Monday, November 10, 2014

Day 257 - The Battle of Romans 7

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 112
         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

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There is so much truth in this day’s writing.  It will be difficult to say one thing is more important than another…or, that one thing is more often dealt with than another. One issue surfaces very quickly: the problem addressed doesn’t play favorites…it will enslave an unbelieving believer as quickly as it will an unbeliever.

But, read on and find some observations by Michael that lead to deliverance from this dilemma, and or bondage…



DAY 257

The Battle of Romans 7

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law. --Romans 3:28 

What does this passage mean to you? Many are beating themselves up over their sin, so much so that I assume they live under the Law. It is obvious that they believe they are justified by behavior. Abraham understood the secret: without faith, the Law cannot be birthed. Without first believing in God, Abraham would never have received the commands of God. I would not listen to any of the commands of the Hindu gods simply because I do not believe they exist. Law without faith gives birth to sin. For example, if I believe in the love of God, knowing full well that all He tells me is for my good, I will easily and readily keep the command to bless those who curse me. It is simple. However, if I do not believe in the love of God, I will read the command to bless those who curse, realize that I do not do that, never believe that it is for my good, and find a way around the command, saying, “I do not have to love them! Why should I? They have gone too far.” The Law that was to bless me (if birthed in faith, in the love of God) now becomes the thing by which I am condemned; the Law, without faith, will always give birth to sin. It is easy to see how Abraham was walking in the greater way of faith; even without the Law he was justified. Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Sweeter words were never spoken.

I determined long ago to spend my time in the love of God and not in the Law. As I have discovered the love of God, the command has been found to be easy. In fact, I refuse to listen to the Law unless it is in the context of faith in Him and His love. The Law is good if birthed in faith, and moving deeply into the faith of Jesus brings a higher life than living in the Law, for faith in Jesus will lead to an expression of exactly Jesus. Amazing! Without the Law, sin is dead (Romans 7:8). Sin counts on man’s boastful pride that leads to attempting to keep the Law without faith. This accounts for why there is so much immorality in legalistic churches, where the emphasis is on performance, and little or nothing is said of faith.

A dating couple comes to the office stating they have been sleeping together and are under great condemnation. Is the solution to have them stop? If they stop because of the command without believing in the Love of God that gave the command, they will continue to struggle and “slip up.” If they see the Love of God in the command and believe in Him who gives the command, the struggle will cease. If a child is told that by working he will obtain a bicycle, and the child believes the parent, the work will be a great joy. But what if the child does not believe the parent? Will the work be done grudgingly or with joy? If the child were never given the promise, he would not be working grudgingly, which is sin. In the end, that child would be better off had he never heard the promise.

The problem is simple: the Law was given to men of faith, and men of unbelief have attempted to keep it--which they cannot do, for Law is birthed in faith—and the result is sin and condemnation. In this light Romans 7 becomes quite clear; the battle described is not the battle of the old man against the new man, or a battle that exists before conversion or after conversion. It is describing an absolute battle between faith and Law, a battle that includes the unbeliever (going to hell) and the unbelieving believer (going to heaven). At any time, either the unbeliever or the unbelieving believer can perceive in his mind the Law of God and want to keep it, for he knows that it is good. Yet because of lack of belief in God, the person is divided, his entire being cannot keep the Law, and the end result is sin and condemnation. Do not think that the way out is recommitment, harder work, rededication, vows, knowledge, or strength; the way out is faith in Jesus. “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy” (Romans 9:16). The Gentiles have pursued the promise by faith and gotten it, but the Jews sought by Law and lost it. “For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Romans 10:10).

Where do you begin in your struggle? Stop fighting the Law and start confessing Jesus with your mouth each day. Before you go to sleep, do not let your thoughts end at the Law you have not kept. Instead, let your thoughts end at Jesus, in whom you believe. This brings us to the final hiccup! Security only comes in faith, regardless of whether you are a Calvinist or an Armenian. These two camps become one under the Law, because to attempt to find security in works will only bring about insecurity. Read Romans 7 and think of it differently; Paul is talking about living in the Law and how impossible it is to live so. The Law reveals what you did not know was sin, and then it does not give you the power to obey. After the knowledge, you find yourself doing the very thing you do not want to do. This passage applies to all that live by the Law.


Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory


I love Michael’s first words…”many are beating themselves up over their sin, so much so that I assume they live under the Law.  It is obvious that they believe they are justified by behavior.”  Wow!  I see the same in those who want to say, “I thought (Bubba) got saved, but he hasn’t quit drinking (or, smoking, cussing, cheating, etc.).”  Really?!?!?!?!?  Then Michael’s next observation says it all: “It is obvious that they believe they are justified by behavior.”  What else could we ascertain???

But, Michael gives us several things to take away from all this:
1.  (Michael tells us one of his focuses)  “I determined long ago to spend my time in
     the love of God and not the Law.”
2.  Faith in Jesus will lead to an expression of exactly Jesus.
3.  If they see the Love of God in the command and believe in Him who gives the
     command, the struggle will cease.
4.  Romans 7 is not about a battle of the old man against the new man, but between
     faith and Law.
5.  Stop fighting the Law and start confessing Jesus with your mouth each day.
6.  Sadly, all those trying to keep the Law have not come to grips with the truth that
     no matter what the Law reveals as sin…it does not give you the power to obey.
7.  Only Jesus gives that power through faith in Him to keep the Law through us.

So, Michael gives us adequate scriptural and practical insight to leave any focus on  the Law and keep our eyes on Jesus and the love of God.  Everything else is a walk of unbelief.


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Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
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