Introduction
1. (Ill.) Do you remember our last time -
ill. about a
make-believe U.S. invasion of Cuba? Castro is in
the woods hiding w/ his authority
gone. Now,
when his guerilla forces attack, where do
you think they will strike? The strongest spot or
the weakest? The unprotected areas get hurt -
worse, but they will attack any effort to
supply
the new forces w/ strength. They are deadly
when they are quiet, because you don't
know
where they will strike. And they will work
against in vulnerable spots in the supply
lines for the new rulers
troops.
Such is your indwelling sin.
"When it is least felt, it is in fact the
most powerful." Thankfully - Christian is not
schizophrenic, or w/ 2 separate
personalities or
2 natures, no we have one new nature, the
old
one died w/ Christ. But we do have 2 forces in
us, one is in control, one seeks
control.
Our redeemed, new, inner man vs our
indwelling
sin.
The battle has begun.
2. (Review)
if you can remember a few - Rom. 6-
Tells us the good news.
Sin's, dominion, rule, and authority has
been
destroyed in - life of every real
Christian.
Authority is different than power.
Sin's authority, dominion, rule, &
reign is over
Sin's guerilla warfare is not
We saw from chpt. 6:
a.
The kingdoms have been changed for every genuine Christian. vs 5-11
b.
Every genuine Christian is responsible to live like a regenerate person. vs 12-14
c.
Every human being serves either king Sin or king Christ. Vs 15 -23
Sin no longer has authority over us.
That leads in to our relationship w/ -
law.
3. (Direction) We will see today that our
relationship to the law also changed w/
our
conversion to Christ & from
sin's rule.
I. The law has no power to justify - it can
only bring condemnation.
II. The law has no power to sanctify - it can
only expose our failures in obedience.
vs 14-25
As we look at our relationship to the
law, we will
also learn about our indwelling sin, our
enemy
on the inside.
I.
THE LAW HAS NO POWER TO JUSTIFY - IT CAN ONLY BRING CONDEMNATION. vs 1-14
A.
Paul challenges the Jews about the law's role.
1. It never was designed
to justify a fallen sinner.
2. It restrains sin,
exposes sin, & reveals the
right path to take.
B.
Ever alive sinner is under the law's authority.
1. The law is written on
every heart.
2. While you are living,
the law says do this or you will die.
3. Once you die, the law
is silent.
C. Marriage relationships illustrate
our new position.
1. Marriage to Mr. Law as
- unbeliever.
2. Here is my list to have
done, dear.
Not a hair out of place, not a speck of lent on
his suit. - Comes home exactly at 5:32 p.m.
every evening w/o
exception. He is so perfect.
3. Didn't finish - list,
pow! You must pay for not
being perfect every time.
4. Marriage to Mr. Christ.
5. Here's Mr. Law's list,
let me help you do it, dear.
No pow! Power & assistance to attempt to do what was
impossible to do both now & before. It still the goal. Mr. Law's stick is gone. Mr. Christ has already bore our punishment for our
failure. No more beatings.
D.
Sin and the law are not friends.
But they do work together in - unbeliever.
E.
The law provokes a person's sin nature.
1. Only the unbeliever's & make-believers have one.
2. Don't touch, wet paint.
Read vs 5-6
What kind of fruit do you bear?
Two kinds
- fruit to death, fruit to
God.
Be your own fruit inspector. Are
you still married to Adam, or have you married Christ? Are you different than you were?
How are you different? Are you a
pharisee?
Or are you a new creation in Christ?
(Ill.) John Newton had a
Christian mother who
died when he was a young boy, he made a profession of faith, but quickly
forsook it for many years, then God saved him, he was a different man. Are you like John at 9 or at 40?
It makes a world of difference.
II.
THE LAW HAS NO POWER TO SANCTIFY - IT CAN ONLY EXPOSE OUR FAILURES IN OBEDIENCE. VS 14-25
A.
Every believer's puzzling situation.
(15)
1. I don't understand
myself because of the war
2. I do the opposite of
what I desire to inside of me.
B.
Every believer's necessary admition.
(16)
1.
The law shows me what to do - it is good.
2.
I am the problem, I am the one who fails.
C.
Every believer's needed understanding. (17-19)
(Rom
7:17-9 NKJV) But now, it is no longer I
who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
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. For the good that I will to do, I do not do;
but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
1.
Sin dwells inside of me.
2.
Sin is not just outside - my enemy - is on the inside.
3. This fact never fails,
evil is present in me.
4. Indwelling sin is an operating
force inside me. (powerful & successful)
5. We must personally
discover our indwelling sin (found it).
6. We find this force in
us when we desire to do
good. Indwelling sin fights against all the means of grace.
7. Notice the place and
strategy of our remaining sin.
8. Sin is not around us, it is in us.
Indwelling sin attacks our new desire to do
good & our specific attempts to do good.
You sit down write tithe check, indwelling sin is
there, you plan to come to
worship God on His
day, indwelling sin is ready to
fight, you plan to
call
and build up your brother, it is there.
you sit down to read the Wounded
Heart Book
or Bold Love , along w/
Bible, whatever is good, it fights.
John Owen "How woeful is the
sloth and negligence then of so many who live
blind and are asleep about this internal
reality of sin in them. There is an exceeding efficacy and power in the indwelling sin of
believers, for it constantly
inclines itself towards evil. We need to be awake, then, if our hearts
would know the ways of God."
D.
Every believer's clear conclusion. (22, 23)
1. My inner man
delights in God's law.
2. My indwelling sin
fights against obedience.
3. I am at war inside, new
nature vs
indwelling sin.
E.
Every believer's painful confession.
(24)
1. I am a mess, a
wretched person.
2. I seek to do &
chose right, but I fall flat on my face.
F.
Every believer's victorious proclamation (25)
1. I am thankful for
deliverance is coming.
2. Christ Jesus' return
will correct my problem with
remaining sin.
G. Every believer's honest
disclosure. (25)
1. My inner man serves
God's law.
2. My indwelling sin
serves the law of sin.
(Heb 3:13 NKJV) but exhort one another daily, while it is called
"Today," lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
(Jer 17:9 NKJV) "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
Indwelling
sin is deceitful & resides in the heart & body of believers.
3.
In my own power I will fail every time.
4.
My sin lost its right to rule at my conversion,
but not its power to exist.
5.
The power that works, is not - law, not me in my own strength,
Power- gospel, - Holy Spirit. (Rom. Chpt. 8)
But He will not fight my sin for me
He helps me every time I get up to
fight, but I have to chose to war in dependent
trust on Him
and His power.
(Gal 5:17 NKJV) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh; and these are contrary to
one another, so that you do not
do the things that you wish.
H. There is no escape from
struggle & tension in the Christian life. Life is a War, w/ many a battle.Indwelling
sin must be killed, & chased just like a band of guerrilla
soldiers.
Kill
sin or it will kill you.
I
have found you, oh, my enemy.
You
are a walking Trojan horse, the enemy is on the inside, it seeks to deceive,
guide you, destroy you.
You
must walk by Faith, Battle w/ sin
be
ready for its surprise attacks.
(ill.) I have to be careful w/ alcohol
I
was drunk for - 3 yrs. I can't make provision for the flesh, or I will
return
to
that sinful way of coping w/ the pains
of
life, but using food to replace alcohol
is
not spiritual either. Dan Allender in Bold
Love, drives the knife deep into my heart. He writes, "Every time I come home from work, walk
into - pantry, grab a few bags of processed junk
food &
engage in a fifteen- minute culinary orgy, I live out a foolish hatred of discipline." Replacing one addiction or habit
w/ another is not spiritual or wise.
The
root problems must be dealt w/.
I
thought, because you had the gift of teaching you didn't struggle w/
sin. That a lie, smells
like smoke. If Paul lived in Romans
7 what makes you think you can get a Pastor who doesn't? There is no higher
standard or second blessing. Every Christian has indwelling sin.
Conclusion
1.
The law has no power to justify - it can only bring condemnation.
2.
The law has no power to sanctify - it can only expose our failures in obedience. vs 14-25
The gospel & the H. Spirit are the
sources of power for justification
& sanctification.
The law restrains, exposes sin &
guides the believer on the path
of righteousness.
Indwelling sin is deceitful, powerful,
effective,
it wars against our habitual desire to
do good
& all specific attempts to do what
is right & good.
It is no match for the word of God
and
the Holy Spirit when we take advantage
of God's
grace & war against it.
Indwelling sin ignored is like a bull
in a china shop.
You'll have a mess to clean up.
My uncle was told he had cancer. He would make
it 6 months if they fought it. He chose to live and endure - pain by
warring w/ the cancer. My boss at CBC fought it & has been in remission for many years. God has called us
to war w/ the cancer inside us. Short
or long term is - Master's choice.
Will you take the call to arms and
begin the war?
And if you are a religious professor but you are not converted, you need to
get rid of your sin nature. Come to Christ by faith & repentance. Don't let sin deceive you & harden your heart.
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