Title: Existential Truth / Romans 7:14-25
1. I belong to the flesh.
Although Paul is a regenerated man and a great evangelist who suffered countless persecutions while preaching in the name of Jesus, he confesses that he is still in the flesh and is fighting against desires.
2. sold under sin.
“I am carnal, sold under sin” (verse 14). The Apostle Paul acknowledged that once a sin was committed, it became a slave to sin, and that sin had its dominion over me.
3. I don't know myself.
“I do not know what I am doing” (verse 15). I do not know myself, so my existence is not reliable. That's why the Apostle Paul confessed, "I beat my body into subjection, lest after I preach to others, I myself will be rejected" (1 Corinthians 9:27). “I declare that I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).
Therefore, they cannot believe in themselves, so they must believe in the Lord Jesus, deny themselves thoroughly, and die every day.
4. There is evil in everything I have done.
Even if others are unaware of good things, there is evil in good without Jesus.
5. I see captivity.
“I see another law in my members wrestling with the law of my heart, bringing me captive to the law of sin which is in my members” (verse 23).
When we are bound by sin, we are enslaved under the law of sin. Paul is looking at himself as he is and crying out.
“Oh! I am a wretched man, who will deliver me from this body of death” (verse 24).
Therefore, faith begins when we acknowledge that we have completely fallen, and it is the first step of faith toward total grace. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
When you completely deny yourself like this, you can receive the blessings of Romans 8. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2). If we cannot, there is no condemnation, and there will be sufferings while we live in a world full of sin, but nothing compares to the glory that will be revealed to us.
“I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8: 38-39)
To receive these blessings, you must be sincere like Paul and have complete self-denial for God's grace to be with you.