Romans 7:14-24
Oh, the lamentation of a slave and captive of sin! ...the cry of a man or woman under the bondage of sin, unregenerated and unconverted. The weeping of the uncrucified is so loud and clear. Paul of Tarsus, before he became a servant of the Lord, was a man who readily enforced the law. He was ready to give up everything in life and die just for this cause. Being religious bigotry, he was fleshy and carnal. Yet, he was unfulfilled. Though he followed the law, there always seemed to be a fault in his life. This is what we see today, even in the House of God. Day by day many are being enslaved by sin. They don't like it, but they do it. They feel remorse over their lies, anger, immorality, gossip, and other vices, but don't have the power to overcome and be free. Thus, they cry, "The lie I don't want to tell, that's what I do; but the righteousness I want to practice I don't have the power to practice it. That which I love, I can't do; but that which I hate, that I do. I strive every day to live a holy life and decide that I won't commit any sin, but end up doing just that. I, in my flesh, don't have the power to refuse it." Why? A sinner is always in bondage, and in such a state, he cannot do as he wills. He is restricted and can never exercise freedom from it. John 8:44. The end state, therefore, is Paul's cry, " O wretched sinner I am! Who can free me from this bondage of sin?"
From John 8:36, we see that the Son of God is the only One able to make one free. John 8:34-36 shows us the difference between a servant and a son. Those who are free are Sons. They have gone through the Cross. They are called Sons and not servants or captives. You may have been pretending for so long, but that doesn't make you free. It is only when the Son sets you free by divine help, mercy, grace, love and the Cross, that you will truly be free. You may also be a bishop, coordinator, pastor or Church member, but if you have not gone through the Cross, you cannot be free from sin. It is difficult for sinners to be righteous. They can only do as their nature aids them. John 8:44. Many lie in the Church because they are slaves to sin. Yet, in secret, they cry like Paul, "The good I want to do, I do not; but the evil I don't want to do, that I do!" It is in their nature. The devil does not struggle to lie, so why would his children? They cannot be free till they have gone through the Cross. A child of the devil, attempting to be a righteous man is pure 'pretence.' He may dress modestly, talk modestly, act modestly, walk modestly, and even evangelize as a Christian, but he is fake. Yes, you may have been born into the Church, yet you struggle to live for Jesus because you have not yet surrendered your life to Him. You can try like Paul to live the good life in the flesh, but you will not be able. Peter was not yet converted when Jesus called him. But before he could truly work for Him, he had to be converted. When someone is not yet converted, no matter the donations he makes to the Church, or whatever he does in the Church, his name will not be in the Book of Life. Why? He is unconverted. For you to do the work of God, you need conversion. When you are converted, that which follows is separation from the world, sin, the devil and every distraction. It is a work wrought by the Spirit and not of the flesh. For it takes a Spirit to serve God who is Spirit. Therefore, for anyone to serve God, he must be regenerated. Until then, you have nothing to do with Heaven. Until you are converted, you still belong to the world. Heaven is for the regenerated and converted- John 19:28.
The mixed multitude had two sets of people in them: the Israelites (true people of God) and the unsaved people who joined themselves to the Israelites along the way (yet were uncircumcised in the heart). When they mixed, they caused murmurings and complaints in the camp. They had left Egypt/the world, but Egypt/the world had not left them. They became defiled. Numbers 11:4. As it was in the days of the Israelites when a mixed multitude dwelt with them, so also is it now with the Church. Most of the challenges we face in our Christian race occur along the way. They don't come at the beginning of the race, but as we travel along. Psalms 119:1. That which can help us escape worldly lusts and challenges is the Grace of God.
Grace brings about salvation (which is, freedom from all kinds of sin). It teaches us to deny ungodliness and the world, with its lusts. Grace helps us to overcome sin and live a holy life. It does not give us the power to sin, or dwell in sin, but to live free from it. Romans 6:1-7. Many pastors preach of a 'polluted grace'. They preach more of the perishable things of this life, as though the more money you have, the closer you are to God. There is no more fear for God because they are unregenerated. Jesus did not die to save man in his sin, but to save man from sin. And remember, no man has the power to make himself righteous. We, who are saved, are the workmanship of the Lord, created to do good works. We are created by Jesus to live a righteous life. Ephesians 2:8-10. We were dead in sins and trespasses, but Jesus saved us from them. Thus, making us dead to sin. Are you dead to sin? Have you been crucified with Jesus? Have you yielded your body, soul and spirit to Him and cried, "Lord, have all?" If you have not, then you will still struggle. Yes, salvation is a gift, not achieved by works or money. But, even after receiving this gift, we must be diligent in maintaining it by living a corresponding life- the life of righteousness. This life can only be gotten from the Cross of Christ. When you are crucified on the Cross with Jesus and buried in the grave with Him by faith, you will be raised in life without sin. Thus, you cannot sin nor have a desire/appetite for it anymore because the seed of God (which is the nature of God) now dwells in you. 1 John 3:4-10, 1 John 5:18-19, 1 Peter 1:3. Do you want to be free? Romans 10:13 says, "...whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Paul's former sinful state was lamentable. He charged that no matter how good outwardly one may appear, he is still sinful. Therefore, the old man must die. It is when the old man of sin is dead that a man can rise to new life. As far as you are still in sin, you are still under condemnation; you cannot coat it. But when you are dead to the flesh and its deeds, through the word of God and crucifixion with Christ on the Cross, you will be free from sin. The carnal man just cannot please God. But there is Hope! Paul's tears were taken over by the victory available in Christ Jesus, and he testified that the new life he lived was done in the faith of the Son of God who loved him and gave Himself for him - Romans 8:1-8. This is the only way ours can also be dealt with. 1 Peter 1:18-19 states that our redemption, salvation and freedom are tied to the Cross. It is when you are saved, sanctified and yielded to God that your sins will be dealt with. This led to Paul's joyful confession, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20. He that walks with the Spirit receives the race to walk in the Spirit of God.
Conclusively, the kind of life you live here determines where you will end; and the one you serve now determines who you will be with in eternity. The reward the devil gives is death (eternal condemnation) in hell (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23). But the gift of God is eternal life. Jesus said, "In My Father's House are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you..." He stands at the door of your heart and knocks, that if you open up to Him, He will come in to dwell - Revelation 3:20. Friend, Jesus alone is our burden bearer. He is the only One who can take the yokes and loads of sin from our lives. Sin is the heaviest load in the whole world. If you allow Jesus to take it off your life, you will be free! When Paul's sins were removed, his song, words and rhythm changed. His new statement was, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13.
REMAIN BLESSED.
Pst Ig Nwabuo