Eternity Daily Bible Study: No. 531 Romans 1-8 - A Righteousness That Is By Faith Verses: Romans 7:14-21 Topic: Conflicting Natures Date: 27th October 2005 Romans 7:14-21 MKJV For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do, I know not. For what I desire, that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do. (16) If then I do that which I do not desire, I consent to the law that it is good. (17) But now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing. For to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I do not find. (19) For I do not do the good that I desire; but the evil which I do not will, that I do. (20) But if I do what I do not desire, it is no more I working it out, but sin dwelling in me. (21) I find then a law: when I will to do the right, evil is present with me. Paul deals with the problem of involuntary sin – such as an obsession or compulsion. With involuntary sin, even though you do not want to do it, you still do it. For instance a young man walks past a magazine stand and sees a scantily glad woman and his gaze is trapped by it. He immediately regrets it and thinks “why did I do that!” but at the next magazine stand he does the same thing! This is sin happening without the person's consent, sin with a life of its own. I knew a wonderful Spirit-filled Christian leader who had Tourette's Syndrome where he would suddenly start swearing at the top of his voice with the worst possible language. This was totally involuntary and deeply humiliating. It was sin acting out despite the person. It was eventually healed by Theophostic prayer ministry. When a person sins, without wanting to, and does so compulsively, we sin at work apart from the person. The sin dwells in them, but is not them. As Paul says: But now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. But if I do what I do not desire, it is no more I working it out, but sin dwelling in me. So the sin dwelling in the person, is taking control of their body and causing them to sin “despite themselves”. For that which I do, I know not. For what I desire, that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do. For I do not do the good that I desire; but the evil which I do not will, that I do. The origin of Paul's experience in unclear. As a counselor I have my own theory to add to the long list of theories about Paul's sin in Romans 7. Perhaps Paul's background as a Pharisee may have led him into perfectionism and perhaps into some obsessive-compulsive behavior which he then had to deal with as a Christian and be redeemed from by the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul certainly has some of the traits of a perfectionist! Whatever the origin of the struggle with sin, there was something that made Paul sin, despite the best efforts of his own will. Sin dwelt in Paul, in his flesh, and from time to time sin “acted out” in behaviors Paul disapproved of. Thus Paul was able to distinguish between “the sin in me” and “me”. The sin was something apart from his true eternal self. It was an evil thing, resident in his flesh, that he would be rid of when he went to be with the Lord. It was not a permanent part of his character. The fact that sin is “not us” and is not a permanent part of our essential self is very good news. Now there are various kinds and causes of common involuntary sins. The first is weird thoughts in a tired mind. When the mind becomes tired and overwhelmed by life's complexity its ability to suppress unwanted sinful thoughts diminishes as its inhibitory mechanisms lose strength. The tired person experiences weird thoughts, which it then struggles to suppress, and only becomes more tired, so more weird thoughts pop-up and the person struggles against those down and down in a circle of defeat. If you are having weird thoughts, don't fight them, just go to sleep and rest easy and go watch TV and veg out. To your weird thoughts just say “ Oh I know what you are, you are signs that my mind is tired, I am not going to bother with you at all, I am just going to take a nap”. Once you are rested the weird thoughts will go away. The second source is a controlling fantasy or delusion which can sometimes occupy hours of the day. This may require professional help. It is often an injured part of the personality trying to get an emotional need met. Thirdly there are “irresistible” urges and impulses. These can be greatly diminished through prayer. They only get worse if you fight them. Simply identify them and place them at the foot of the cross. The attitude should be “I am not going to bother about you any more, I am going to let Jesus deal with you.” Fourthly there are urges that come from a sense of hurry, urgency, doom or guilt. “I have to do this or else something bad will happen and I must do it now”, Such urges are nearly always Satanic. As Luther said “Hurry is not of the Devil, it IS the Devil”. Such urges enslaves us, but Christ has set us free. Just say: “Go away! God is not in a hurry, and Christ has set me free!” Fifthly there are dark sinful moods that accuse us to despair, complain and blame God. They arrive suddenly and can depart suddenly. I used to be greatly bothered by them until my friend (the oenwho had the Tourette's) told me to rebuke them in the name of Jesus. I reluctantly tried this and had a great victory, the mood vanished in just a few seconds! I have found I must be stern with my moods and rebuke them harshly. “Mood of despair I rebuke you in the name of Jesus, now go!” and it does! You may think this nutty, I certainly did, but try it three times and tell me how you go! Sin does not just vanish at conversion. We have practiced it too long for that! However it is forced underground and we are at war with it and sin will lose, but until that final victory it will seek to “act out” now and then. The greatest power in overcoming sin in the flesh is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16-18 MKJV I say, then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another; lest whatever you may will, these things you do. (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. So our four main lessons from today are: 1.Sin may still dwell in us and act out now and then. 2.This sin is “a thing apart” and is not our truest eternal selves. Our truest selves love righteousness. 3.Sin in the flesh can be defeated by walking in the Spirit. 4.Sin in the flesh can also be defeated by prayer ministry and spiritual warfare. Blessings, John Edmiston (johned@aibi.ph) REFER OTHERS: If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily bible study. You can forward this to them, and they can use the following link to subscribe. http://www.aibi.ph/eternity/ or they can just send a blank email to: eternity-dbs-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org BLOG: If you missed a day or would like to read the bible studies online you can catch up using the new Eternity Daily Bible Study Blog at: http://aibi.gospelcom.net/eternity/wordpress/ EBOOKS & ARCHIVES : http://www.aibi.ph/eternity/ - includes free ebooks containing each series of Eternity-DBS bible studies. 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