Would you turn with me to Romans
chapter 7? I'd like to read verse 14 down
to the end of the chapter. Romans chapter 7, if you'd like
to follow along with me. Paul says, For we know that the
law is spiritual, But I am carnal, souls under sin. For that which I do, I allow
not. For what I would, that do I not. But what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would
not, I consent unto the law, that it is good. Now then, it
is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For
I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. For to will is present with me,
but How to perform that which is good? I find not. For the good that I would, I
do not. But the evil which I would not,
that I do. Now, if I do that I would not,
it's no more I that do it, but the sin that dwelleth in me. I find a law that when I would
do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law
of God after the inward man, but I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity. to the law of sin, which is in
my members, O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from
the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ
our Lord. So then, with the mind I myself
serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. I've entitled this message, Are
you a Roman 7 sinner? There are not many of them. Are you a Roman 7 sinner? Someone once said to me, we need
to get out of Roman 7 and into Roman 8. And I wish I could have
replied this, You can't get out of the place you've never been.
You see, if you're in Romans 7, you're
in Romans 8. And if you're in Romans 8, you're
in Romans 7. These two cannot be separated. I've even heard of some who maintain
that Paul was speaking of his experience before God saved him.
This is how he was before he was saved, in Romans chapter
7. Now, the person who holds that
position, number one, is either not saved, or number two, if
you give them the benefit of the doubt, they're in such a
backslidden condition. So hard-hearted, so given over
to the spirit of the Laodiceans, rich, increased with goods and
having need of nothing. that they've lost all discernment
and cannot see themselves in this light and are at the verge
of being spit out of the mouth of Christ for the spirit of Laodicea. You see, this passage of scripture
that I just read actually is the true portrait of the holy
man. The man of Romans 7 is the holy
man. Now I have four goals in bringing
you this message. One, I want to glorify God. Number two, I want to clearly
state what this text actually says. I don't want to hold back
out of fear that someone will use what I'm saying to justify
their sinful lifestyle. I realize some will do that,
but some will hang themselves with a rope too, won't they?
Do we stop the manufacturing of rope in order to prevent people
from hanging themselves? No. They're going to find some
other way to terminate their life if that's what they're about.
I want to tell the truth concerning what this passage of scripture
actually says. May God give us the grace to
hear. Thirdly, I want every believer
to enjoy full assurance of their salvation in the very teeth of
their sin. And I want those who are not
saved to know they're not saved. You see, if you ever find out
you're not saved, that's when you'll cry for mercy. In verse 14, Paul begins with
these words, For we know. The Christian is someone who knows
something. This is the same we know as in
Romans 3.19 where he said, We know that whatsoever things the
law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every
mouth may be stopped, and all the world stand guilty before
God. Every Christian knows that. When Paul said in Romans 7.18,
I know that in me that is in my flesh dwells no good thing.
Every Christian knows that. When Paul said, and we know that
all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them we are called according to his purpose. They may not
know, but we do. A Christian is one who knows
something. He's been taught of God. And what he knows, he knows. For we know that the law is spiritual,
Paul says, but I am carnal, sold under sin. Now this is my experience
right now. I'm glad the Lord receives sinners
because I'm someone who is sold as a slave under the dominion
obscene. Now what do I mean by that? We
know that the law is spiritual, it's perfect, it reflects God's
holy character. I love the Ten Commandments.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Nothing's to be put
before God because He's so altogether glorious. The second commandment
regarding idolatry. The Lord is so glorious there's
nobody to compare Him to. There's none like Him. To make
an image is to bring Him down and humanize Him and make Him
like us. The commandment concerning taking
His name in vain. The Lord is so altogether glorious
and holy that one ought to be damned simply to not use the
proper reference for His name. Remember it's a Sabbath day to
keep it holy. This thing of rest, rest, rest. Not doing anything. Resting. The commandment regarding honoring
your father and mother in all God-ordained authority. The commandment
concerning not killing. Not killing men's bodies and
not killing their characters by slander and innuendo. The commandment to not commit
adultery, whether physical or spiritual. The command should
not steal. That's more than shoplifting. Robbing glory from God. The command
concerning not lying. Isn't a lie a horrible thing?
The commandment concerning not coveting. The law is spiritual,
Paul says, but I am carnal. I am fleshly, sold under sin,
dominated by sin, as a slave is to its master. Now let me
say this, if you believe you have kept one commandment, one
time, you don't even have a clue regarding God's holy law. The law is spiritual, but I am
carnal. sold under sin now Romans chapter
7 verse 14 does not describe you you are not a Romans 7 sinner
I repeat are you a Romans 7 sinner verse 15 Paul says for that which I do I allow not. I don't approve of it. I don't
know it. What I would, I would. I would not sin. I would be perfectly conformed
to the image of Christ. I would never promote myself
again. What I would, it doesn't happen. I do not do it. But what I hate,
that is exactly what I do. I repeat, are you a Romans 7
sinner? Paul says in verse 16, If then
I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it
is good. I would not sin. All I do is
sin. The law condemns it. Just and
holy is his name. God's law is good. It's glorious. I consent unto it that it's good,
and it's good in my condemnation, if that's what it takes place.
It's good. You believe that? Verse 17, now
then, it's no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in
me. Paul says it's not me, it's him.
I didn't do it, he did it. Is he saying anything less? You
see, this speaks of the two natures that are in the believer. There
is a dual, D-U-E-L, between the dual, D-U-A-L, natures of the
believer. You see, we're born into this
world with a sin nature. It's called total depravity. Total depravity. Now, I think
there are two scriptures that express just what that means. Here's the first one. You, to
what our Lord said to his, some Pharisees, you will not come
to me that you might have life. That is total depravity. Don't get any more wicked or
evil than that. You will not come to me that you might have
life. And here's the second scripture
that expresses the inability that comes with total depravity. No man can come to me. He lacks the ability to come
to me except the Father which has sent me drawing him. Now there's the expression of
me and you so evil that we won't come to Christ so given over
to inability that we can't come to Christ and that is our crime now here's God's testimony Genesis
chapter 6 verse 5 and God saw Now, how God sees things is how
they are. Amen? And God saw that the wickedness
of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil, continually, non-stop. Now when we're born again, we're
given a new nature. Born of God, a nature that according
to scriptures cannot sin. Lacks the ability to sin. He that's born of God does not
commit sin. He can't sin any more than God
does. You see, that nature is born
of God, birthed of God, and that nature cannot, it lacks the ability
to sin. Hence we have this battle going
on that Paul speaks of in Galatians chapter 5 verse 17, where he
says, The flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit lusts
against the flesh. And these two are contrary one
to another. So that you cannot do the things
that you would. You'd never have another vain
thought. You'd never have another sinful thought. You'd never do
another sinful action. You would. But you can't. You would. Oh, if everybody in
this room knew what you do, you'd run out of here in shame. The
things that you would do. The things that you've done. But you can't carry them out.
Can't carry them out. You've got a holy victory. It
won't let that happen. And this old nature never gets
better. Progressive sanctification is
a lie. To speak of the old nature becoming
better, quite frankly, is a denial of the two separate natures.
You don't believe in two separate natures, you will believe in
progressive sanctification and you will lie to yourself to make
yourself think you're getting better when in reality you're
not. Now if somebody says I cannot
see two natures or war within me, what's because you've only
got one nature? It takes two natures to see two
natures. Paul is giving the experience
of one who has been born again and consequently has these two
natures. The one of the first birth, And
the one of the second verse. So think of what he says when
he says in verse 17, Now then, it's no more I that do it. It's
not that new nature. But it's Him. It's that old nature. What I think is very interesting,
it's the new man only that owns the sins of the old man. Old man can't really even see
it. takes a new nature verse 18 Paul says for I know there
ain't no doubt about this that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth
no good thing do you know that? that in your flesh There is absolutely
nothing but sin. You're a sinner. You know what
that means? That means all you do is sin.
That's it. That means you cannot not sin. That means you can't look down
your nose in moral superiority at anybody. And you know you have no claims
on God. That's a sinner. I know, ain't
no doubt about this, I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwells
no good thing. He says, for to will is present
with me, I would be without sin. The will is present with me.
You see, every believer has been made willing. The will is present
with me. But how to perform that which
is good. Notice what he didn't say. He
didn't say sometimes I mess up. He didn't say I don't always
make it. He said, How to perform that which is good, I find not. Now there is the man with no
guile. This is a man that's being honest.
This man is not practicing the deceit of religion. He said,
Man described in Psalm 32, 1 and 2, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered, blessed is the man to whom the Lord will
not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile, no
deceit. This only is honesty. He repeats himself in verse 19. For the good that I would, I
do not. But the evil which I would not, that
I do. I remember hearing Tim James preaching
from this passage of scripture once. He said, would you buy
a car off this fellow? I would. Verse 20 now, if I do that, I
would not. It's no more I that do it. It's
the sin that dwells in that old man that's always there. You see, there's never a time
when a believer cannot cry, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief. The new man always believes. The old man never believes. I believe. Help thou mine unbelief. Now, Paul says in verse 21, I find then a law that when I would do good evil
is right there presence with me and there's never a time in
my experience when that's not so even right now while I'm preaching
to you I feel his presence I feel him breathing on me he's right
there when I would do good Evil is present with me. Then Paul
says in verse 22, For I delight in the law of God after the inward
man. I find pleasure in the law of
God after the inward man. I love God's law. I love everything
about it. It's holy. It's just. And the
only way you can delight in the law of God is if you're not under
it. And if you kept it. See I don't
try to keep the law. Kept it. Kept it perfectly. Christ is the end of the law
for righteousness to everyone that believes. There is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law
of sin and death. For what the law could not do,
in that it was weak through the flesh." Probably the law. Probably. God sending His own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin. Condemn sin
in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled
in us. Who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. You're looking a law keeper.
It's only when you see the law fulfilled in Christ, you've obeyed
the law, that you can delight in the law of God after the inward
man. verse 23, but I see another law in my members
warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity
to the law of sin which is in my members. The believer has two distinct
natures funneled into one body that hate one another. The holy nature hates the sin
nature, the sin nature hates the holy nature, and there is
war. You know, I didn't have a war
going on until the Lord saved me. Somebody says, well I don't have
this war weltz, because you only have one nature band. Now what is captivity? Captivity
is a prisoner of war. And he's in jail. And he can't
get out. Can't you stop your sin? You
ought to. Amen. I believe I ought to. Do
you? I'm still in that jail cell. And that's Paul talking. He's
talking about his present experience. The only freedom there is, Paul
is expressing his utter dissatisfaction with sin. The only freedom there
is, is to not sin. And as long as I'm in this body
of sin, I'm in a prison cell. that I cannot get out of. I feel
enslaved by it, captured by it, locked up in it, and I can't
escape. Are you a Romans 7 sinner? Would this describe your experience? Now Paul says in verse 24, Wretched man that I was? No, not at all. Oh, wretched man that I am. You see, the new man, the holy
nature is the one that owns the sins of this old man. and is
made miserable by him, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver
me from the body of this dead? Now what he's alluding to is
in Roman prisons, they would take a dead body and chain it
to a prison. And then he's going back and
forth with this dead, rotting, corrupt body. And that's exactly
what Paul says he's experiencing with his own nature. I'm carrying
around this dead, stinking, filthy, wicked, decaying body. No wonder he said, Oh, wretched
man that I am. Now, Charles Spurgeon made this
statement, and this helped me a great deal. He said, Someone
who really believes in responsibility. I'm responsible to obey God perfectly
right now. John said these things I write
unto you that you sin not. Make it your intention, your
purpose, your goal to never sin again. Someone who believes in
responsibility really does believe in responsibility and he really
does believe in inability. He's a wretched man. He is a wretched man. Now a legalist
doesn't believe in inability. He's fine. The licentious man
doesn't believe in responsibility. He's fine. But that one who believes
in his heart in both He cries out, O wretched man that I not
was, but am. I feel it more acutely now than
I ever have. I see it more clearly now than
I ever have. Who shall deliver me from the
body of this death? I need rescued. Who shall deliver me? I need
rescued. I need saved. You know a prayer
that I pray, I reckon more than any other prayer. Lord, save
me. Save me. I'm calling upon your
name. Save me by who you are. Save
me by your sovereign will. Save me. Save me. Save me by
your justice. Save me by your holiness. Save
me by your grace. Save me by all your glorious
attributes. Save me. Now look what Paul says in
verse 25. I thank God. through Jesus Christ
our Lord. I love the way he said that.
He didn't make any other kind of comment about it. He just said, I thank
God through Jesus Christ our Lord. You see, salvation is of
the Lord. And the only way a Roman 7 sinner
can be saved is if God elected him. If Christ actually died for him
and put away his sins, If God's grace is irresistible and invincible
and won't take no for an answer, that overcomes him, that receives
him as a sinner, this man receiveth sinners needed with him. And
if they're preserved in order to persevere. I thank God through Jesus Christ
our Lord. I think Paul was almost afraid
to say anything else. What would he say? But in saying that, he
said it all, didn't he? So then, with my mind, I myself serve
the law of God. But with the flesh, the law of
sin. Now that is not an excuse to
sin. That is not an encouragement
to sin. But it certainly is an explanation
as to why me and you are the way we are, isn't it? Are you a Romans 7 sinner? Beloved, if you are, you're a
saved sinner. Boy, those fellows said an awful
lot about sinning, I didn't think. But they told us where the remedy
was. That's wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. I'm one that Christ receives,
and I'm a Roman 7 sinner. I certainly am that. Oh my. Aren't you grateful for that? I'm grateful for it. I'm thankful for it.