The first half of Romans 7Romans 7, which we studied on December 12th, talks about the Lawthe Law.

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Although we can't becan't be made righteous by the Law, it is still good;still good; any weaknessweakness is in our flesh.

Only through the knowledge knowledge of right and wrong can people realizerealize and acknowledgeacknowledge

Our Our needneed for a Savior. for a Savior.

January 2, 2011

9 For I was alive without the Law once: but when the Commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

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Before Paul came to an understandingunderstanding of the Law, maybe as a childchild or as a youthyouth,

But even more as a self-righteous Phariseeself-righteous Pharisee,He lived freelived free from the bondage of guilt.

But when the Holy Spirit convictedconvicted Paul, showing him how far shortshort he fell of God's IntentGod's Intent,

The Spirit of the LawThe Spirit of the Law,,It killedkilled his pride and self-righteousness,

And brought him to repentancerepentance.

10 And the Commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

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Deuteronomy 30 15 See, I have set before thee this day life and goodlife and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to lovelove the Lord thy God, to walk in His WaysHis Ways, and to keep His Command-His Command-mentsments and His StatutesHis Statutes and His JudgmentsHis Judgments, that thou mayest livelive …

All who would lovelove the Lord, and livelive His Way

Would havehave lifelife and goodgood; blessingblessing!

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But Paul said, "I found it to be unto death."

Why?

Because he had been livingbeen living in his ownown self-righteousness.

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 sinBut sin, that it might appear sinappear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the Commandment might become exceeding sinfulexceeding sinful.

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Sin is the hidden enemyhidden enemy within the camp, who wreaks havoc until discovered and killed.

Like an unknown poisonunknown poison, sin works death in us until we discover it and get rid of it.

How is sin discovered as sinful?

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By the RighteousnessRighteousness that is in the Law, when we are convicted of the TruthTruth by the Holy Ghost.

13c that sin by the Commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Human nature won't recognize sin as sinfulsin as sinful;

We sugarcoatsugarcoat sin, but the Holy Ghost by the Word of God can revealreveal it as it is.

People will saysay, "Well I'm a good person."

That's because they don't see sin as sinfulas sinful.

14 For we know that the Law is Spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

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God is the GiverGiver of the Law; He is SpiritSpirit, therefore the Law is SpiritualLaw is Spiritual.

But, in our human naturehuman nature, we are carnal,

Sold under sinSold under sin! (NIV) 14 We know that the Law is Spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slaveslave to sin.

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15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

I hate gossip, but sometimes I find myself spouting it or listening to it with glee.

I hate covetousne$$, but I find myself wanting $tuff

I do not need.

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I hate to be angry, and yet I find myself yielding to ugly emotion.

(NIV) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

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"Why did you do that?"

"I don't know."

(NIV) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

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 willto will is present with me; but how to performperform that which is good I find not.

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The fact that I hate sinhate sin and don't want to do it, is admission that the Law is goodLaw is good; sin is evil.

The fact that I want to do gooddo good -- God's Will -- is admissionadmission that God's Way is good

and my waymy way is evil.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

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He said it twice, and the emphasisemphasis is needed.

We are no betterno better than the Apostle Paul;

We are no better than one anotherone another.

As a pastor, I want to helphelp people live blessed lives, but so oftenso often I make them mad instead.

If you ask meask me, "Why did you do that?"

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"I don't even know howhow I did that."

It was my intentionintention to help.

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 maninward 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.

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As Christians, we are two mentwo men -- the inward maninward man born of God's Spirit,

And the flesh manflesh man, born of our mama and daddy.

There is a battle in my mind.

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24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

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As long as we live in these mortal bodiesmortal bodies, we will face the strugglestruggle of the inward spiritual man against the carnal naturecarnal nature of our flesh.

This is not a copout or loopholecopout or loophole for those who would claimclaim to be Christians, but live sinful lives.

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A child of God wants to livewants to live to please his Father.

The strugglestruggle is genuine and sincere.If there is not reallynot really a struggle within you;

If you enjoyenjoy sin instead of hating ithating it;

You need to be born againborn again.

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Friday, January 7, 2011 at 7:00 P.M.God's Idea of a Good Time.

All styles of Gospel Music: country, blues, western swing, rock, bluegrass, jazz, plusplus

comedy, and The Word.The Word.19