Deliverance From Indwelling Sin ~ Romans 7:15 — William MacDonald

Transcript

The building where this recording was made is adjacent to an international airport. And there is a certain amount of interference from low-flying jets for which we apologize.

It would be hard for me to express tonight what I feel in being here at this conference as I've been traveling the miles across the United States to get here. Two verses of Scripture are going through my mind all the time.

One was, as unknown and yet well known. The other was, as poor yet making many rich. I've thought of so many of you in the times we've met with you at the throne of grace. Never having met you in person.

Unknown perhaps as far as this world is concerned. Yet well known in the courts of heaven. As poor, yet making many rich. God still using his five-ranked army of fools. The weak, the base, the defiant.

The things that are not, the brains are not. The things that are, that no flesh can glory in his presence. I'd like to turn with you tonight to Romans chapter 7. Beginning with verse 15. Beginning with verse 15.

Deliverance From the Power of Indwelling Sin

Just a little informal time together. On the subject of deliverance from the power of indwelling sin. Deliverance from the power of indwelling sin. Romans chapter 7, verse 15. For that which I do, I allow not.

If then I do that which I would not I consent unto the law that 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 the 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. For the evil which I would not, that I do. For if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find in 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, the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am.

Who shall deliver me from the valley of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then to the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.

Who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For all the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. But what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh.

God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin. Condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us. Who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.

1 Corinthians chapter 10 and 11 verse 13. There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able. But will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Ministry, Character, and Spiritual Influence

The more I read and study the New Testament, the more impressed I am with the link between the effectiveness of a person's ministry and what that person is himself. A person might be ever so gifted, so fluent, and seemingly ever so effective.

And yet God sees behind it all, and sees what we are in ourselves. This is most strongly emphasized in the first two chapters of 1 Thessalonians. Paul, in speaking of his entrance to the Thessalonians, keeps emphasizing.

Well, he emphasized the message, and he emphasized how he received the message. But over and over again, in those two chapters, he emphasized what he was in himself. Ye know what manner of men we were among you, for your sake.

So, I believe if the New Testament teaches anything, it teaches a ministry of character. With a very strong suggestion that our unconscious influence, through the ministry of character is more powerful than all the conscious influence that we ever exert.

It's something to think about, very, very serious. You know, a man's gift is nothing he can be proud of. It's something that's a sovereign bestowment of the Holy Spirit of God. And he's going to stand before the Lord someday, and give an account of that.

There's a great difference between gift sovereignly bestowed by the Spirit of God and grace developed in a person's life through godly exercise. Of the two, one would have to say that personal grace in the sins of God would be perhaps more important than gift.

Because, once God gives a gift, it seems that gift isn't taken away and a man may be out of touch with God, and in some cases even living in sin and the gifts go on with seemingly brilliant effect. This is what a ministry in Christian life and service is.

There it is, and I think that some of you could document that state. Well, let's think of this tonight. The whole subject of deliverance from the power of ingrowing sin. I don't think I have to emphasize the ding-dong struggle that goes on in the lives of so many Christians, of all Christians, no doubt, in this whole area person starts off the Christian life filled with joy and enthusiasm.

The Christian’s Repeated Struggle With Indwelling Sin

Going to be bright for the Lord, going to burn out for the Lord. Going to go on in a pathway of holiness and sanctity. Goes on for a while, all of a sudden the devil trips him up as he yields to some temptation of the flesh and down he goes in sudden despair and despondency and disillusionment.

Spring is gone from his steps for a while, but then there's a measure of recovery to the Lord and he determines that he's going to go on for the Lord in spite of all that may happen. And then perhaps once again he succumbs to some deceptive sin.

To some giant in his life, he doesn't seem to get the victory over. Once again he plunges down, and perhaps this time the despair is greater than before. And then he becomes very introspective, he begins to look within.

He wonders how a person like he could possibly be saved. He looks within himself and he finds such a depth pool of human iniquity that he can marvel at the whole thing. And perhaps the time even comes in his experience when he wonders whether God himself is able to get him delivered from this kind of a life from the power of indwelling sin.

And no doubt a lot of different thoughts go through his mind that he thinks the monks were right. All you have to do is just go into a cell and close the door of the cell and get yourself alone there, cut off from the evil world.

Then you wouldn't have the problem, would you? And of course he only has to think about that for a little while to realize that if he locked the door, he'd be locking the problem right in. That's exactly what would happen to him.

He'd be locking the problem right in there, and he'd be in with the problem in the cell. So then he thinks, well, it's my eyes. No doubt if I were blind, there the avenue, my wish, the temptation, the sin comes in.

And if I were just blind, then I wouldn't have this. But he doesn't have to think through that one very long to realize that blind people have this struggle as well as people who have sight. It certainly isn't a matter of the eyes, is it?

Although they can be the avenue, the temptation to the... Well, then he begins to think, I wonder if the solution lies in increasing age. Maybe as I get older, I'll just automatically get delivered from all these problems in life.

Well, when he talks to some older people, it doesn't take long to find out that that isn't the answer either because older people, too, have this struggle within, this struggle of the two natures. And so he becomes very discouraged and very disillusioned.

And I believe perhaps there are many today who, because of wrong doctrinal teaching on this whole area or because of general discouragement, have just given up and are living deceitful lives with never God's intention.

What Every Christian Should Know About Sin and Deliverance

I would like to suggest to you, first of all tonight, some things that we should know. You know, the scriptures approach these subjects and set down before facts that we should know. And, mind you, this helps in knowing what God has to say about this importance of it.

And the first thing that I would list in this connection is this. Every Christian has this struggle. No, I might never get famous for saying it, and yet I'll tell you why I'm saying it. It's so easy for Christians, perhaps for younger Christians, to look at other people around them and say.

If I could just be like that person, my problems would be all over. It's so easy, for instance, to look at the preacher as that other. He's living in a separate plateau. He just doesn't know anything about the conflict, the fight that goes on within.

And if somehow or other I could stand in his shoes, I just wouldn't have it anymore. There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is said Says that in the Bible. And it's a good thing for us to get our eyes off other people.

Thinking that the preacher, the teacher, these people don't have the struggle. I want to tell you tonight, they do have the struggle. They do have the struggle. There's no Christian who's exempt from it.

And it's a snare to go around exalting people. And putting halos around people in that connection they have it to. Well, I'd like to say, secondly, that we should know that there is deliverance. From the power of indwelling sin.

The Bible teaches that there is deliverance. You say, well, you'll never get famous for saying that, either. No, but it's important to emphasize some of the simple truth from the word of God Says, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

That may be free from the law of sin and death. Who shall deliver me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. It's easy to become so disheartened in the ceaseless struggle with sin.

But I begin to think the thing is absolutely hopeless. Sin has been bred in me. There's nothing I can do about it. And it's going to go on like this until I get to the end of the dream. The Bible does speak of deliverance from the power of indwelling sin.

The third thing that I think we should know. Is that deliverance is not an achievement. It's a process. Deliverance is not an achievement. You know, we live in a capsule age. And I believe that deep in all of our hearts.

We kind of wish that there were something like a holiness pill. That we could just take, and the problem would be over like that forever. Don't you think of that? Don't you think of some religious crisis?

Some meeting with the Holy Spirit of God? Something that happens in your life, and from then on. You're just living on a higher level. And you're not affected by this struggle anymore? I guess a lot of us think about it.

But I'd like to tell you, as far as I read the Word of God I don't find anything like that in the Bible. I don't find any single crisis experienced. By which a man, from then on, has no more struggle with sin.

That he's forever freed from the power of his own sin in his life. His temptation is no longer. I just don't see it in the Word of God. Why? Well, my answer is because God loves us too much. God is an all-wise God, and God knows what he's doing.

And he loves us too much. Let me explain this. When God saved me, he could have rooted out sin from me. He could have. When God saved me, he could have so arranged things. In his power, and in his greatness.

That from that day forward, I never would sin again here on earth. Why didn't he do it? Why didn't he do it? I believe that one of the answers. And this is just a suggestion. Maybe you can talk about it and come to me with other suggestions.

But I believe one reason he didn't do it Is he knew we would no longer be dependent upon him. And the greatest glory of the creature Is dependence upon the living God. It really is. And I want to tell you, it wouldn't have done a thing for my prayer life.

If God had rooted out the sin nature. It wouldn't have done a thing for it. I want to tell you, I pray that's when the going is the worst I really do. And God knows that, and God loves me and you most.

When we're prostrate before him. You know, when the world paints a portrait of a great man They seat him behind the mahogany desk With a velour drape behind him. And he's in his magnificent office With all those expensive gadgets on his desk.

And all the rest, and there he sits back And regals the pomp and splendor. When God paints a portrait of a great man He shows him on his knees. He holds, he prays That God, in arranging things as he did.

And I bless and praise him for it. And I arrange it so that I would walk softly before him All the days of my life. This is well-pleasing to him. And this is glorifying to him. So, I would like to suggest that to you tonight.

That there is no capsule method of holiness. Much as you would like it, and much as I would like it. Much as I would like to solve this problem tonight. So it would never be a problem again. Never have to pray about it again in my life.

The Bible doesn't teach that. It just doesn't teach that. It teaches that this is a process. A moment-by-moment dependence upon the Lord. An hour-by-hour turnover of control to the Lord. And living, leaning upon himself.

The Hopelessness of the Old Nature and the Goodness of the New Nature

Now, the fourth thing I think that we should all know tonight. Is this. That our old nature is hopelessly bad. I know that in me, that is in my flesh dwelleth. No, do you believe that tonight? I hope you do, because if you believe that It's going to save you from a lot of discouragement and disappointment.

God showed me that truth. I stopped looking for good from my old nature. And I stopped being disappointed when I didn't find it. The Christian now, to know something of the depths of depravity Of that old nature.

I think it would be pretty hard for anybody to tell me anything About that old nature that was shot. But it's helpful to know. It's helpful to know that in me, that is in my flesh dwelleth. No good sense.

And some monstrous thought comes to me In those holy moments of life. I can't say I'm shocked that it comes. I judge it. I confess it immediately before the Lord. But I can't say I'm shocked it comes.

Because I know it's there. I absolutely know it's there. Thank God there's a counterpart to that truth. And that is this, that our new nature is entirely good. What a wonderful thing it is. That God has planted within us the very life of Christ.

My, this is what makes the difference. To think that the Savior himself Is there to live his life of holiness. A life of sanctity. A life of separation. Number six. I think we should know tonight That a moment of fellowship with God.

I mention this so that we'll be aware of the tremendous issues. And say that seems rather strong, doesn't it? You might even say that seems rather unreasonable. Well, it's true. It's true that a moment spent Out of fellowship with God Can ruin a whole life.

So how could that ever be? Well, because you could make a decision in that moment. Apart from God. That would so ruin the rest of your days and so could I. And I never want to forget it. It's been done.

I think that's a sound thing that we all must constantly bear in mind. That it's possible for the soul to be saved And the life to be lost. Isn't it? Satan knows how to shoot his arrow. He's got clever.

I want to tell you tonight, too That he doesn't waste his powder on nominal Christians. When he sees some who are willing to set forth for him Into the battle lines. He gets his big guns ready. Satan does not waste his powder.

Generally speaking, on nominal Christians On those who are leading settled. Complacent People don't pose a great threat to his kingdom. He's done it on the alert In a very real way To bombard those who are seeking to make progress.

The Penalty of Sin and the Consequences of Sin

I'd also like to mention this In connection with this whole subject That there's a difference. There's a difference between the penalty of sin And the consequences of sin. I said that a moment spent out of fellowship with God Can spell ruin for the whole life.

That's true. There's a difference between the penalty of sin And the consequences of sin. When I came to the Lord Jesus Christ At the age of 17 And committed myself to him Spirit, soul, and body. When I came to him in repentance And in confession Believing he died for me on Calvary's cross And claimed him Savior of mine.

God gave me forgiveness From the penalty of sin. Future, the penalty was gone Paid by my blessed Redeemer On the cross of Calvary. Does that mean a Christian can sin And get away with it? It might create that impression in people's minds Because the penalty has been paid once and for all.

It might create the impression in people's minds That a Christian can sin And get away with it. What we want to remember tonight is That although the penalty of sin Has been paid by the Savior The consequences of sin Often have to be paid for in this life By the believer.

Is this Bible doctrine? Well, of course it's Bible. It gives people too much To let them away with sin. Supposing a Christian Got out of fellowship with the Lord And in an unguarded moment He took an intoxicating drink.

It was just more than he could take. And that night as he was going home He crossed himself.

Please turn your tape over now And continue listening at this point on track two. Do not fast-wind the recorder in either direction.

Supposing a Christian Got out of fellowship with the Lord. And in an unguarded moment He took an intoxicating drink. It was just more than he could take. And that night as he was going home He crossed a railroad track And stumbled over the track And lay in a stupor on the track.

The fast express comes along And neatly severs both legs. The man is rushed off to a hospital And treated, and he recovers. The sin he had committed. Oh, you say that was taken care of If he really knew the Lord Jesus That was taken care of 1 ,900 years ago.

At the cross. Praise God that's true. What are the consequences of that sin? Does he get a new pair of legs? No, he doesn't. The consequences of his sin Go with him through life. Don't they? For the Lord.

And through life of one. Have made shipwrecks. And then a final thing That I think we should know. And this whole connection is that. And let me explain this Before you jump on me for it. And that is that The believer does not have to sin.

Now, I'm not teaching sinless perfection. I do not believe there's any Christian in the world That I can judge. Still, the believer does not have to sin. In other words, I can't say Oh well, this is the way I am.

And sin comes knocking at my door. And there's nothing I can do about it. And I might excuse sin. That's not Bible doctrine. Chapter 2, verse 1. My little chosen These things write I unto you That ye.

It goes on to say. And if any man sins He hath an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous. I used to wonder about that, Bert. Why does John. Why does the Lord through John Ever say that? He knows what we are.

He knows that every day In thought. You can hear it in Very many from the audience. It's certainly true in my life. Why does it say. My little chosen These things write I unto you That ye sin. Try to change the verse And see what would happen.

Supposing it had said My little chosen These things write I unto you That you sin. I'll tell you one thing. You know God never inspired that book. God's standard is absolute perfection. And if it had ever said that I'd know it wasn't the Bible.

But you sin as little as Bible. That isn't Bible doctrine. But again I come back to this That if When I want to adopt the attitude I have to sin I'm excusing sin. I say that I'm saying The Holy Spirit of God within me Is not powerful enough To keep me from sin In any moment of temptation.

Am I not? I'm saying that I'm limiting the power Of the Holy Spirit of God In my life. And that's wrong. I believe every one of us does sin Daily. I know that. But I don't want to get into the habit of saying I can't help it.

When I say that I'm saying something that isn't true. Because I know that in any particular case Of temptation in my life. If I cry to the Lord The Lord will give me I sin. I sin because I want to. Not because I have to.

Introspection and the Failure of Personal Strength

These things. Where are they truly? Some things that we should know. Now there are three things I'd like to list That do not help. Three things I would like to list That do not help. In the whole matter of deliverance from the power In dwelling sin.

And one of those things is Introspection. Looking within. And I want to tell you This is a precious lesson to learn. It really is. You know We're living. And I'm not trying to make any slams When I say this.

But we're living In a psychological Psychiatric age. The basic method of that therapy Is to turn a person's thoughts in upon himself. I know It's not in myself. I become occupied with myself. Situation appears.

You know this when I'm out fishing in a boat And the skipper says to me Cast the anchor. I don't pick it up from the back of the boat And throw it in the front of the boat. I don't cast the anchor in the boat.

I have to cast the anchor out of the boat. So it'll drip in the sand. I fear that in this whole connection That many times We cast our anchor inside the boat. By being occupied with self. Once again I come back to this verse.

I know that indeed That is in my flesh and blood. No good thing. I don't know if any of you If many of you have read the memoirs of Robert Murray McChamber A great man of God Died at 29, I believe And left his stamp upon Scotland.

But very, very introspective Looking within and finding nothing But a cesspool of sin and iniquity. Well, I believe in the advice of the old sage. For every look at yourself Takes seven looks at death.

That's where the victory's to be found. Isn't it? All right. One thing that does not help. Introspection. Being occupied with yourself. Studying yourself. I don't know if you've ever noted Psalm 77 in this connection.

If not, it might be interesting for you to turn to it. This is a little study In this whole subject. And this isn't original with me. But somebody has pointed out In the first nine verses of Psalm 77.

Our pronoun is used 22 times. And the name of God is only used 11 times. My, my, my. Too much vitamin. I All the way through those first 10 verses I cried on the Lord. I remember God, verse 3. I complained, verse 4.

I am so troubled I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old. Verse 6. I can't remember my song in the night. I commune with my own spirit. And he goes down, down, down, down. Then, in the last 10 verses.

In verses 10 through 20, that is There are only three personal references. And 24 mentions of the name of God. Magnificent. Three personal references in the last verses. Beginning with verse 10 And 24 mentions of the name of God.

And so what's happening in this psalm. It begins off sighing and thinking. I think it's Bullinger who said Sighing, thinking. And then he goes singing, soaring. Do you think that happened by chance in this psalm?

I don't believe it for a minute. I believe there's a very real lesson for us here. In fact, he became so occupied with himself In the first six verses That it led him to doubt Concerning the character of God.

Listen to his question. Will the Lord cast off forever? Will he be favorable no more? Is his mercy clean gone forever? Does his mercy fail forevermore? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Happy in anger, shut up His tender mercy.

Imagine him entertaining such thoughts About his blessed Lord. Well, the answer isn't found in introspection. And then, too, I think we can say this. Number three. That the answer is not found in our personal strength.

Something we all have to learn. That we, in ourselves, do not Lesson to learn, isn't it? That the Christian life is a supernatural life. It really is. It can only be lived by the power of. The Christian life is as supernatural As walking on water.

It really is. I can't walk on water by my. You know that, don't you? You know what a. What a fiasco it would be If I went down by a river and tried to walk Across that river, I can't do it. Peter walked in the water As long as he kept his eyes upon the Lord.

He was alright. He was alright. I do not have the strength in myself To conquer in this whole area Of the power of indwelling sin. Well, it's good to recognize these things. I think it's good just to drag these things out on the table And say them in simple language.

And it clears away a lot of the cobwebs from our mind. So that we're able to take constructive action. Well, things that do help. Things that do help. What does the Bible teach? Well, first of all It teaches that we should Contest and forsake our sins Promptly.

Confessing Sin Promptly and Keeping Short Accounts With God

Have that word promptly. Because, thank God, we don't have to wait Until Saturday night for confession. Walking along the street. That vile thought comes like an uninvited Sparrow to the gables of my mind.

Thank God, right there I can stand in the presence of God And judge the wretched thing. Call it for what it is in His presence. Contest it And forsake it. And this is how we keep short account With the Lord.

I believe this is a precious lesson to learn. Have we all learned this? Have we all learned that the moment we're conscious Of sin in the life Instantly Drag it out And judge it in His presence. Relationship with God Is an unbreakable chain.

But fellowship with God Is as tender As easily broken And it remains broken Until the sin that broke it Is confessed. The way to go on in a happy fellowship with the Lord In light of deliverance from the power of indwelling sin Is to be sensitive At every approach Of sin in the life And to confess it in His presence.

He that confesseth its sin And forsaketh it He's the one. Secondly. Spending time In the word of God. Spending time. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his ways By taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Thine word have I is in my heart That I might not sin against thee. You know, the word is a cleansing agent In our eyes. Do you ever think about how the word sends us out? It's a wonderful thing. We're reading the word of God in the morning Before we start out in the day.

Something comes up, some temptation. Some vile thought comes during the day. Spirit of God already prepared us against the onslaught. And our minds go back, by the Spirit of God To what we've been reading in the morning.

And we're prepared Prepared for it That can't do it. The word of God spoke to me earlier this day. Delivered from power. Next. Fellowshiping with other Christians. So many think that they can play it the lone wolf.

Fellowship With Other Christians in the Fight Against Sin

I don't need other Christians. I believe we never made a bigger mistake Than when we started to talk like that. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together With the manner of scum too We need one another.

We need the fellowship of one another Over the things of God. We need to watch one another speak With the word of God. We need to pray for one another. Mind. Sometimes just think of a person you're thinking about.

He's a citadel. He's a spiritual Gibraltar. I don't have to pray for him. He's probably the one you should pray for most At that very moment. Isn't he? Pray for one another. Indeed. One another's prayer Is its whole connection.

You'll realize that when you hear Some dear child of God Has fallen into sin. How slitten we've been at times To realize that We had been unfaithful in prayer. And incidentally in that connection. In connection with the whole subject of prayer I should mention this.

That I believe it's a good thing for us to pray. That the temptation to sin And the opportunity to sin Will never go away. Pray that the temptation to sin And the opportunity to sin. Have you ever noticed That sometimes the temptation was there.

The opportunity wasn't? It wasn't the devil. I'll tell you that It wasn't the devil. Maybe somebody. And in connection with the whole subject of fellowship With other Christians. My, have you ever had this experience.

Where in a moment of temptation. Perhaps you even felt you were on the verge of yielding. And the faces of beloved Christian friends Whom you loved And who had confidence in you Came before you? I've had that more than once.

I've had that more than once. I'll tell you that Fellowship of Christians Means more to us than we realize. I think At any one particular moment. All right. Then I believe something else we can do. Is this control the spotlight.

Controlling the Mind by Focusing on Christ

Control the spotlight. Philippians chapter 4 Verse 8. Finally brethren Whatsoever things are true Whatsoever things are honest Whatsoever things are just Whatsoever things are pure Whatsoever things are lovely Whatsoever things are a good report.

If there be any virtue And if there be any praise Think of these things. What is it cheap? You might not like the expression But it teaches the power of positive thinking. It teaches me something That I want to remember.

And that is that In a very real sense I'm a king on a throne Reigning over a realm. And that realm is my spotlight. And I can control what I think I really can You say just a minute Just a minute. Those random thoughts That come to your mind That's true.

They don't have to stay there. So I've never known A random evil thought Come to my mind That I can expel. So how do you expel it? You expel it by thinking of Christ. I've never been able To put the two together Never have The expulsive power Of a new affection.

And you can call it Whatever you want. But I want to tell you That the moments of my day When I'm thinking about the Lord Jesus Are the most sin-free moments. I've never been challenged in my life To increase the percentage Of those moments in the day.

Is that right? We control what I think He said Think on these things. And we do. We have to admit it If we're going to be honest With ourselves. And then the key verse I believe is found in 2 Corinthians 3 .18.

Transformation by Beholding the Glory of the Lord

The next thing that we have to do I believe that we're really Hitting the very heart of the matter here. 2 Corinthians 3 .18. But we all with unveiled faith Beholding as in a glass The glory of the Lord Are changed to the same image From glory to glory Even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Isn't that a wonderful verse? It really is. That tells me That the more I become Occupied with the Lord Jesus The more I become like Him. It really does Let me say it again. But we all with the revised version We all with unveiled faith Beholding as in a mirror Reflecting as in a mirror The glory of the Lord Are changed to the same image From glory to glory Even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Isn't that a great thing? It's a wonderful thing to think that As I go back to the gospel And see and study That perfect life Lived here below And become engaged with Him And become enraptured with Him.

That as I do that The Spirit of God works a marvelous Transformation in the life. And I'm becoming more and more like Him. I believe this is a crucial verse. In our little talk together We can say that one is more crucial Than another.

And then of course we should say this. 1 Corinthians 9 27 Paul said look. It's a matter of the body. It's a matter of the body Wanting to have ascendancy. It's a matter of the body Wanting to assert itself.