Bill Acton :: Romans 7:14-25 - Facing Reality and Having Hope

Sermon Outline for Romans 7:14-25

Facing Reality and Having Hope

1. An Honest Confession – Rom 7:14
   1. The Law is spiritual
      1. Holy in character
      2. Must be obeyed in spirit
   2. I am of the flesh
      1. Sold under sin
      2. The old nature is still sinful
      3. Carnal lifestyle
         1. Living by material means
         2. Living by self-effort
2. A Real Discovery – Rom 7:15-17
   1. He did not want to sin – Rom 7:15a
      1. His new nature
      2. The new nature does not want to sin
   2. He hated sin – Rom 7:15b
      1. New nature hates sin
      2. The unregenerate nature delights in sin
   3. His heart approved the Law – Rom 7:16
      1. “My heart consents to God’s Law”
      2. “But I am far from following it”
   4. His old nature was “doing it”
      1. “No longer I”
      2. “It is sin dwelling in me”
      3. Sin masters man
3. An Accurate Analysis of Himself – Rom 7:18-20
   1. Spiritual bankruptcy of the flesh – Rom 7:18a
      1. It is total bankruptcy – no good thing
      2. It is total depravity – emotional, intellectual, volitional
   2. The longing for holiness – “to will is present with me”
   3. The fact of human helplessness – “how to do that which is good…I find not”
   4. Summary
      1. There is no good thing in our old nature
      2. We cannot will to do good
      3. We are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit for any goodness
4. The Bitter Conflict – Rom 7:21-24
   1. Evil is present
      1. It is ready to erupt
      2. It is active
   2. There is delight in holiness – Rom 7:22
   3. The powerful principle of sin
      1. It is warring in his members
         1. Continuously offensive
         2. Never at rest
      2. Its goal is to take captive
         1. Defeat
         2. Immobilize
   4. The hopeless condition, “O wretched man” – Rom 7:24
   5. The right question – “Who shall deliver me from the body of death?
5. The Triumph of the Believer – Rom 7:25
   1. There is Someone who can deliver!
   2. A body of life
   3. There is victory!
   4. A thankful heart