The Civil War Inside

Services

SImi COmmunity Church

May 13, 2025

 Tony Silvestri
 Romans 7:14-25
 N/A

Series: Transformed   5-18-25

The Civil War Inside

(Romans 7:14-25)


                                    


                     











                                                      THE INTERNAL CHRISTIAN STRUGGLE:

 

           1. I HAVE A ________________________

 

Romans 7:14 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 

 

Romans 7:15–24 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

 

 

 

Paul has an “I” problem in Romans 7:

 

                  “I” = 27x in 12 verses! 

                  “Me” = 6x

                  “My” = 6x

                  “Myself” = 2x 

 

 

 

 

            2. I AM _____________________

 

Romans 7:15 (ESV) 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 

 

 

 

 

 

              3. I AM _____________________

 

Romans 7:17–20 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 

 

 

Galatians 5:17–18 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

 

 

 

 

 

              4. I AM IN A BATTLE & I’M _________________

 

Romans 7:21–23 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

 

 

 

  • Willpower is not enough; we need Holy Spirit ______________!

 

 

 

         The PROBLEM in Chapter 7 is the word “I”        

      The SOLUTION in Chapter 8 is God’s Spirit “in ME”

 

                                “Spirit” = 1x in chapters 1-7

                                “Spirit” = 19x in chapter 8 (Victorious living!)

 

 

 

Romans 12:2 (NLT) 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. 

 

Romans 12:2 (Phillips) 2 Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The mind is the Battlefield in the War against the flesh.” Chuck Smith

 

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB) 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience (Compliance or submission) of Christ.

 

Ephesians 4:22-24 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

 

 

  • “The Great Problem with the Christian Life is that it’s so _______!”

 

 

 

 

 

           5. I FEEL TRAPPED & _______________________

 

Romans 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

 

              “wretched” - 

 

              “this body of death” -

 

 

 

 

 

THE SOLUTION:

 

Romans 7:25 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! 

 

 

  • Chapter 7 blends into chapter 8, not two separate books, 

but one flow of ______________.

 

 

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

 

 

 

 

THE LESSONS: (from chapter 7)

 

              1. We have two natures in constant ______________!

 

              2. Our will is powerless to change our old ______________!

 

              3. The only deliverance is through the _________ of Jesus Christ!

 

              4. Even the Apostle Paul was never consistently victorious over the 

          _______________ of sin!

 

 

 

HOW TO COPE WITH THE STRUGGLE:

 

1. ________________ it when you’re confused!

 

 

 

 

2. ________________ your God-allowed imperfections!

 

 

 

 

3. _____________________ you can’t do it on your own! 

 

 

 

 

4. _______________ for help!

 

 

 

 

5. _______________ walk in the Spirit! 

_

 

 

Galatians 5:16 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.