I. Paul’s View Of The Law And Of Himself
A. Paul’s View Of The Law
1. 14a For we know that the law is spiritual…
a. Paul is going to describe the dual nature that exists with himself.
b. He will speak of his “natural inability” to obey the laws of God.
c. He asserts that the law is, as to its nature, spiritual.
d. It’s origin and beauty is of heaven, not of Earth, nor of man.
2. 16b I agree with the law that it is good.
a. Paul sometimes found himself doing the opposite of the law.
b. He considered his actions unholy, and the law, good.
c. If asked to defend his actions or the law, he would choose the law.
B. Paul’s View Of Himself
1. 14b but I am carnal, sold under sin.
a. Carnal- under the control of animal appetites, governed by mere human
nature, and not by the Holy Spirit.
b. Sold under sin- to be owned by sin, permanently sold under sin.
c. Isn’t this a contradiction of Romans 6:2? No…Paul will explain….
d. Martin Luther- “That is the proof of the spiritual and wise man. He knows that he is carnal, and he is displeased with himself; indeed, he hates himself and praises the Law of God, which he recognizes because he is spiritual. But the proof of a foolish, carnal man is this, that he regards himself as spiritual and is pleased with himself.”
2. There are three spiritual descriptions of men of which Paul speaks.
a. The Natural Man- the unsaved man, the man without the Spirit of God
See 1 Corinthians 2:14
b. The Carnal Christian- saved, but mostly under the control of his flesh
See 1 Corinthians 3:1
c. The Spiritual Christian- saved, and under the influence of the Holy Spirit
See 1 Corinthians 3:1
d. Paul described himself as a man governed by instincts and owned by sin.
3. 17But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
a. Paul asserts that there are two natures within him: the flesh and the Spirit
b. Before salvation, Paul was only a natural man, living without the Spirit.
c. When he became a Christian, he received the Holy Spirit.
d. Formerly dominated by the flesh, but now indwelt by the Spirit. (7:6)
e. The old nature no longer has dominion, but it still co-exists with the Spirit.
f. Paul speaks of his “true” self; he loves God and is led of the Holy Spirit.
g. And he speaks of the sin within him, which still fights against the Spirit.
4. Verses 18a, 20
a. Paul was born again, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. “That” Paul delighted in God’s law, and hates when he sinned.
b. There existed another Paul, that man that was formerly carnal, natural, and condemned by God. He had been defeated, and overpowered by the Spirit of God within Paul, but he still held on, and sought to have his way.
c. Wuest- “To be saved from sin, a man must at the same time own it and disown it; it is this practical paradox which is reflected in this verse. A true saint may say it in a moment of passion, but a sinner had better not make it a principle.”
5. 21I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
a. C.S. Lewis- “No man knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good.”
b. NOTE- Paul did not say that evil was in him, (the true him, the forgiven him, the heaven bound him), but that it was present with him.
6. Verses 22 and 23
a. In V. 16, Paul agreed that the law was good. Here, he delights in the law.
b. In verses 22 and 23, Paul contrasts two aspects of his nature.
c. The inward man (the true him), and his members (the old nature, which was defeated, and was in the process of being systematically conquered)
d. Paul describes the battle within himself.
e. To fight the flesh by the flesh is to remain constantly defeated.
7. There has been much debate whether Paul was describing his own life before he was a Christian, or after he became a Christian; whether he is describing himself, or people in general.
8. W.H. Griffith Thomas- “The one point of the passage is that it describes a man who is trying to be good and holy by his own efforts and is beaten back every time by the power of indwelling sin; it thus refers to anyone, regenerate or unregenerate.”
II. The Real Life Struggle
A. I Don’t Live Rightly Before God Vs.15, 16a, 19
1. Paul understood what was right, and he desired what was right.
2. He found himself doing that which he hated.
B. I Don’t How To Live Rightly Before God V. 18b
1. For to will- to be constantly desiring.
2. Paul desired the right thing, but knew of no way to accomplish his goal.
C. The Cry For Help V. 24
1. Wretched- afflicted through the exhaustion of hard labor.
2. Paul found himself to be in a miserable condition because in his own strength, he tried to serve God, but always eventually failed.
3. Paul faced the truth about his own failure to serve God in his own strength
4. Trying to serve God in your own strength, according to the law, will always result in one of two things:
a. They will deny their failure, make excuses, and be self-righteous
b. They will despair, and abandon the hope of ever serving God in holiness.
5. Who will deliver me? NOT- What will deliver me; or, how can I deliver myself?
6. 25a I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
a. Paul realized that Jesus was not just the answer for justification, but also for sanctification (holy living, victory over sin)
b. David Guzik- Jesus didn’t come and die just to give us more or better rules, but to live out victory through those who believe. The message of the gospel is that there is victory over sin, hate, death, and all evil as we surrender out lives to Jesus and let Him live out victory through us.
D. The Continued Struggle V. 25b
1. One would think that after Paul’s victory shout that the discussion would end.
2. The fact that Paul re-states the battle indicates that the battle exists until we die.
3. But that doesn’t mean we don’t experience ever increasing victory in holy living.