The War WithinRomans 7:14-25

The War WithinRomans 7:14-25

Believer or Unbeliever?• Believer because…–Shift from past (7-13) to present tense

(14-25)–Overall flow of Romans•Condemnation (1:18-3:20)• Justification (3:21-ch5)• Sanctification (ch6-8)

Believer or Unbeliever?• Believer because…–Shift from past (7-13) to present tense

(14-25)–Overall flow of Romans–Bold statements only true of believers• “agree with the Law” (v16)• sincerely wants to do good (v19,21)• “joyfully concur with the Law” (v22)

Believer or Unbeliever?• Believer because…–Shift from past (7-13) to present tense

(14-25)–Overall flow of Romans–Bold statements only true of believer

• Actually, a mature believer!

What’s wrong with me?A: I am “of flesh sold in bondage to sin”

What’s wrong with me?A: I am “of flesh sold in bondage to sin”

1. the skin covering my bones2. my whole body3. all of me – material & immaterial4. all of me as a fallen human being

– body and spirit broken by sin

What’s wrong with me?A: I am “of flesh sold in bondage to sin”

1. legal slavery- legally owned by sin- now owned by Christ (6:7)

2. experiential slavery - enslaved to our sinful habits & addictions (6:16)

3. inherited slavery - subject to the traits you were born with (7:14)

What’s wrong with me?A: I am “of flesh sold in bondage to sin”

= I’m still broken and by nature bent towards sin

What’s wrong with me?A: I am “of flesh sold in bondage to sin”Result: there’s a war within me...

“inner man” = “mind”vs.

“members of my body”

All parts broken by sin

What am I?

Material(Visible)

BodyFlesh & Bones

Immaterial(Invisible)

Mind

SpiritHeart

One Unified Person – “Me”“Man,” a “Soul”

Members

Reasoning & Intentions

All the parts of my body, anatomy

Conscience

What’s wrong with me?A: I am “of flesh sold in bondage to sin”Result: there’s a war within me...“inner man” = “mind”

- how I reason & make intentions- thus, how I choose to obey God

“members of my body”- how I interact w/ the world – my 5 senses- thus, how I experience temptation

What’s wrong with me?A: I am “of flesh sold in bondage to sin”Result: there’s a war within me...

which sin always wins…

What’s wrong with me?A: I am “of flesh sold in bondage to sin”Result: there’s a war within me...

which sin always wins…if I’m on my own

Two Lessons1) The normal Christian life is STRUGGLE

Know your vulnerabilities

2) If I try to fight alone, I will losePractice humility with God & others