Jun. 08, 2025

“Civil War”
Romans 7:14-17
Central Idea: Every believer is in a lifelong battle of aligning head
and hand in obedience to God.
Two views of Romans 7:
• 1st view: This is Paul _________ he came to Christ.
• 2nd view: This is Paul _______ coming to Christ
• Option #1 - Paul is an _____________ believer
• Option #2 - Paul is a ___________ believer.
• Reasons:
1. The ___________
2. The ___________ tense
3. The use of pronoun “___”
4. This doesn't fit Paul’s other __________________ statements.
5. This is inconsistent with an ___________ person’s outlook.
6. This is similar to Galatians 5:17 which is clearly a __________.
7. This is ______ experience.
I. The believer’s struggle with sin (14-17)
A. Paul’s Confession (14) - Sin is still a ___________ for me.
1. “The Law is spiritual” — the Law is _________
2. “but I am of flesh” — _______ is the problem.
• “flesh” - I am ___________. I am ________.
3. “sold into bondage to sin”
• Romans 6 Paul did not say being dead to sin means that sin
has lost its ___________ for the Christian.
• Romans 6 Paul said being dead to sin means sin is no longer
our ___________, but the ___________ continues.
B. Paul’s Analysis (15-16) - ____________ between hand and head
1. Paul’s _________ is sinning (15)
• “I do not understand”
This is more a statement of consternation than _____________.
2. Paul’s _________ knows what is right (16)
Paul ________ what he is doing is wrong — the Law is correct.
C. Paul’s Conclusion (17) - The presence of sin still dwells in Paul.
• Is Paul making _________ for himself in verse 17?
• _____. He is taking ________________; admitting the tension.
• Galatians 5:17
Application:
1. Every believer faces a very _________ struggle with sin.
• Be __________ enough to say, this is not _________, but it is real.
• The issue Paul is addressing is not one of _____________ defeat.
• The issue is one of continuing ______________.
2. We don't always ______ this battle, but we must always be
_______________ in the battle.
• I don’t want to live this way, but when I do, I’m going to
___________ it, keep ______________ and never _______ up.