30 August 2020 2 PM

Dying to Live

Posted on 30 Aug 2020, Pastor: Nathaniel Rademake

Reading: Romans 7:7-25, Belgic Confession art. 22
Text: Galatians 2:7-21

Romans 7:7-25
7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except [a]through the Law; for I would not have known about [b]coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not[c]covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me [d]coveting of every kind; for apart [e]from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart [f]from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was [g]to result in life, proved [h]to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

The Conflict of Two Natures

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold [i]into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

21 I find then the [j]principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God [k]in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in [l]the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner [m]of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from [n]the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Galatians 2:7-21
New American Standard Bible
7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel [a]to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been [b]to the circumcised 8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship [c]to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, [d]James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right [e]hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he [f]stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from [g]James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing [h]the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not [i]straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? [j]

15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of [k]the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of [l]the Law; since by the works of [m]the Law no [n]flesh will be justified. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through [o]the Law I died to [p]the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and [q]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through [r]the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Bible verse of the day (NIV)

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Mark 8:36