“The Battles”

(Romans 7:14-25)

Series: Romans – United in the Gospel [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

May 8, 2022

Introductory Comments:

Most of you know that for part of my adult life I lived in Kentucky. It was a great time in my life and I’m very grateful for it, even though I’m very glad to be back in Polk County. Every November I travel back to Kentucky to spend some time in the woods and visit with some friends. Often, when I go back I drive past the house that my wife and I previously owned at 221 Jefferson Street, in Henderson, Kentucky. Now, could you imagine if I went up to that house, parked my car in the driveway, let myself inside, and put my feet up on the coffee table? How do you think that would go over when the homeowner got home? Not very well, right? You see I don’t own that home any longer. I have no authority over 221 Jefferson Street any longer. 

Paul has been spending some time in Romans 6 and 7 reminding us that sin has no authority over us any longer. For those of us who are in Jesus, sin does not have any authority over our lives, no power over our will, and it does not set up a home inside our hearts. Jesus is king over our lives now!

Yet, in Romans 7:14-25 we read of battles that are taking place in the heart and life of the apostle Paul, and by the way, these are battles that we face as well. Today’s sermon is entitled, “The Battles.” [on screen]

So, let’s learn what battles Paul is talking about in this passage. Before we do, let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to speak to us. 

(prayer)

Now, before I get into this, I want to give you a heads up that we’re going to hear about some struggles that Paul is facing. This passage is a little bit of a downer, although it ends well. However, the next passage, Romans 8, is amazingly powerful and positive. I can’t wait to preach that. It’s hard to preach Romans 7 without preaching Romans 8. So, tune in next time!

A few years back, there was a popular country song by a guy by the name of Dirks Bentley. The song was entitled, “What was I thinking?” Have you ever been there before? Have you ever done something and asked, “What was I thinking?” Well, this is what Paul is going through in this passage. He has the feeling of, “What was I thinking?”

However, Paul has not resigned himself to defeat. He has determined to go to battle. 

As we look at these three types of battles, let’s first read the entire passage, and then we’ll walk through it. Look with me, if you will, at Romans 7:14-25:

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave to sin. 15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. 19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me. 21 So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me. 22 For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, 23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.

Ok, so I assume you are starting to see some of the struggle, or battle, that Paul is going through. As we look at this passage, let’s look at three battles that Paul is facing.

First, . . .