my demons.
My demon has finally gotten the upper hand.
I am the baddest of the bad. I am the lowest of the low."
He did not die from the overdose, and there has not been enough
evidence to convict him.
Whether he is guilty or not, Walker Railey knows that sin is
not a silly, petty thing.
It is a monster that strives to master the soul.
#840
1) Dangerous to push this too far (Devil made me do it!) but
contains truth.
2) Sin is powerful!
B. Wretched man! 7:24
1) Possible to feel worse as a Christian.
2) Guilt is more evident.
C. Victory in Jesus! 7:25
1) Jesus can deliver us.
a) Yet followed by difficult verse:
1> Follow God in mind, sin with flesh. 7:25 b
b) Reason - spiritual struggle is constant. Tension.
2) Is consistent victory possible?
VI. Victory through Spirit.
A. Victory is possible in the Christian life. 8:2
1) Defeat is possible, but victory should be normal.
2) Reason: The Spirit is stronger than sin.
a) Jesus defeated sin on the cross.
B. No condemnation for those "in Christ." 8:1
1) Condemnation = penal sentence.
a) "In Christ" means they are saved.
2) Truly saved, have Spirit. 8:9
a) Passage is not describing just spiritual believers,
but all believers (potential).
C. Condition: Walk in the Spirit.
1) Mortify (kill) deeds of body. 8:13
a) Hyles - evades sin. Claims it's forgiven, forgotten.
#834
b) Jim Gross, local Christian.
Jim Gross used to be a long-haired hippy.
He was a drug dealer in Akron.
Became saved.
Dropped alcohol immediately, and promiscuity.
Marijuana was harder.
Went to read Bible in woods and smoke a joint; made him feel
close to God.
Put down Bible to smoke, was feeling very mellow.
Had half his joint left.
Didn't want to read Bible then, but felt convicted.
Opened to Ephesians 5:18 - "Do not get drunk on wine, ... but
be filled with the Spirit."
Convinced him to stop smoking dope.
However, he did not get rid of last half of joint but stashed it
in his garage.
Later he smoked it but felt very guilty.
Cigarettes also took him a long time to give up.
He and wife spent $1,400 a year on cigarettes; he smoked
two packs a day.
He quit, then started, quit, started.
Stored them on top of air duct in garage and was tempted by them.
Decided he must rid his house of them completely if he would
have victory.
He found out to really be a Christian you must give all of
yourself to Jesus. #799
2) Set mind on Spirit. 8:5
a) What this means.
1> Not impulsive.
2> Habitual experience. What would Jesus want me to do?
b) Deliberate attitude.
1> Possible to live for the self.
2> Contrast explained between living for flesh
and living for Spirit.
D. The place of the Law.
1) God's commands become God's enablings. 8:4
VII. Benefits of living by Spirit.
A. Experience life and peace. 8:6
B. Future resurrection. 8:11
C. Know you are a child of God. 8:14-15
VIII. Examples of those who have lived by Spirit. (???)
[for documentation of illustrations, download Holwick's Sermon Illustration
database at http://illust.holwick.com]
First Baptist Church; Ledgewood, New Jersey
This document last modified January 1, 2000