Message by Pastor Arnold De Guzman September 15, 2024

THE TUG-OF-WAR WITHIN
Romans 7
REFLECTIONS:
In what areas of my life do I need to surrender more fully to God, recognizing that the battle against sin is ongoing and requires daily dependence on Him?
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Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Take Away for the Week
Even when I desire to do what is right, I often find myself doing the opposite, revealing my need for God’s grace and strength to overcome sin.

Paul learned three valuable lessons in addressing his past sinful desires.

I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it, killed me.
(Rom. 7:9-11)

1. Knowledge is not the answer to overcoming sin.
Only through Jesus Christ, by His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, can one truly be transformed and freed from the power of sin.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
(Rom. 7:15)

2. Self-determination does not succeed.
Instead of trying to overcome sin with human willpower, we must take hold of the tremendous power of Christ that is available to us.

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. (Rom. 7:22-25)

3. Becoming a Christian does not get rid of all sin and temptation from a person’s life.
Being born again takes a moment of faith, but becoming like Christ is a lifelong process.

Conclusion
True freedom and transformation come only through a deep,
abiding relationship with Christ, where we daily depend on
His grace and strength to overcome the power of sin.