The Struggle Is Real
The Struggle Is Real
By: Dr. Danny Purvis
In church, we have been making our way through Romans. And it has been an amazing journey, as you would expect. Just recently we have been excavating Romans chapter seven. And though I had read it many times, I have never looked at it this closely as I have been preparing messages from it. This chapter is one of the most intricately woven tapestries related to salvation in the entire Bible. Especially as it relates the function that the Law plays in our salvation. It is not hyperbole to say that I now understand the Law and its relation to salvation in a more complete way than I have ever understood it before. And all it took was 40 years of being a Christian to fully grasp it. I’m a slow learner.
I always knew of our inability to keep the Law. But only now am I able to understand more completely. I have more of an appreciation for the Law now than I have ever had before. I have come to see that the Law is one of the single most incredible acts of grace that God has ever bestowed. Why? Because it showed me how estranged from God I actually was. That’s the reason He gave it to us. It was not given to us in order to keep it…it was given to us in order to see how we could NEVER keep it. To see just how separated from God we actually are in our natural sinful state (Romans 3:20). And only when we see how desperately we need saving can we get to the point of salvation.
It would be easy to see Romans 7 as a purely theological treatise on salvation and the role the Law plays in it. There is a lot of complex doctrine being revealed in this chapter. And while that is satisfying for a theology geek like me…to see this as the main function of the chapter would be literally to miss the forest for the trees. Paul knew because Christ knew that the first step to a saving relationship with Christ was to see how desperately sinful we are. This is a step the Rich Young Ruler never got to (Mark 10:17-27). How can I even think to be saved if I am not crystal clear on why I need to be saved in the first place? The answer is simple: I can’t. Romans 7 helps us to see that this was the primary function of the Law. But Paul doesn’t stop there. Not by a long shot.
In the last 12 verses of the chapter Paul tells us precisely why he spent so much time on this vitally important subject. Sure, he wrote it so that unbelievers could possibly see that even though they might think they are “good”…they are not. Not according to God’s standard (Matthew 5:48). Sure he write it so the Believers would be able to never forget from whence they came. To be eternally grateful for the grace that God exercised to those who were His enemies. The though being that if we remember that God rescued us in our sinful state, then we would be more likely to communicate the Gospel to a world that desperately needs it. But the last 12 verses gives us yet another vitally important reason he spent so much time on this subject. And that reason?
The struggle is real. And it will never stop so long as we are breathing on this planet. Believers have a weird relationship with sin. Think about it. God tells us in His Word that we are dead to sin and no longer enslaved to sin (Romans 6:1-14). God tell us in His Word that when we come to faith in Him we are a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). He tells us we have put off the old self and put on the new self (Ephesians 4:22-24). So…that begs the question. Why do Believers still sin? Therein lay the struggle.
If you will read those last 12 verse in Romans 7, we see the reason why Paul spends so much time on the desperate nature of sin. And that even though the ultimate victory over in has already been won…the battle still rages on. And it will rage on until we draw our last breath on this planet and are transitioned into Heaven where we will never have to worry about sin again…ever…for all eternity. A famous pastor was once asked what he was looking most forward to about Heaven. His answer was interesting. He said: No more sin…I am sick and tired of sin. Amen to that. Paul felt the same way. In Romans 7:15 he says: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing that I hate.” That is the struggle. He even goes further when he says: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
If you are a Believer, you will still struggle with sin. That is how powerful and destructive sin is. I have seen too many Christians simply wave the white flag on this. Well, I am going to struggle with sin…the Bible says so…and it’s forgiven anyway…so what can you do? Plenty. Because sin is so powerful and destructive we have to be equally determined to fight it. And we are supposed to fight it. In 1 Corinthians 9:7 Paul writes: “I discipline my body and bring it under strict control.” In 2nd Corinthians 10:5 he writes: “Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.” Look at the verbiage. I discipline. I bring it under control. I take every thought. I make it obedient. Now, make no mistake. The power for us to do that comes ONLY from His Spirit Who lives in every Believer. But this struggle is not a passive one. It is very active. It takes no action to be saved…that is a pure gift from God…given by grace…for which there is not one work we can do to attain it (Ephesians 2:8-9).
However. When it comes to fighting sin…that is work we are expected to do in the power He has already given us. Remember, Peter was talking to Believers when he wrote: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).” This is our daily struggle. It is our daily battle. And Paul not only wants to remind us of this struggle…so we don’t wave the white flag on sin…but he wants us to remember Who is responsible for giving us the ability to fight it. After asking who would rescue him from this body of death…Paul gives us the answer. “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:25a)!”
The struggle is real. And it is exhausting. And it will never end while we are alive. But His grace, power, steadfastness, forgiveness, and love are even more real. Keep fighting. That is what He wants of us. But let not your hearts be troubled…He has assured the victory.
-Dr. Danny Purvis
By: Dr. Danny Purvis
In church, we have been making our way through Romans. And it has been an amazing journey, as you would expect. Just recently we have been excavating Romans chapter seven. And though I had read it many times, I have never looked at it this closely as I have been preparing messages from it. This chapter is one of the most intricately woven tapestries related to salvation in the entire Bible. Especially as it relates the function that the Law plays in our salvation. It is not hyperbole to say that I now understand the Law and its relation to salvation in a more complete way than I have ever understood it before. And all it took was 40 years of being a Christian to fully grasp it. I’m a slow learner.
I always knew of our inability to keep the Law. But only now am I able to understand more completely. I have more of an appreciation for the Law now than I have ever had before. I have come to see that the Law is one of the single most incredible acts of grace that God has ever bestowed. Why? Because it showed me how estranged from God I actually was. That’s the reason He gave it to us. It was not given to us in order to keep it…it was given to us in order to see how we could NEVER keep it. To see just how separated from God we actually are in our natural sinful state (Romans 3:20). And only when we see how desperately we need saving can we get to the point of salvation.
It would be easy to see Romans 7 as a purely theological treatise on salvation and the role the Law plays in it. There is a lot of complex doctrine being revealed in this chapter. And while that is satisfying for a theology geek like me…to see this as the main function of the chapter would be literally to miss the forest for the trees. Paul knew because Christ knew that the first step to a saving relationship with Christ was to see how desperately sinful we are. This is a step the Rich Young Ruler never got to (Mark 10:17-27). How can I even think to be saved if I am not crystal clear on why I need to be saved in the first place? The answer is simple: I can’t. Romans 7 helps us to see that this was the primary function of the Law. But Paul doesn’t stop there. Not by a long shot.
In the last 12 verses of the chapter Paul tells us precisely why he spent so much time on this vitally important subject. Sure, he wrote it so that unbelievers could possibly see that even though they might think they are “good”…they are not. Not according to God’s standard (Matthew 5:48). Sure he write it so the Believers would be able to never forget from whence they came. To be eternally grateful for the grace that God exercised to those who were His enemies. The though being that if we remember that God rescued us in our sinful state, then we would be more likely to communicate the Gospel to a world that desperately needs it. But the last 12 verses gives us yet another vitally important reason he spent so much time on this subject. And that reason?
The struggle is real. And it will never stop so long as we are breathing on this planet. Believers have a weird relationship with sin. Think about it. God tells us in His Word that we are dead to sin and no longer enslaved to sin (Romans 6:1-14). God tell us in His Word that when we come to faith in Him we are a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). He tells us we have put off the old self and put on the new self (Ephesians 4:22-24). So…that begs the question. Why do Believers still sin? Therein lay the struggle.
If you will read those last 12 verse in Romans 7, we see the reason why Paul spends so much time on the desperate nature of sin. And that even though the ultimate victory over in has already been won…the battle still rages on. And it will rage on until we draw our last breath on this planet and are transitioned into Heaven where we will never have to worry about sin again…ever…for all eternity. A famous pastor was once asked what he was looking most forward to about Heaven. His answer was interesting. He said: No more sin…I am sick and tired of sin. Amen to that. Paul felt the same way. In Romans 7:15 he says: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing that I hate.” That is the struggle. He even goes further when he says: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
If you are a Believer, you will still struggle with sin. That is how powerful and destructive sin is. I have seen too many Christians simply wave the white flag on this. Well, I am going to struggle with sin…the Bible says so…and it’s forgiven anyway…so what can you do? Plenty. Because sin is so powerful and destructive we have to be equally determined to fight it. And we are supposed to fight it. In 1 Corinthians 9:7 Paul writes: “I discipline my body and bring it under strict control.” In 2nd Corinthians 10:5 he writes: “Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.” Look at the verbiage. I discipline. I bring it under control. I take every thought. I make it obedient. Now, make no mistake. The power for us to do that comes ONLY from His Spirit Who lives in every Believer. But this struggle is not a passive one. It is very active. It takes no action to be saved…that is a pure gift from God…given by grace…for which there is not one work we can do to attain it (Ephesians 2:8-9).
However. When it comes to fighting sin…that is work we are expected to do in the power He has already given us. Remember, Peter was talking to Believers when he wrote: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).” This is our daily struggle. It is our daily battle. And Paul not only wants to remind us of this struggle…so we don’t wave the white flag on sin…but he wants us to remember Who is responsible for giving us the ability to fight it. After asking who would rescue him from this body of death…Paul gives us the answer. “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:25a)!”
The struggle is real. And it is exhausting. And it will never end while we are alive. But His grace, power, steadfastness, forgiveness, and love are even more real. Keep fighting. That is what He wants of us. But let not your hearts be troubled…He has assured the victory.
-Dr. Danny Purvis
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