For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to 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: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
(Romans 7:18 – 20 KJV)
Paul illustrates quite clearly here that his will is not so free and not so powerful, but it has been taken captive by sin. He acknowledges what is good and even decides that this is what he wants to do, but finds out that he fails to do this. Sometimes he finds himself doing exactly that which he has decided is evil and does not want to do. So, a free will alone is not sufficient to enable us to do that which we will to do because we perceive it to be good. What can we do?
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13 KJV)
Paul provides the solution for this problem we face. We use the free will we have to appeal to a higher authority, that is, the Authority of God, who dwells inside of us through His Spirit. We appeal that He would put to death the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) in us.
On what basis can the Spirit do this in us?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. (Romans 6:3-8)
The basis is the statement of faith, that “old man is crucified with him”. As we believe this in our hearts and confess it with our mouths the spiritual reality of the Truth begins to manifest itself in our lives.
This is how salvation works, how healing works, or any other Truth that we take hold of and desire to see manifest in our lives and upon the earth. It starts as a confession on our lips and ends as a reality of the Nature of Christ formed within us. Martin Luther said this was fulfilment of what we expressed when we got baptised in water (Introduction to Romans).
The real experience of this truth in our lives, i.e. where the Word has become Flesh within and through us, delivers us from the power of sin, from the world and from the prince of the power of the air. This is real deliverance!
This is the wisdom of the cross demonstrating its power in our lives – not just an empty doctrine that is distant from our perception of reality! Praise the Lord for His Grace in our lives!
