For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 7:14-8:1
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 7:14-8:1
The Second Lament – Romans 7:18-20
The Condition – vs 18a
Paul again identifies the condition of his flesh. He says that nothing dwells in his flesh that is good. He gives a more technical identification of that part of him that is actually sinning. He is emphasizing that it isn’t his new, incorruptible nature that’s failing to obey God’s law, but it’s sin that dwells in his flesh.
The Proof – vs 18b-19
Paul is saying that he can’t do good to the extent his heart longs to do. If you look at your spiritual growth, you should be able to recognize a greater hatred for your sin now, than you did before.
The Source – vs 20
This is the exact same thing that Paul said in verse 17. It’s sin that’s dwelling in him. Even though he had a new nature, he still fought against sin and lost. And those losses seemed overwhelming to him against the perfection of God’s holy law. This sensitivity of sin is a normal result of justification by faith though. I think we need to keep this in mind, this struggle is a natural progression of going from unregenerate to regenerate and justified before God.
You’d think, 2 laments down, that Paul would have felt he adequately portrayed his point, but then he makes a 3rd lament.
Paul again identifies the condition of his flesh. He says that nothing dwells in his flesh that is good. He gives a more technical identification of that part of him that is actually sinning. He is emphasizing that it isn’t his new, incorruptible nature that’s failing to obey God’s law, but it’s sin that dwells in his flesh.
The Proof – vs 18b-19
Paul is saying that he can’t do good to the extent his heart longs to do. If you look at your spiritual growth, you should be able to recognize a greater hatred for your sin now, than you did before.
The Source – vs 20
This is the exact same thing that Paul said in verse 17. It’s sin that’s dwelling in him. Even though he had a new nature, he still fought against sin and lost. And those losses seemed overwhelming to him against the perfection of God’s holy law. This sensitivity of sin is a normal result of justification by faith though. I think we need to keep this in mind, this struggle is a natural progression of going from unregenerate to regenerate and justified before God.
You’d think, 2 laments down, that Paul would have felt he adequately portrayed his point, but then he makes a 3rd lament.
The Third Lament – Romans 7:21-23
The condition – vs 21
Paul again laments over the condition of sin indwelling in his flesh.
The Proof – Vs 22-23a
Here is where we get a good glimpse at the two natures fighting against each other.
In verse 22, we see that Paul delights in the law of God. Psalm 1:2 says that a righteous man’s delight is in the law of the Lord and in his Law he meditates day and night. This is the mark of a regenerate man.
And then we get to the external fleshly nature in verse 23a where Paul says that he sees another law working in the members of his body. Paul is equating the law of God with the law of his mind that is the deepest desire of his inner man to obey the law of God.
Flip with me briefly to Psalm 119; specifically verse 176. The Psalm is all about the law of God. The psalmist over and over again says, “I delight in the law of God. I delight in the law of God. I delight in the law of God. I love the Law of God. I find my desires fulfilled in the law of God.” Over and over and over for 175 verses the psalmist says how much he loves the law of God. And then we get to verse 176 where the psalmist says, “I have strayed like a lost sheep.”
David lived Romans 7. He longs and loves the law of God, but at the end, he has gone astray like sheep. Same battle, same war, same conflict, but from the bottom of David’s heart, and Paul’s heart, from the depth of our redeemed being, we concur joyfully with the Law of God, but our fleshly nature is still at odds with our new nature.
The Source – vs 23b
Paul again, identifies the source of his problems as the sin that resides in his human nature.
Does this mean that Paul is using this as an excuse to sin and blaming sin instead of taking responsibility? I think this is the trap that those who are caught up in addictions fall into. In verse 14, Paul acknowledges that it is himself who is still sinful. While we have two natures, we are still ourselves. I think we can all identify with Paul’s desire to live for God as well as Paul’s failure to be as holy as Christ wants us to be. But what people will say is that, well, it’s just my other nature, and there’s nothing I can do about that. We need to reject this way of thinking, and we must correct those who do have this way of thinking.
Our new nature is at war with our old nature, and it’s only by the grace of God that we can win that battle. We are no longer enslaved to sin, or in bondage to sin, which means we have the ability to win against our old nature. This will be a constant battle. After Salvation, sin no longer resides in man’s innermost self, but yet sin resides still in our flesh; which is why he states in verse 18 that “nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature” or flesh.
Paul again laments over the condition of sin indwelling in his flesh.
The Proof – Vs 22-23a
Here is where we get a good glimpse at the two natures fighting against each other.
In verse 22, we see that Paul delights in the law of God. Psalm 1:2 says that a righteous man’s delight is in the law of the Lord and in his Law he meditates day and night. This is the mark of a regenerate man.
And then we get to the external fleshly nature in verse 23a where Paul says that he sees another law working in the members of his body. Paul is equating the law of God with the law of his mind that is the deepest desire of his inner man to obey the law of God.
Flip with me briefly to Psalm 119; specifically verse 176. The Psalm is all about the law of God. The psalmist over and over again says, “I delight in the law of God. I delight in the law of God. I delight in the law of God. I love the Law of God. I find my desires fulfilled in the law of God.” Over and over and over for 175 verses the psalmist says how much he loves the law of God. And then we get to verse 176 where the psalmist says, “I have strayed like a lost sheep.”
David lived Romans 7. He longs and loves the law of God, but at the end, he has gone astray like sheep. Same battle, same war, same conflict, but from the bottom of David’s heart, and Paul’s heart, from the depth of our redeemed being, we concur joyfully with the Law of God, but our fleshly nature is still at odds with our new nature.
The Source – vs 23b
Paul again, identifies the source of his problems as the sin that resides in his human nature.
Does this mean that Paul is using this as an excuse to sin and blaming sin instead of taking responsibility? I think this is the trap that those who are caught up in addictions fall into. In verse 14, Paul acknowledges that it is himself who is still sinful. While we have two natures, we are still ourselves. I think we can all identify with Paul’s desire to live for God as well as Paul’s failure to be as holy as Christ wants us to be. But what people will say is that, well, it’s just my other nature, and there’s nothing I can do about that. We need to reject this way of thinking, and we must correct those who do have this way of thinking.
Our new nature is at war with our old nature, and it’s only by the grace of God that we can win that battle. We are no longer enslaved to sin, or in bondage to sin, which means we have the ability to win against our old nature. This will be a constant battle. After Salvation, sin no longer resides in man’s innermost self, but yet sin resides still in our flesh; which is why he states in verse 18 that “nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature” or flesh.
The Solution – vs 24-25a
When was the last time that you truly lamented over your sin. When was the last time that you were disgusted and were devastated by your sin? This is what Paul went through. This war was a constant battle for Paul where Paul hated what he did. Paul was devastated by his sin, and when he held it up to the holy standard of God’s law, it was just that much more devastating which I feel like this is where Paul gets to here in verse 24. He is so devastated by his sin at war with his inner nature that he exclaims “What a wretched man I am!”
We can see the reaffirmation of our justified position before God in this exclamation, but that our Sanctification is still a work in progress. Paul doesn't stop with that exclamation, but he asks the question “Who will set me free from this body of death? To which he answers in verse 25a, our solution, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Some day we will be delivered from this struggle, this war between both natures; whether that’s in death or his second coming. We have a triumphant home and an assurance of ultimate deliverance. We are looking forward to the glorification of ourselves, which is what we get into in Romans 8, so I’ll try not to steal too much thunder from Romans 8 just yet.
We can see the reaffirmation of our justified position before God in this exclamation, but that our Sanctification is still a work in progress. Paul doesn't stop with that exclamation, but he asks the question “Who will set me free from this body of death? To which he answers in verse 25a, our solution, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Some day we will be delivered from this struggle, this war between both natures; whether that’s in death or his second coming. We have a triumphant home and an assurance of ultimate deliverance. We are looking forward to the glorification of ourselves, which is what we get into in Romans 8, so I’ll try not to steal too much thunder from Romans 8 just yet.
The Continuation of Conflict – Romans 7:25-8:1
Paul peaks, he peaks with devastation over his sin, and then with triumphal jubilance, recalls that we have an eternal hope in Jesus Christ our Lord. And then, it’s almost as if he sighs when coming back to reality in verse 25.
Until the day we are glorified, the battle goes on. The battle won’t be over until Jesus gives us deliverance which awaits in glorification. But we can still have victory here, and now, even with these two natures at odds with each other, by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
There is a big difference between surviving sin, and reigning sin. Sin no longer reigns in us, but it does survive in us. We must not live in light of sin reigning in our lives, but that we are to survive with sin still residing in our flesh.
We see an inner struggle of a Christian, and I find comfort that Paul had these inner struggles that I feel that sometimes I go through with the back and forth. And the reason why I pulled 8:1 into this section is because I really feel that Paul is saying that there is this struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, there is this struggle between wanting to do good, and doing evil anyway, that we will have this back and forth, and as long as we are truly in Christ, this is going to happen until Glorification and while we battle with this dual nature concept, we can find comfort in the fact that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
The more mature you become in your faith, the more sins will become more utterly sinful. What sins you may have not found as that horrible or bad when you first became a believer, may now seem apparent to do away with because as you mature as a believer, the more you mature in striving for holiness in God, and the more you strive for holiness, the more apparent sin will become.
Until the day we are glorified, the battle goes on. The battle won’t be over until Jesus gives us deliverance which awaits in glorification. But we can still have victory here, and now, even with these two natures at odds with each other, by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
There is a big difference between surviving sin, and reigning sin. Sin no longer reigns in us, but it does survive in us. We must not live in light of sin reigning in our lives, but that we are to survive with sin still residing in our flesh.
We see an inner struggle of a Christian, and I find comfort that Paul had these inner struggles that I feel that sometimes I go through with the back and forth. And the reason why I pulled 8:1 into this section is because I really feel that Paul is saying that there is this struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, there is this struggle between wanting to do good, and doing evil anyway, that we will have this back and forth, and as long as we are truly in Christ, this is going to happen until Glorification and while we battle with this dual nature concept, we can find comfort in the fact that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
The more mature you become in your faith, the more sins will become more utterly sinful. What sins you may have not found as that horrible or bad when you first became a believer, may now seem apparent to do away with because as you mature as a believer, the more you mature in striving for holiness in God, and the more you strive for holiness, the more apparent sin will become.
Original Question
So back to our original question, can true Christians struggle with Addictions?
I think sometimes God lets us struggle with sin for months over months, and years over years, but He always gives us the power and equips us with the power to break that bondage because we are no longer under the law of sin, but are under the law of grace. But in today’s culture, we don’t live like that. We as Christians, I think, like to talk as if we are under of law of God, but live like we are under the law of sin.
I think sometimes God lets us struggle with sin for months over months, and years over years, but He always gives us the power and equips us with the power to break that bondage because we are no longer under the law of sin, but are under the law of grace. But in today’s culture, we don’t live like that. We as Christians, I think, like to talk as if we are under of law of God, but live like we are under the law of sin.
Practical Ways of Dealing with Sin in Our Lives
Regeneration
The first step to dealing with sin in the life of a believer, specifically, dealing with sin in our lives personally is that we must be in Christ. That is, we must be true believers of Christ.
Confession & Repentance
We also need to repent of our sins. We need to confess our sins to God and then repent of those sins. 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Accountability
I think one of the most practical ways to deal with sin in our lives is to have someone that we can trust as an accountability partner or group.
Prayer
We need to realize that it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we have the ability to live and strive for holiness.
God’s Word
Be in God’s Word daily. If we want to continue in our growth of Sanctification and holiness, we need to delight in God’s Word. How are we to know God, if we aren't in His Word? I think sometimes we use God’s Word on an “As Need Basis” but, it’s like Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” There is power in God’s Word.
The first step to dealing with sin in the life of a believer, specifically, dealing with sin in our lives personally is that we must be in Christ. That is, we must be true believers of Christ.
Confession & Repentance
We also need to repent of our sins. We need to confess our sins to God and then repent of those sins. 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Accountability
I think one of the most practical ways to deal with sin in our lives is to have someone that we can trust as an accountability partner or group.
Prayer
We need to realize that it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we have the ability to live and strive for holiness.
God’s Word
Be in God’s Word daily. If we want to continue in our growth of Sanctification and holiness, we need to delight in God’s Word. How are we to know God, if we aren't in His Word? I think sometimes we use God’s Word on an “As Need Basis” but, it’s like Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” There is power in God’s Word.
Conclusion
When I read this section, I think I can really focus on the negative aspects of this battle. But there is a positive aspect of this battle. We are new creatures. We can please and bring glory to God. And it’s like Paul is saying that, when he sin’s that’s not who he is anymore. We don’t have to identify ourselves by sin. When sin comes up, it’s not us that’s sinning, but rather sin that lives in us still. So when we sin, we need to take the view point of, that’s not who I am. That’s not within my character. What was that all about? And view sin as an alien object that tries to infiltrate our new being, but our new being is not under the law of sin, but under the law of God which cannot be swayed by sin. So when sin creeps into our lives, it’s not coming from our new nature, but our old nature that we still have to deal with.