Sorry, but I probably won’t get to the “secret” today. Instead I’m feeling led to give another example from the scripture about my depravity, and face a doctrine that was instilled in me years ago about it. The scripture I’m talking about it Romans 7.
Romans 7:14-25
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!
NKJV
For many years now I have believed a “doctrine” that teaches that in this scripture, Paul is drawing a line between his “before Christ” experience and his “after being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit” experience. He was NOT describing himself in Romans 7 because he was no longer “sold under sin”. He was ransomed by the blood of the lamb. He was no longer “wretched”, but he was a “son of God – the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”.
Ok. I can believe that Paul was all the things this doctrine claims. But you know what? He STILL had his “thorn in the flesh”. He still talked about being an earthen vessel. He still talked about the day when he would be able to lay aside the body of the flesh. He still talked about having to put to death the things of the flesh. He still talked about having to take up your cross daily. He still . . . ..
I could go on with that, but why? It’s evident that even though we were purchased from darkness and translated to a kingdom of light, we still will have to crucify the flesh. We still will have to realize that, while we are here on this earth, we will have two ways of thinking – carnal and spiritual. We will live out lives in earthen vessels, and sometimes we will walk more “earthen” than “heavenly”.
Paul was talking about himself. Perhaps he was talking about BOTH time frames. I’m not sure. I just believe that he was saying that “in the now” there were times he truly wanted to do the right thing but ended up doing the wrong one.
What a source of encouragement to me that one as holy and honored as Paul also messed up, too! He described himself going through the same exact thing that I have to struggle with, and what a blessing to see what he was able to accomplish even with that truth – “The Depravity called ‘Paul’ ” staring him in the face.
So how is a guy supposed to handle this situation? How is it that we can look at this tug-of-war going on in our lives and come out the winner? How can I walk a day being pulled like that and stay sane?
GOD’S GRACE.
More to follow . . .
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