“Surprise – Surprise” Ro. 7:4-24 (Part 2) God’s Rescue Story “Surprise – Surprise” Ro. 7:4-24 (Part 2)

2 Surprises in Romans 7:7-24 SURPRISE #1 As You grow closer to Jesus, you will see your… sin-FULL-ness more fully!

2 Surprises in Romans 7:7-24 SURPRISE #1 As You grow closer to Jesus, you will see your… sin-FULL-ness more fully! SURPRISE #2 As You grow closer to Jesus, you will see how hopelessly your present body is… WIRED for sin!!!

Romans 7:24 24 What a wretched man I am! (sin’s depths in me) Who will rescue me from this body (NIV) that is subject to death?  (my body’s wiring for sin)

Summary… 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! Romans 5-6, 8… How much more grace abounds in life!!!!! Reminder of what remains… So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin.

Interpretation Question: Is Paul’s Ro. 7 teaching (wretched man) … …the experience of Saul or Paul? 2 Perspectives: Saul’s pre-convert experience, “unsaved” not victorious? Paul’s post-convert experience, “saved but wretched”?

Underpromises & Overpromises in Romans 7/8 Grace for forgiveness in this Life-almost all change after death Paul’s only solution was to claim forgiveness (Ro 8) but expected little change for holiness in this life (Ro 7) Victorious Life/2nd Blessing, Tongues, Lordship Salv (2 Steps) Saul’s problems with sin (Ro 7) were OVER when he met Jesus (Ro. 8) and he went on to be perfect or almost perfect in this life & have faith for whatever health and wealth he prayed for!!

(that only make the problem WORSE) 2 INADEQUATE GOSPELS… (that only make the problem WORSE) the SIN TOLERATION / SIN MANAGEMENT GOSPEL (stay close to Jesus & confess sin but no life change) the PERFECTION / SUCCESS DELUSION GOSPEL (if you have enough faith… sinless in this life, healthy, wealthy – but always ends up as a LAWLESS or LEGALIST FIX!)

So what’s the “wired for sin” body problem? 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature (flesh ”sarx”).[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So what’s the problem? 21 So I find this law (principle or rule, “nomos”) 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 (principle) 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[d] a slave to the law of sin.

So what’s the problem? 1 - the Body enslaved to sin sarx=flesh, sinfully wired body, body parts as “instruments” (Ro 8) (“tongue, eyes, ideas, hands, etc”) 2- A Besetting Sin (Signature Sin? Unforgivable Sin/against Holy Spirit) “easily entangles, trips us up” (NIV Heb. 12:1) 3 - An Addiction (alcohol, food, sex, relationship, ministry)

3 - An Addiction (alcohol, food, sex, relationship, ministry) So what’s the problem? 3 - An Addiction (alcohol, food, sex, relationship, ministry) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature (flesh ”sarx”).[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Famous addicts to sin… Augustine & rolling in chains on his bed,

Wonderful Hope for Addicts & Great Sinners! Addicts Make the Best Saints!!!! Blessed are those who HUNGER & THIRST after righteousness for they shall be filled!! Acceptable Evangelical sins/addictions… workaholism, obesity, relationships (codependent), gossip, pride/conceit,

Wonderful Hope for Addicts & Great Sinners! Don’t identify your SELF or OTHERs with SIN!!!! 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  CORE IDENTITY is not as a SINNER, but IMAGE BEARING (Adam/Eve) ROYALTY (who gets what you want) & PRIEST (connected to God)

So what’s the problem? 1 - the Body enslaved to sin (flesh, sinfully wired body, body parts as instruments – (“tongue, eyes, ideas, hands, etc”) 2- A Besetting Sin (Signature Sin? Unforgivable Sin/against Holy Spirit) “easily entangles, trips us up” (NIV Heb. 12:1) 3 - An Addiction (alcohol, food, sex, relationship, ministry) 4- Sin Act-Habit /Root of Woundedness in Shame

SINS grow like leaves on a tree… …from the roots of SHAME in us (our wounds &woundedness) …and need INNER HEALING to dry up sin!!! Leaf of SinActs/Attitudes what we can see _______________ Root of Shame (Wounds) what we can’t see

Q: Is Ro. 7 (wretched man) the experience of Paul or Saul? perhaps… both the experience of Saul & Paul …as well as …you and me! As we grow closer to Jesus, we will, more and more, see our sin as utterly sinful, our bodies as fatally wired for sin, BUT… We also see a new INNER LIFE that God EMBODIES in us NOW - in these same sin wired bodies… (die to old/live in new) & helps us practice for A NEW BODY THAT CANNOT SIN!

Summary… 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! Reminder of what remains… So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin.

OR DO WE JUST HOPE IT MAGICALLY HAPPENS? 3 PROMISES FROM JESUS (to defeat the 2 Ro 7 Sin Surprises!!!) As you grow closer to Jesus – he will work in you so that… 1-SIN will become “uninteresting, unattractive, & boring” 2-OBEDIENCE becomes interesting, attractive, & JOYFUL!” 3- you will get a NEW HEART (insides) now & very soon… a NEW BODY (outside) like his glorious one! BUT HOW DO YOU DO THIS? ANY HELP HERE??? OR DO WE JUST HOPE IT MAGICALLY HAPPENS?

Real Test: New MN Law ”Hands Free Phone in Car” started August 1, 2019 Hoping for at least 15% or more reduction in fatalities due to distracted driving

Three Different Theologies & Obedience Ability 1- Head “what I know I should do” 2- Heart ”what I want to do” 3- Body “what I can do with any part of my body”

Four Life Changing TRAINING Practices vs. fruitless “Trying”) 1 – SLOW DOWN your life to go the speed of love & relationships (God, yourself, others) 2- OPEN YOURSELF UP to God and his presence & interactivity (instant messaging, pray a question & listen for answer) 3- MEMORIZE longer transformational passage of Scripture (Lord’s Prayer Mt / Psalm 23, See my article) 4- SHARE your struggle & progress with a safe person or group

Sin cannot abide God’s presence Sin cannot abide God’s presence! You will either keep abiding in your sin or sins or abide in God Each day, each moment is a choice of where and with whom you will abide for eternity And each choice is a step in the direction of hell and its sin ruins or the Father’s loving home in his heaven - Paraphrase of Brother Lawrence

PRAYER OF ST.BENEDICT Let the light of the Cross be my guide. Let the Dragon - not - be my leader. Entice me not with your vain deceits. What you have offered me is vile. Be gone Satan! Drink your own poison yourself!!!