BOOK OF ROMANS (PART 14) – THE STRUGGLE IS REAL BUT THE VICTORY IS IN CHRIST

• Habang nasa mundo tayo, may struggle. But praise be to God, our victory is in Christ!
• Romans 7:14-25 – This is often debated regarding whether it describes the experience of a believer or an unbeliever.
  • Some say this was Paul’s experience under the law; others say it’s his experience under grace.
  • Under the law, may struggle. But even believers have struggles within. There’s a tug of war inside us.
  • As we mature, the struggle becomes less and less as we continue to hear the Word of God.
• As believers, we are:
  1. No longer under the law but under grace, and we have been set free from the power of sin (Romans 6:14).
  2. New creations in Christ, and our old self has been crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:6).
  3. While we may still face temptations and challenges, we are not in bondage to sin. Instead, we have the Spirit of God living in us, empowering us to live according to His will (Romans 8:9-11).
  4. This doesn’t mean believers won’t face struggles, but it does mean that we have a new identity and power in Christ to overcome them.
• Ma-oovercome natin ang mga struggles sa buhay.
• Life will be very hard apart from Christ.
• The only answer to all our struggles is found in Jesus Christ alone.

Romans 7:15-25

• Verse 17-18 – Sin that is in his flesh.
• Verse 23 – Location: The law of sin which is in my members.
• Verse 25 – Jesus is the answer.
• May pag-asa ka. Na kay Kristo ang ating pag-asa, nasa Kanya ang ating victory.
• Pag believer, may sorrow pag nakakagawa ng sin.
• But our body of death is already dead to God. It died with Jesus on the cross.
• When you feel bad for doing bad, it’s a good symptom because you have the Holy Spirit in you.
• Nasa laman (flesh) lang ang kasalanan.
• Our salvation is secured.
  • Once saved, always saved.
  • Once in Christ, always in Christ.
  • Once a child of God, always a child of God.
• All solved by Jesus. Jesus is the answer.
• He was and is and always will be our answer to all our needs, even for our struggles.

How do we deal with ourselves?

• Be aware that there are inner battles.
• Kalma ka lang dahil sagot ka ni Kristo. Siya ang tagapagligtas natin.
• Pumayapa ka. Kalma lang. Lahat ay dumadaan diyan. Hindi ka nag-iisa.
• Holdfast to the confession of your faith:
  “I am forgiven by God. All sins are paid up. I have perfect faith. I am the righteousness of God in Christ.”
• And you praise the Lord!
• You remain victorious because you know the truth.
• Verse 18 – In the flesh, nothing good dwells. Hindi mo kayang magbago ng ikaw lang. We need the Lord Jesus Christ.
• There is tension between our desires and action.
• But don’t you worry, the Lord never leaves us nor forsakes us.

Even through struggles:

• Psalm 23:4 – Even if we are the ones walking through the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord is with us.
• Sa araw ng iyong kalakasan, kasama mo si Lord. Sa araw ng iyong kahinaan, kasama mo pa rin si Lord.
• Hindi ka Niya iiwan. Pwedeng iwan ka ng iba, pero hindi si Lord.
• Umasa ka sa Kanya even through your struggles.
• The good news is may pag-asa pang magbago. May pag-asa kay Kristo Hesus.

This inner battle is universal, affecting believers.

It is a war between:

1. Flesh and Spirit
2. Fear and Faith
3. Pride and Humility
4. Darkness and Light

Consequences of the Struggle:

1. Inner turmoil and guilt
2. Broken relationships and hurtful words
3. Missed opportunities and stagnant growth
4. Feeling trapped and helpless

• You are not hopeless, you are not helpless.
• You have the Holy Spirit; you have your hope in Christ. Makakalabas ka diyan!

But there is hope!

• Through Christ:
  1. See yourself on earth with an earthly body, not yet a glorified one. But we will soon have a glorified body, and this will no longer be a problem.
  2. Reckon/see yourself dead to sin and alive to God. Yung resident evil sa flesh – goodbye! Bibigyan tayo ng glorified body ni Lord.
  3. Identify areas of struggle (be real and be aware but not approve).
  4. Pray. Ask help from God for wisdom and strength. We depend on Him alone. Asking for help is our position in the Lord.
  5. Community: Surround yourself with trusted believers. Hindi lahat, only those through time and fellowship you can confess and pray with.
  6. Scripture: Meditate on God’s Word and see your identity in Christ. Acknowledge every good thing in you.
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 – Palitan mo ang mga arguments ng knowledge of God.
• Even if you have a struggle in life, you still speak the Word of God.
• Knowing the truth that we have victory in Christ, believe Jesus will keep you and that Jesus is our identity, not ourselves.
• Kung ano ang sinabi ng Diyos, ‘yun ang totoo.
• There is a way out. There is victory in Christ Jesus.
• Declare:
  “I am the righteousness of God. It is not by my works that I am saved. I am saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.”

Encouragement

• The grace of God teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly. It’s an inside job.
• Give room, space, and time para magbago ang isang tao.
• God is not slow; He is just thorough, and He is right on time.
• Don’t be judgmental. Let us have patience for one another.
• God restores you even better than before. May setback ka man, say, “wait for my comeback!”
• The Lord is doing a work in you.
• Unawain natin ang isa’t isa. Transformation is a process.

Final Words

• Romans 8:38-39 – Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
• Romans 7:24 – Paul described the ongoing war between his desire to do good and the evil that persists within. Ang sagot: Jesus Christ our Lord!
• Though these things happen, as you mature in knowledge (karne na kinakain mo – Word of righteousness na), nababawasan ang struggle. Pero hindi nawawala completely while we are on earth.
• Sabi ni Joyce Meyer, “Next level, next devil.” So the enemy tests us in many points.
• Don’t you worry, panalo ka na! Victory has been won by our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Jesus was also tempted and tested at all points and did not sin, and He credits His righteousness to you.
• Hebrews 10:16-17 – “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

The Struggle is Real

• Whether for unbelievers or believers, the struggle is real.
• And the only answer to all our struggles is found in Jesus Christ alone.

He is the answer.

• He was and is and always will be our answer to all our needs, even for our struggles.
• Our victory is in Him!
• So holdfast to the confession of your faith:
  “I am forgiven by God. All sins are paid up. I have perfect faith. I am the righteousness of God in Christ.”
• And you praise the Lord!

The struggle is real, but our victory is done through our Lord Jesus Christ!