Sunday Message 12/5/10
"Willing Spirit, Weak Flesh"
Romans 7:14-8:4
Pastor Paul Woodruff
We often want to do what is right but are too often weak doing it
Most people including Christians feel this way
The apostles when they wanted to be up praying and watching while Jesus was in the Garden fell asleep- Their flesh was weak and overruled what their spirit wanted
This passage in Romans 7 has differing opinions
one side believes in this passage Paul is writing of his experience before he was a Christian
the other side believes he is writing of his experience as a Christian
of these some believe this is a normal experience of all Christians & it is inevitable & we can look forward to deliverance
others believe this is the carnal Paul still trying to keep the law without the Holy Spirit &
teaches we shouldn't be like this
others believe this is Paul the Godly Mature Man who any sin causes him to feel wretched
The older traditional view is that this is Paul the Jew- the Pharisee under the conviction of the Holy Spirit but not yet saved.
more modern view is this is Paul the Christian they point to Paul using the present tense
1.) Paul's Proclamation vs 14
The Law defined what sin is and it caused man to rebell- an instrument of death
but the Law was spiritual- reflecting God's Holiness
Man is of the Flesh- having been sold under sin & into slavery Rom 3:9
vs 14 is present tense but could have been used as a flash back
bottom Line-GOD IS HOLY & SPIRITUAL & MAN IS OF THE FLESH--ATTACHED TO SIN
2.) Paul's Exasperation vs 18
"For know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not."
Paul just finished writing how we are free- so why would he now try to keep the law unaided by the Spirit?-- this argues for flashback>>Human weakness for the Mosaic Law to rescue man from the power of sin & death-- It plunges man into deeper despair & then God uses the Law to cause man to look for a redeemer.
As Paul looked at the Law he became more frustrated & exasperated causing him to look for the redeemer
Galatian 5:17-18 written before Romans "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law."
Whether Paul is writing about himself as he was before coming to Christ or after- either way
There is a battle between the old nature and the New Nature
The old nature is present trying to bring up sinful desires, thoughts etc.
The old nature keeps sucking us down & dwells in us vs 20
Given a chance it will take over everything & enslave us
But now we have a new Master & Lord- so we don't have to yield to sin
Sincerity isn't enough TRYING just brings about Exasperation-- we can't win in the flesh
3.) The Exclamation
"WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM"-- "WHO WILL SET ME FREE"
- word free- total deliverance
Body of this death-- we use our bodies to sin resulting in sin
through salvation or through the resurrection (could be either) Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ & through Him there is no condemnation & free from death
only grace can save- and through Jesus can we walk according to the Spirit- 8:4-5
Outline
Romans 7:5- EXPLAINS PAULS' OWN EXPERIENCE IN ROM 7
ROMANS 7:6- EXPLAINS THE EXPERIENCE IN ROMAN 8
The battle with the flesh intensifies after you become a Christian
It is not enoughto put a mask of Spiritual victory on
Though we may have peace, we still are in the midst of battle and there will be defeats
The battle will not be all victories or all defeats
Listen to the Message http://www.eaglecreekgbc.org/Home/SermonAudio/tabid/66/Default.aspx
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Cowboys 38 Colts 35
The game was exciting but alas the Colts again come away with a loss. Let's face it this years team just isn't as good as we've come to expect. Yeah there have been alot of injuries and much adversity- more than their share -but this year the Colts are making mistakes that are just killing them. The biggest one in my opinion was when the defense stopped Dallas from scoring a touchdown late in the fourth quarter giving up just a field goal which put Dallas up by two with plenty of time on the clock but a stupid unsportsmanlike conduct call on the field goal attempt gave Dallas a first down instead and another chance at the touchdown which they scored and produced a two point conversion putting them up by 7.
Had the Colts been down by just the 2 points, as it should have been, they would have won in regulation when they marched down the field for their final touchdown.
I'm not going to complain about Reggie Wayne's dropped first down that would have kept a drive alive after the Colts got the ball first in OT- otherwise he had a great game.
Manning continues to press. No running game continues to lead to him throwing when he probably shouldn't and again it led to bad interceptions including 2 more pick 6s.
What a disappointment. These little recaps are getting more difficult to write after losses.
We have certainly been spoiled over the past 10 years.
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