Lesson 426

(Lesson 426)(10-15-12) Romans chapter 7, "Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

This lesson is to me, another of the most precious lessons in the bible. Paul clearly establishes that even though the sins of our soul, (inner man/woman) have been justified, our souls still reside in our sin laden, carnal, bodies. Therefore the carnal man/woman will continue in sin in the flesh.

Just as Paul said, we do those things that we know are not what we should do. Then again, just as Paul said, we don't do the things we know that we should.

Thank God that Jesus Christ stands as intercessor between those of us who are saved and our heavenly Father and that we will not be condemned before Him.
I urge that all who read these lessons take time to carefully learn and absorb what Paul has written here. He vividly describes the dilemma of some "Christians" who like the Jews, or for whatever reason, have come to believe that they must take it upon themselves to live a perfect life in order to obtain and maintain their salvation. Sadly, those who put their faith in themselves do not place the required faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. One CANNOT have faith in both themselves and Jesus Christ, one must override the other. In order to be saved, those who are lost MUST turn the responsibility for how they live their lives totally over to Jesus and let Him be perfect for them, realizing, that in their carnal bodies, they are unable.

Just as Paul so eloquently makes clear in this lesson, there are NO perfect human beings, except those saved by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, and only then because Jesus absorbs the sins we continue to commit.

Once the sinner has placed his/her faith in Christ, NEVER again are they accountable for their personal lives before the Father. However, as I have said before, and as will be established as these lessons progress. We, the saved, are accountable to Jesus for our daily sins and if we don't ask forgiveness for those sins, we WILL suffer the wrath of Christ here on earth, and be judged for our actions, whether good of bad, when He returns.~