Licensed to KillKilling The Sin That Kills Our Joy

“The Enemy Within”Romans 7:15-25

Licensed to KillKilling The Sin That Kills Our Joy

Romans 7:15-25

Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings”

Licensed to KillKilling The Sin That Kills Our Joy

“The Enemy Within”Romans 7:15-25

15 For I do not understand my own

Romans 7:15-25

actions. For I do not do what I want,but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.

As a Christian, you will sometimes

feel like a walking contradiction.

1

“Deliver me from that evil man,

myself.”

~ St. Augustine

17 So now it is no longer I who do it,

Romans 7:15-25

but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carryit out….

19 For I do not do the good I want, but

Romans 7:15-25

the evil I do not do want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

As a Christian, you will always

live with an internal enemy.

2

~ The Apostle Paul in Romans 7:7-8

“I would not have known

what it is to covet if the law

had not said, ‘You shall not

covet.’ But sin, seizing an

opportunity through the

commandment, produced in

me all kinds of coveting….

Sin, seizing an opportunity

through the commandment,

deceived me….”

17 So now it is no longer I who do it,

Romans 7:15-25

but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carryit out….

The Self Viewed From One Perspective:

“The Flesh”

The Self Viewed From Another Perspective:

“New Creation”

My old self / former way of life My new self / new way of life

Sin living in me Christ living in me

Participates in this present evil age

Participates in the new age to come

Bows to serve sin as its master Bows to serve Christ as its master

Me living for myself Me living for Christ

The old person “in Adam” The new person “in Christ”

The fading outer person The renewed inner person

We have met the enemy, and it is us.

”~ Pogo

“

21 So I find it to be a law that when I

Romans 7:15-25

want to do right, evil lies close at hand.22 For I delight in the law of God, in myinner being, 23 but I see in my membersanother law waging war against the lawof my mind and making me a captive tothe law of sin that dwells in my members.

As a Christian, you will continually experience an ongoing war.

3

When I decided to follow Jesus that night in

Atlanta, I assumed that becoming a Christian

would make life easier. I thought the rest of my

life would be smiling and smooth sailing.

~ Lecrae, Hip Hop ArtistFacebook, Feb 16, 2016

I assumed I wouldn’t be tempted by women and partying and acceptance

and all the things I’d been a slave to for so many years.

I thought I would walk around with a continual

inner-peace and serenity like Gandhi or something.

~ Lecrae, Hip Hop ArtistFacebook, Feb 16, 2016

This turns out to be a lie that too many

people believe. You’ll actually experience

more temptation, not less, after you

become a Christian.

~ Lecrae, Hip Hop ArtistFacebook, Feb 16, 2016

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will

Romans 7:15-25

deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

As a Christian, you must ultimately

hope in the salvation of Jesus.

4

Following Jesus doesn’t mean you’ll start living perfectly

overnight. It certainly doesn’t mean that your problems will

disappear.

~ Lecrae, Hip Hop ArtistFacebook, Feb 16, 2016

Rather than ridding you of your problems or

temptations, following Jesus just means that

you have a place—no, a person—to run to when

they come. And the power to overcome them.

~ Lecrae, Hip Hop ArtistFacebook, Feb 16, 2016

The enemy of sin may dwell within, but Christ will win

in the end.

…you must ultimately hope in the salvation of Jesus.

*As a Christian…

…you will sometimes feel like a walking contradiction

…you will always live with an internal enemy

…you will continually experience ongoing war

****

Application:

Choose this day to side with the war that Christ by his Spirit

is fighting against your sin.

images used for educational purposes

http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/38-backstage/6775-lecrae-to-star-in-feature-film-believe-me

http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/38-backstage/6775-lecrae-to-star-in-feature-film-believe-me

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sodahead.com%2Fentertainment%2Fwhos-the-best-tv-character-of-the-2000s%2Fquestion-4734308%2F%3Fpage%3D2&bvm=bv.115339255,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNHWKI4esXJhyd1zNEoe6q7TMa_sdA&ust=1456538932302013

“The Enemy Within”Romans 7:15-25