Christian Mind versus Law of Inward Evil GIST: Unfortunate but inevitable that two laws, even after new birth of a Christian, war in the Christian Mind: the law of the Christian Mind committed to the law of the holy righteousness of God VERSUS the law of inward sin, a law in the spiritual world as ineviable and as immutable as the law of gravity in God's physical world. Now, before the nitty gritty of Romans 7:8-25 of the inward war between these two minds, the bottom lines should be considered which is: 1. With increased awareness of the holiness and righteousness of God and that demanded by God, there also comes an increased awareness of the inward sin and evil which was there all the time, as expressed in 7: 24-- “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24) 2. Only the Christian is assured of the ultimate victory through Christ and against the inward warfare, as assured in Romans 7:25-- “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” 3. Alias the real me and my Christian mind serve the law of righteousness and holiness of God, and of course in the larger context of Romans, this was never possible since the sin weakness of human flesh was not possible without a new heart and mind {spoken of eloquently as far back as Jeremiah and Ezekiel} written in the human soul written inwardly with faith in Jesus. 4. Of yes, that is much more to this to this reality and subject, and that is the purpose of the whole book of Romans, including the admonition to not sin that grace may abound. Romans 7:8-25 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after 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 shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. |