THE INWARD BATTLE OF ROMANS SEVEN IF I DO WHAT I WILL NOT Now Paul begins to reason concerning his condition. He has acknowledged his will is far ahead of his ability to fulfill it. That acknowledgment is not intended to apply only to himself. He is elaborating on our death with Jesus to sin (6:1-2-13), and death to the Law (7:4). He is expounding the truth of deliverance from condemnation and the appropriation of righteousness. IT IS NO LONGER I This is the fourth conclusion drawn by the Apostle on the intrusion of foreign thoughts, or lusts. Allow me to remind you of the four conclusions deduced to this point. "No More" "It is no more I that do it!" "It no longer I who do it!" (NIV). The same expression was used in verse seventeen: "NO MORE I that do it." At this point, we need to more fully expound this expression, "no more," or "no longer." Why not simply say "It is not I?" Why add the words "no more," or "no longer." There is a reason for this manner of speaking. -- Tomorrow:
"Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good" (7:20-21).
It is not enough to merely know what is happening within us. We must be able to draw valid conclusions from our condition--conclusions that make for edification and comfort. Men have considered this passage and arrived at all manner of erroneous and dangerous conclusions. Such reasonings have brought no advantage to the saints of God, but have been like weights upon them, hindering them in the race set before them.
The degenerative effects of much of the preaching of our time is most serious. Many contemporary interpretations of Scripture are no more than the mere opinions of men. They are subtle "doctrines of demons" designed to turn men in the wrong direction. As when Peter "walked on the water to go to Jesus" (Matt 14:29), these teachings constrain men to look at the storms of life instead of the Ruler of the storms. They do not culture a proper view of self, God, Christ, salvation, or life in this world.
In Christ, a new WILL is received. This is the result of having God's holy and spiritual law put into our minds and written upon our hearts (Heb 8:10). It flows from having our conscience purged from dead works so that we may "serve the living God" (Heb 9:14). Now, the thoughts that once found a home in our minds are unwanted and repulsive. When they present themselves, we have done what we did not want to do! We have thought what we did not want to think! These intruding thoughts have NOT been summoned by our wills, but shot into our thinking like poisonous arrows from our "old man," or sinful nature. From an even more precise view, Satan is their author (Eph 6:16).
How are we to reason when this grievous circumstance introduces itself? Are we to throw up our hands in despair, concluding that we must be walking at a distance from God? Are we to deduce that we have not been regenerated, or that we must be forgiven for such things even asserting themselves in our thought processes? The Spirit will now teach us how to reason on these things.
1. "If then I do that which I would not, I CONSENT UNTO THE LAW THAT IT IS GOOD" (verse 16).
2. "Now then IT IS NO MORE I THAT DO IT, but sin that dwelleth in me" (verse 17).
3. "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), DWELLETH NO GOOD THING" (verse 18).
4. "Now if I do that I would not, IT IS NO MORE I THAT DO IT, but sin that dwelleth in me" (verse 20).
The lusts which now intrude into our minds were once welcomed by us--often the very same lusts. What is now "the old man," or the "not I," was once us! That self was not "old" then, but in the vigor of its youth. It is what caused us to be dead in trespasses and sins, alienated from God, and condemned. Our "old man" loves to remind us of our old self, and suggest to us that we return to the old ways, like a dog to its vomit, and a sow that was washed to its wallowing in the mire (2 Pet 2:22).
But we are "no more," or "no longer" that person. We are a "new creation" in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17), the "sons of God" (1 John 3:1-2), and "joint heirs with Christ" (Rom 8:17). We admit those desires once felt at home in us, but "no more!" They are "no longer" an expression of our will. They are "no longer" welcome in our minds. They do not belong to our real self! What unspeakable liberty is realized by the soul who has a grasp of this reality!
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ I praise Your name for making me a new creation in Christ Jesus! I thank You that for the ability and insight to say "it is no more I." Your grace has made the change in me!