“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”
(Romans 7:15, NLT) I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad
that Paul opens up and says this. It makes it all sound so much more real. And I can totally relate.
Today’s text: Romans 7-8
So we are at war within ourselves. The nature we were born
with against the new nature we inherited when we were born again.
Read Ephesians 4:17-23
When we were born, we were slaves to sun, and our sin
nature. Slaves must obey their master.
Titus 2:9a “Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them…” NLT
But when we became a Christian, our captivity to sin was
exchanged for freedom in Christ – Romans 7:4-6. Now we are free to serve whom
we choose. This is freedom in Christ.
Then why is it so hard?
What I want you to understand is this. There is a whole
layer behind the scenes that we cannot see. Just take a look at Job 1:6-12.
Satan is after us. He wants so badly
to destroy us. So he will do whatever he can to keep us from leaning on God and
serving God. And he’s got an army to help him. It’s a whole organized force out
there. The powers are real. The power is real.
Yet we do
not need to be afraid, amen?
So how do we break free from our desire to sin, and desire
to live for self?
Even Paul, who seems like a super-Christian at times,
struggled with this.
The answer (as always, yes?) is Jesus.
Romans 7:25 “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” NLT emphasis mine
Romans 8:1-2 “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” NLT emphasis mine
And the answer lies also in Romans 8:8-14. You have His
Spirit living in you! Praise Jesus!
Praise God for that.
Romans 8:12 “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.” NLT
We have no obligation to serve sin any longer. We have a
higher calling. We are bound to the Spirit. See Acts 20:22. This word “bound”
does literally (or figuratively in this case) mean bound or tied or even knit together, but also carries with it
the idea of being so closely knit that they are one; part of the same whole.
Imagine saying with confidence that you are one with the Holy Spirit.
Q: Can you say that your goals, your plans, dreams and mind
are one with God’s? Knit together so you cannot tell them apart?
Q: If not, what do you suppose is standing in the way?
And just in case we were confused, we have Romans 8:15.
Romans 8:15 “ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry,“Abba Father.” NIV
Because we have His Spirit does not mean that we have only
exchanged owners, helplessly serving one, then freed only to be in bondage to
another.
No it says we are not made slaves, but rather adopted as
sons (and daughters, of course).
So this opens up a new realm of possibilities. Because we
are sons, we can now serve out of love, without fear of messing up, and being “fired”
from our position. We can serve because we want to. Because we are grateful.
Ephesians 6:6 “Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.” NLT
From a heart grateful for the chance to live, for the rescue
from bondage. Bondage to sin and its
eternal sentence. A heart willing, fulfilling its new purpose, one that is knit
with Christ’s.
So I’d argue, then, that the more we serve Him out of
gratitude, the more pleased we are to do it. And the more pleased we are to do it,
the less appeal going back to serving self will hold.
Please ponder this. Write down your thoughts and share them
in the comments too.
So we are free. But we choose to be God’s slaves. Because we owe Him our lives and we’re delighted to
give Him all we’ve got to give. Because
we want to, not because we have to.
1 Peter 2:16 “For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.” NLT
So when those powers we talked about are warring in the
heavenlies against us, then what?
Just remember this. We looked at Job’s story, and remember
it was Satan asking God’s permission
to have at him? And take a look, too, at Luke 8:29.
The demons, dark angels and powers, and yes, even Satan
himself, are under God’s and Christ’s authority.
You’ll never be swept away without God’s permission. And you
will certainly never be swept away without His knowledge. He’s got you.
You do have a choice. Even if Satan is tempting you, or
throwing obstacles in your way to get you to stumble, you are still free.
Romans 6:6-7 “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.” NLT
Romans 6:17-18 “Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.” NLT
Romans 8:2 “And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” NLT
I would like for you to think for a moment about this
freedom. Meditate on it, and believe it. Believe it from the core of your
being. If you believe on it, then you will begin to act upon it.
Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts [arrows] of the wicked one.” NKJV
Answer these questions:
Q: In what areas do you seem to continue to stumble?
Q: Do you believe you are free from sin’s power through
Christ?
Q: If not, what is stopping you from believing it?
Pray for help in this area. It is also a good idea to
partner up with an accountability buddy or mentor who will join you in prayer.
We are not in this
battle alone.
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