Romans 7:21-25 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.… I. THE CONFLICT. 1. It is a strife between two instincts called laws. The law of God desires to obtain the mastery over the soul. But the law of nature resists its influence. 2. This strife originates the fact of our dual nature. The inner man is the spirit of life which naturally has heavenly instincts and desires. But the "members" composed of the earth naturally desire earthly things. Hence the two desires do pull different ways. 3. The strife exists because the fall of man into sin. Originally man's higher nature was obedient to God. He sinned through yielding to the outer man. Through his higher instincts yielding to bodily impulses, he cast to the wind all the nobler feelings of the inner man. II. THE NATURE OF THIS CONFLICT. 1. It is, in a Christian man, a strife between what he loves and what he hates, between what he knows to be right and for his good and what he knows will be his ruin. 2. Although we are conscious of this fact, still we find the law of sin prevailing. In the warfare we find that the spiritual law and desire and knowledge often get the worst of it. III. WHAT IS THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF THIS INEVITABLE CONFLICT? 1. To teach us not to expect too much in this world. We are not to be cast down by failure. Half of those who go back do so owing to discouragement. They are too sanguine. We are not to look upon life in this world as life in heaven, where it will be without temptation. But — 2. We are not to relax in our struggles. The fact of our having to fight shows that God never intended us to enter heaven without doing something to show that we are worthy of the reward. We may not be able to obtain a victory at present, but we may hold our own and make advance.Conclusion: We learn — 1. That it is not always knowledge of what is right nor love of what is good that saves a man. The inner man may delight in Divine things, but worldly things may be too strong for him. What are you to do, then? Fight, strive. 2. That we long for that time when our higher nature shall be victorious, and our lower nature purified. 3. How foolish it is to meet worldly temptations with worldly weapons. The arm of flesh can never resist flesh. Arguments, reasonings, etc., are vain. 4. To appreciate the heavenly armour, and the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. 5. Humility, and that victory is not to the strong. (J. J. S. Bird, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.WEB: I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present. |
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