Lament #2 Nothing Good Dwells in Me

Bible Text: Romans 7:18-20 | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 2003, Romans

October 19, 2003                                                                                                                               Northwest Bible Church

Worship Service                                                                                                                                Alan Conner

Rom. 7:18-20

Lament #2:  Nothing Good Dwells in Me

 

INTRO

 

 

 

A.  THE STRUCTURE OF LAMENT #2

 

Lament #1                                                                                            Lament #2

1) Condition, v. 14 – “of flesh sold into bondage to sin”             1) Condition, v. 18a  – “nothing good in me”

 

2) Confirmation, Rom. 7:15-16 – “I do the very thing I hate”      2) Confirmation, Rom. 7:18b-19 – “I practice evil

 

3) Cause, v. 17 –  “sin which dwells in me”                                  3) Cause, v. 20 –  “sin which dwells in me”

 

 

B. OBSERVATIONS FROM LAMENT #2.

 

1) The true nature of godly sorrow.

2) How can Paul say, “Nothing good dwells in me?”

3) Is the physical body evil?

 

Notice all the references to the body which associate it with sin and evil:

 

Rom. 6:6 “our body of sin”

7:18  “nothing good dwells .  .  . in my flesh”

7:23  “law of sin which is in my members (of my body)”

7:24  “body of this death”

8:10  “body is dead because of sin”

8:13  “put to death the deeds of the body”

8:23  body needs redemption

 

What is the “flesh” here that has nothing good in it?  And what is Paul saying about the body?  Is Paul saying that the physical body is inherently evil?   NO.

 

a) The “flesh” is the old sinful nature that abides in us.   Gal. 5:16-21

b) The “flesh/body” is often the accomplice for our sin nature.

 

4) Christians struggle with sin.   See Rom. 7:18, 19, 20.

 

a) It is good for Christians to become sensitive to their sin.   This is not easy because:

 

** sin has a way of attaching itself to our affections.

** sin hardens our hearts and we become blind to it.

** sin often sneaks in unawares.

 

We must learn to pray with regularity: Ps. 19:12, and 139:23-24.  Let us go into the homes of our lives and close the door if necessary do two things:

 

1) open up our closets

2) open up our cellars

 

b) It is good to vocalize and admit that “nothing good dwells in my flesh.”

c) Sensitivity comes from spirituality.

 

CONCLUSION