Paul’s Internal Civil War

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Romans 7:7-25

Romans 7:19

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

(ESV)

 

Civil wars are deadly for any country for they pit citizens against each other, separating families, and ending friendships. Civil wars also cause a nation to lose sight of why it became a nation in the first place. Take the U.S. Civil War as an example. Even though the North won the war, leading to the abolishment of slavery in the nation, there is still racial strife in the nation. To end racial or any other type of strife in society requires the love of God. The Apostle Paul, like all people, struggled with an internal spiritual civil war between his spirit and flesh, but found victory through allowing the love of God to rule in his heart.

 

Romans 7:7-25 begins with Paul asking if the law is a sin since it has the role of revealing sin in one's life (Romans 7:7). Paul quickly answers his question with an emphatic no. The lessons observed in Romans 7:7-25 are,

 

1)      The law reveals sin in one’s life (Romans 7:7-12) – Without the law teaching us God’s standard, we would not know what constitutes sin for sin is humanity falling short of God’s standard (Romans 7:7). Paul uses the example of the commandment not to covet to show how the law reveals sin (Exodus 20:17; Romans 7:7). Knowledge of the commandment not to covet revealed covetousness in the life of Paul, causing Paul to die spiritually with knowledge of the sin in his life (Romans 7:8-10). However, it is not the law that spiritually killed Paul but the sin of covetousness revealed by the law (Romans 7:11). Therefore the law is holy and the commandment holy and righteous, serving the role of revealing sin in one's life (Romans 7:12).

2)      The Law is holy, righteous, and good revealing the evil of sin (Romans 7:13-20) – Paul then asks the question of whether the law which is good brings spiritual death (Romans 7:13). Once again, Paul answers his question with an emphatic no, reminding his readers that it was sin and not the law that separates him from God, leading to spiritual death. The law is spiritual but we are of the flesh and under the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23; 7:14). Paul then mentions the internal civil war in his life lacking understanding of his actions, doing what he does not want and not doing what he wants to do (Romans 7:15). However, the fact that Paul realizes his sinful actions are wrong, indicates agreement with the law which is good (Romans 7:16). Therefore, Paul can say it is no longer him who does wrong for he knows it is wrong but sin in his life causes him to sin (Romans 7:17). Paul then confesses that the civil war in his life is the result of knowing about sin in his life but struggling with the flesh within him because he has the desire to do good but because of his flesh, cannot carry out good in his life (Romans 7:18-20).

3)      Jesus Christ bridges the gap between the law and sin (Romans 7:21-25) – Paul admits to feeling wretched because of his inability to do the good he intends to do with his life (Romans 7:21-24). However, Paul ends this text with thanks to God for sending Jesus to forgive his sin making it possible for him to serve the law of God with his mind but with his flesh serves the law of sin. Paul has found the bridge between the law and sin through Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25).  

 

The Apostle Paul struggled with the desires of his flesh like all of humanity since all humanity has sinned (Romans 3:23). In this passage we see Paul using this internal struggle to illustrate the role of the law in revealing sin in the life of an individual. In Romans 7:9 Paul speaks of being alive until the commandment not to covet made the sin of covetousness come alive in his life, bringing death. The Law points out the problem of sin in the lives of humanity but is powerless to save humanity for the fallen state of humanity prevents total adherence to the law because humanity’s default position is sin. In Genesis 3:15, before evicting Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, God promised a savior. We now know this Messiah is Jesus, the sinless one who took on the sins of humanity as the spotless lamb, dying for humanity’s sins.

 

The law does not save us but points out our need for a savior. This makes the law holy for it points one to Christ and their need for a Savior. The good news of the Gospel is its availability to all through God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16). Therefore, salvation is not a matter of our efforts to live up to God’s standard but instead a call to accept Jesus as Savior through confession of belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 10:9-10). I invite anyone reading this that has not accepted Jesus as their Savior to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Even though obedience to the law does not save us, we should, out of love for what God has done for us, strive to lose conformity to the world and allow our minds to be transformed by connecting with God through his Word and prayer (Romans 12:1-2). These are spiritual disciplines every believer in Christ should practice for spiritual growth in their relationship with God. It is also crucial to find a Church teaching the Bible to learn more and associate with other believers. I pray God will bless and challenge everyone reading this post.