The Apostle presents Deliverance

 

Romans 7:21-25

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

 

How does Paul solve this problem of sinful nature struggling with desire for holiness? It is also by faith. Just as we are saved by faith and the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts by faith we receive forgiveness.

 

Salvation, as it is presented in the Bible is in three stages. It is past, present, and future. We have been saved when we were justified(made right) before God by placing all our sin on Christ. Second, we are saved from the very penalty of sin. It is as if we never sinned before a righteous and holy God and we are made right. There is nothing more that can be done to earn salvation. That is very important. But third, sanctification(being set apart) is also by faith. We are being saved in the present life while we are on this earth in this body, in this flesh. We are people who want to give up sins, but we are also sanctified by faith. We trust the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives to continually forgive us by confession of sin and save us from the power that sin has over us.

           

Preach law to the proud and grace to the humble. We must give the bad news before someone will be interested in the good news. Too often we picture Jesus as the poor Savior just waiting longingly outside the door of our lives or we imagine Him as the one who is there just to bring us happiness, health and wealth. We do a huge dishonor to God and a big disservice to people when we present Jesus this way. The “gospel of the good life” promises to deliver all that we desire, which is ultimately an appeal to our covetousness anyway.

           

I am not what I want to be, but praise God I am not what I used to be. There is maturity and growth and victory in Christ, but it isn’t by our works of righteousness. It is also by the works by the Holy Spirit doing in us when we ask and let Him. Before Jesus the fruit of the flesh ( Gal 5), but now it is love, joy, peace, patience and more. But to say we are not acting in our old ways way is deceiving ourselves and binding us again into self-righteousness, pride, hypocrisy or defeat. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory in Jesus Christ. He is the one who makes us right and now will keep us not by the lists, but by the love and in the love relationship as we start to take on the image more and more of Jesus.

           

Pastor Brian Bill points out in his sermon contrasting holiness verses legalism;  Legalism  is asking what do I have to do. Holiness is asking how can live that will honor God.  Legalism is worrying about how good I am. Holiness begins by admitting how bad I am. Legalism is comparing yourself with others. Holiness is comparing yourself to God. Legalism is trying to save yourself. Holiness is praying, “Help me God”.  Legalism points to how bad that person is. Holiness is acknowledging “for all have sinned”.  Legalism – is saying, “Why do those people deserve my help?” Holiness is saying I do not deserve the help God gave me.

 

Holiness is not about a list of can and can’ts.  He wants to fill your mind with God’s holiness that comes in developing a closer relationship with Him. It is trusting and giving your sin to Him and realize it is dealt with by confession also on the cross. It is not in performance, but in perseverance in the presence of the One who loves you. It is trusting in Him and letting His Spirit bring you to Him as a child to a loving parent who desires to please his parent in every way.
           

The victory for Paul is saying like he did in Philippians “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

Justification is by faith in union with Christ, and sanctification is by faith in union with Christ. Both involve turning away from the law as a means of getting right with God and becoming like Him in your daily walk.

 

Talk with Him.

Dale