The Gospel according to the Apostles by John MacArthur

Author:John MacArthur [MacArthur, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Faith, Juvenile Nonfiction, Christian Ministry, General, Religion, Biblical Studies, Discipleship
ISBN: 9780785271802
Publisher: Nelson Books
Published: 2005-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

Why do we sin? Because God didn’t do a good enough job when He saved us? Because He gave us a new nature that isn’t complete yet? Because we’re not prepared for heaven yet and still need to earn our way in?

No, because sin is still present in our flesh.

On the one hand … but on the other… “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 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” ( Rom. 7:24–25 ).

Paul thus lets out a final wail of distress and frustration. Again, he echoes the psalmist: “Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If Thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope” ( Ps. 130:1–5 ).

Paul was surely in a similar frame of mind when he said, “Who will set me free from the body of this death?” But Paul answers his own question: “I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord” (v. 25 ). Paul was assured of ultimate triumph over the sin in his own flesh: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God” ( 8:18–19 ). The final phase of our salvation is guaranteed: “Whom He justified, these He also glorified” ( 8:30 ). “This perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.… But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” ( 1 Cor. 15:53 , 57 ). “Indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life” ( 2 Cor. 5:4 ). “We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” ( Phil. 3:20–21 ). Ours is a triumphant hope!

Yet for now the battle goes on. Full deliverance awaits glorification. Victory here and now is only possible bit by bit as we mortify the deeds of the body through the power of the Holy Spirit: “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry” ( Col. 3:5 ). “For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live” ( Rom.

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