WAR WITHIN: PART TWO by Abidan Shah, PhD
Introduction: Last weekend, we learned about the war that is waging in a believer’s life against Sin, Death, Flesh, and the Enemy. These powers were holding us captive before we got saved, but they don’t vanish or become extinct when we get saved. In fact, they return with similar tactics as before. We are studying this in our series on the book of Romans where we have been laying down the foundational doctrines of our faith, especially salvation. This will help us understand later in our series on end times prophecy why God is pouring his wrath on this world. He is completely and ultimately destroying these powers. Today’s message is titled WAR WITHIN, part 2.
Romans 8 (page #1741) 1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Context: As you know, Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome in the first century that was divided between Gentile background and Jewish background believers. Among many important truths, Paul taught them (and he is teaching us) that Jesus came not only to forgive us for our sins but also to set us free from the power/control of sin. We are no longer slaves of sin. We are free. Romans 6 (page #1739) 17 “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.” What does it mean to obey from the heart that form of doctrine? Imagine how you received Christ as your Savior. You obeyed from the heart. This was not half-obedience, partial obedience. This was full obedience as to who Christ is; why He came; what He did for us. At that very moment, the Holy Spirit of God came to dwell in us. God made our spirit a new spirit and our spirit became one with God’s spirit. As long as we are obedient to the light that God gives, the Holy Spirit has access to flow through our life, body, and environment and reproduce the life of Jesus Christ. Why? Because we obeyed from the heart.
Application: Have you obeyed from the heart? Are you truly saved? It does not mean that you are free from all sin. That comes later.
After we are truly saved, we begin to grow in grace. Now one-by-one the Holy Spirit wants to set us free from the Sin of Stealing, Sin of Habits, and Sin of Anger (hot kind and the cold kind). Romans 6 (page #1739) 18 “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Stay in Christ and we are free to live. Get away from Christ and now there is a list. Stay in Christ and you will delight in serving God. Get away from Christ and it will become a chore.
When you fail to understand Romans 6 and you fail to apply it, you launch out into Romans 7. Once again, keep in mind the 3 powers under the direction of Satan: Sin, Death, and Flesh. Sin is much more than just wrongdoing. It is a power that has entered the world when Adam sin and tries to enslave humanity. It even uses the law to deceive and kill. Deathis the result of Adam’s sin but also because we sin due to Adam’s nature in us. It is physical but also spiritual cessation. Flesh is the catalog of human vices that sin uses against us. Paul gives us the inventory of flesh in Galatians 5 19 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like…” Behind all of them is Satan who uses even the Law to work against us. Keep in mind that the Law is the Old Testament, more specifically the Pentateuch. It reveals God’s character. It shows Israel’s story of God’s protection and guidance. It demonstrates the reality of sin. It cannot save us, but it shows us what is right and wrong. It points to the blessed life. It is not eradicated, just because we are saved. Remember, Law is more than just ceremonial and civil rules, it is also the moral commands of God. They are still applicable and holy and just and good. Unfortunately, Sin and Flesh even use the Law against us when we are lost to bring Death. Romans 7:5 (1740) “For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.” Seeing a list does not keep us away from sin, because Sin and Flesh work against us to bring more sin and DEATH.
GOD’S SOLUTION: Christ paid for our sins on the cross, but he also united himself to death to free us from the bonds of death. Now, death no longer has power over us. Instead, it is the means through which we live in Christ. Death now becomes God’s way of bringing us life. He took the curse brought about the Enemy and turned it on its head. Him. Romans 6:11“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Previously, Flesh tried to convince us that sin is not as bad as Law makes it out to be, and our members followed. Now that you are in Christ, Flesh still comes by and still uses the Law against us. He uses the LAW wrongfully. To explain all this Paul uses the imagery of a marriage relationship. Romans 7 (page #1739-1740) 1 “Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.” This woman is married to a husband. His name is Mr. Law. He is a good man, but he is very particular. He is always making demands on her and his demands are perfectly legitimate. She cannot keep up with him. She can never do anything right. It’s not that he is a bad husband. She is just the wrong wife. Bottom line: They are completely unsuited. The woman wishes that she could be married to another. His name is Mr. Christ. If she were to try to marry Christ when Mr. Law was still alive, she would be committing adultery. There is a way. What if Mr. Law were to die? We know that’s not going to happen. The Law will never pass away – Matthew 5:18 “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” The only option that is left for the woman is to die herself. Listen to verse Romans 7:4 “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.” Paul extends the death to Sin mentioned in Romans 6:11 to Law in Romans 7:4.
Now the woman is married again to Mr. Christ. What happens when a woman marries? She changes her name, and she takes her husband’s name and she shares in everything that he has. So also, we have been joined with Christ, and we take His name and we share in everything that He has.
Now what is the result? No longer are we trying to do things for the Lord. Now the Lord in us is bearing fruit to God. Many Christians are trying to please God, trying to keep Him happy. All that does is bring death. It is living by the Law. The Law says do this and do that. Christ says make yourself available and I will do through you.
Folks-this happens all the time. People begin by abiding and slip into legalism. Let’s use that analogy of that woman we met in Romans 7:2. This comes from Manley Beasley.
– She comes to church one day and the pastor is preaching the gospel.
– She is convicted that she is a sinner, and she is really disturbed.
– She starts out by trying to get things straight.
– She starts going to church more and doing things at church.
– Can she get saved? No
– She also has some bad habits, and she tries to quit. She even quits some of those bad habits…not all.
– She is even giving her money to the church.
– Can this save here? No.
– She even begins to study the Bible, and she can even learn a few things.
– She tries and tries. The more she tries, the more she fails.
– The Preacher preaches and lifts up Christ and the Holy Spirit opens her heart, and she comes to Christ—Sink or swim—she is saved. She is one with Christ.
– She tells the preacher that “I may fail before I get home but if I fail I will fail trusting Jesus.”
– She goes home and turns on the TV and she does not want to watch it. Neither does she want to read those filthy novels. There is a real change in her.
– She begins to read the Bible and the Spirit of the Living God begins to make the Son of God real to her from the Word of God and tears begin to flow down her face.
– Her husband gets home, and she is so fired up that she begins to share with him.
– It is a spontaneous life and before long he is saved.
– Not only that, but the children know that there is a difference.
– She is living completely controlled by the Spirit.
– Next to get saved was the mailman. He can see the living Christ through her.
– The neighbor was an ungodly woman but somehow she is different. Jesus is working in her life. Now she has love for this woman.
– She is there at church earlier than anybody else.
– The preacher is preaching on tithing and she nudges her neighbor and says – “I didn’t know we were supposed to give only 10%.” I have been giving much more and God has been really meeting our needs and doing some great things.
– At church they had a business meeting about some building project and they were all stressed out about how to pay for all that.
– She speaks out and says that God can do anything. Very soon they had a revival.
– A year later—God has used her in a mighty way. Many have been saved through her.
– One day someone comes to her and says—“We need you to teach.”
– Her answer – “I can’t do this. If it’s anything, it’s only because of the Lord.”
– He continues—“This is a class just for kids.”
– Her answer – “I can’t.”
– He continues—“If you don’t, they won’t have any teacher.”
– Her answer – “I still can’t.”
– He continues—“Just go in and do your best. That’s all God and we want from you.”
– Her answer—“I can do that.”
– “Humanism is the greatest enemy of Christianity.”
– She tells her pastor – “Please pray for me. I am going to do my best.”
– In a few months – she doesn’t know that anything has happened but she has to make herself read the Bible. The Christian life is no longer spontaneous. The children no longer see the difference. The neighbor is getting on her nerves again. Now she wants to slap her face off.
– She even tries to win her new mail carrier about Jesus. All he says is thank you and walks off.
– Now when the budget is presented, she is no longer faith filled. She has become like the others.
– Now she is even having a tough time with her own budget, and she is not giving like she used to.
– There is a revival, and a preacher comes and he preaches against temper and bad habits.
– This woman is convicted, and she feels bad. She remembers the day when she used to be full of Jesus. She goes forward and rededicates herself and prays.
– On the way out, she tells the pastor she is going to better from here.
– How long does that last? Not much. She tries and tries and keeps falling.
– Finally she comes to Romans 7:6. She is helpless and she tells the Lord that she has failed. God answers her—“I planned it.”
Romans 7:6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
If this was too much, then go back into your barbarian ways…
Invitation: Are you looking to Christ? Are you saved? Are you serving in the newness of the Spirit or the oldness of the letter?