The Reason for the Inner Conflict
7: 18-21
The reason for the inner conflict DIG: What two things did Paul learn? Where does our old [sin nature] come from? Why does God choose not to get rid of it now? What is Paul’s remedy for this battle with the old [sin nature]? When did we get to choose between good and evil? How does the Adversary and his demons use our sin [sin nature] against us?
REFLECT: Have you learned that “good itself does not dwell in” you? How can you keep from merely being a busy bee? If you have the desire to do good, why can’t you carry it out? How long will this inner conflict last? Is it enough to say, “The devil made me do it?” Why not? How are you doing at taking responsibility for your sin? How can you help someone this week?
As a believer grows in his spiritual life, he will inevitably have both an increased hatred of sin and an increased love for righteousness.
Paul learned two things in this struggle, and they are something that many of us believers need to learn: For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my [sinful nature] (7:18a). Have you learned that? Have you found that good itself does not dwell in you? Oh, how many of us believers feel that we can do something in the flesh that will please God! Many believers who never find out otherwise become as busy as termites and have about the same effect where they worship. They are busy as bees, but they aren’t making any honey! They get on committees, they are chairmen of boards, they try to run the place, and they think they are pleasing God. Although they are busy, they have no vital connection with the Person of Messiah. His life is not being lived through them. They are attempting to do it in their own strength and flesh.189
Paul found out something else that is very important for us to learn: For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 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 (7:18b-19). Again, it is important to understand that this great inner conflict with sin is not experienced by the underdeveloped and childish believer, but by the mature person of God. David was a man after God’s own heart (First Samuel 13:14) and was honored by having the Messiah named the Son (or descendant) of David. Yet no one in the TaNaKh seems to be a worse sinner, or was more conscious of his own sin than David.
In search for forgiveness David opened his sinful heart (see the commentary on the Life of David, to see link click Df – O God, A Broken and Contrite Heart You Will Not Despise). For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. There is a cleansing when we take responsibility for our own sin. We have a tendency to blame everyone and everything but ourselves. But Nathan’s words brought David back to reality: Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight so that You are proved right when you speak and justified when You judge. This is the road to recovery. When we take our sin to ADONAI, there is absolute justice and absolute mercy for God delights in forgiving the repentant sinner.190 Surely, I was born in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. We are all born, yes, even conceived, with the disease of sin because of Adam’s fall: By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners (Romans 5:19). As a result, we are totally corrupt and unable to save ourselves from our sinful condition. Surely You desire truth in the innermost place (Psalm 51:3-6). Only when we believe that the Truth became flesh (John 1:14) and died for our sins can this be achieved. The godly surrender, cry out to God, confess their sins, and receive the assurance of Messiah’s forgiveness.
Paul repeats what he said in 7:17-17, with only a slight variation. Now if I do what I do not want to do, he argues with simple logic, then if follows that it is no longer I who do it, but it is the [sin nature] living in me that does it (7:20). The [sin nature] goes to battle against the divine nature. As Paul said in his letter to the believers in Galatia: For the old [sin nature] wants what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to the old [sin nature]. These oppose each other, so that you find yourselves unable to carry out your good intentions (Galatians 5:17).
The believer has an old [sin nature] that wants to keep him in bondage. “I will get free from these old sins,” the believer says to himself. “I determine here and now that I will not do this any longer!” What happens? He tries as hard as he can with all his willpower and energy, and for a time succeeds, but then, when he least expects it, he falls again. Why? Because he tried to overcome his old [sin nature] under the power of his own will.191 But Paul’s remedy is to walk by the Ruach (see the commentary on Galatians Bv – Walk by the Ruach, and Not the Desires of the Flesh).
So, I find this “law” or “principle” at work: The word Torah, literally, means teaching. It can be used for the five books of Moshe, or the whole TaNaKh (John 10:34). Uncapitalized, Torah can be understood generally as a law or principle (Romans 7:21-8:2).
So, I find this law or principle at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me (7:21). The continuing presence of evil in a believer’s life is so universal that Paul refers to it not as an uncommon thing, but as such a common reality as to be called a continually operating law at work. Our old [sin nature] does battle with every good thing a believer desires to do . . . every good thought, every good intention, every good motive, every good word, and every good deed. ADONAI warned Cain when he became angry that Abel’s sacrifice was accepted but his own was not: Sin is crouching at the door – it wants you, but you can rule over it (Genesis 4:7b). Sin continues to crouch at the door, even for believers, in order to lead us into disobedience.192
Dear Loving Heavenly Father, Praise You for our cleansing us when we get saved and become Your child (John 1:12). Praise You for Your forgiveness when we sin after becoming your child. Though Your children would love to be perfect the moment we become Your children, perfection will only be obtained when we get to heaven and wear Yeshua’s robe of righteousness. He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (Second Corinthians 5:21). Thank You that when Your child sins, you do not punish in wrath; but you lovingly discipline him so the peaceful fruit of righteousness is produced. “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of Adonai or lose heart when you are corrected by Him, because ADONAI disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He accepts.”. . . Now all discipline seems painful at the moment – not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:5b-6, 11).
When we confess our sin, You have promised to forgive us and to purify us. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (First John 1:9). I want to follow You in all I do, think and say and I do not want to ever sin; but when I stumble and sin, I will run to You in confession and ask You to forgive and to purify me. I love You. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of resurrection. Amen
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