<html><head></head><body><div><div><div><div><br></div>Romans 7;17&amp;18<div><br></div><div><b>17. &nbsp;So then it is no longer I&nbsp;</b>(the born anew man)&nbsp;<b>that do it, but sin which dwells within me.</b></div><div><b>18. &nbsp;For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I </b>(the born anew man)&nbsp;<b>can will what is right, but I cannot do it.</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Here, Paul sets forth the&nbsp;war that (for this earthly life)&nbsp;is ongoing in the Believer. &nbsp;The war between the flesh and the born anew man. This war is allowed to exist by God’s design and perfect will. &nbsp;Through this ongoing war, <i>“Those who belong to Christ”&nbsp;</i>learn to <i>“crucify the flesh with its’ passions and desires.”</i>&nbsp; (Galatians 5;24)<i></i></div><div><br></div><div>Hear&nbsp;what Paul further says about this ongoing war: &nbsp;<i>“But I say,&nbsp;walk by the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. &nbsp;For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would.” </i>(Galatians&nbsp;5;16&amp;17)</div><div><br></div><div>Clearly, Paul sees himself as being a conflicted born anew&nbsp;man, made up of his <i>“old self” </i>which he calls <i>“the flesh”, </i>and the born anew man. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The born anew man has the Mind of Christ, meaning, he desires to do only&nbsp;the will of the Father. &nbsp;But, the “<i>old self” </i>still serves sin. &nbsp;In yesterdays devotion, we learned that in this ongoing war, the will of the&nbsp;flesh is stronger than the will of the born anew man with the Mind of Christ.</div><div><br></div><div>It is imperative for Believers to understand that the <i>“old self”</i>&nbsp;the flesh, NEVER<i>&nbsp;</i>improves. &nbsp;He DOES NOT EVER change. &nbsp;He remains our mortal enemy until physical death. &nbsp;Christians who believe their old nature is progressively weakened, and they are actually becoming less sinful and more godly are deceived.</div><div><br></div><div>When Paul says, <i>“NOTHING GOOD DWELLS IN ME</i>.”<i>&nbsp; </i>He is referring to his “<i>old self.” &nbsp;</i>The carnal nature residing in our flesh remains unchanged.&nbsp; He says this as a baptized Believer.</div><div><br></div><div>When he says, <i>“I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.”</i>&nbsp; he is clearly showing us that the “<i>old self” </i>is stronger than the born anew man.</div><div><br></div><div>Being Believers who must live in their physical body, where the carnal nature still resides, is terribly discouraging.&nbsp; It is like living in a war zone.&nbsp; Of ourselves, we cannot live obedient to the will of the Father, even though we with the Mind of Christ desire to do so.</div><div><br></div><div>I realize yesterday's and today’s readings have offered little encouragement. &nbsp;Be not dismayed, comfort and hope for us weak forgiven sinners is about to be introduced by Paul. &nbsp;We must endure one more day’s (Sunday)&nbsp;description of our failing&nbsp;warfare as Believers&nbsp;against sin, then, on Monday we will learn about our hope and power for victory.</div><div><br></div><div>Prayer: &nbsp;Merciful Father, indeed we of ourselves, even as Believers, remain&nbsp;weak, helpless sheep.</div><div>Bless us to by&nbsp;faith, look to our Good Shepherd, who supplies us with all that we need in our warfare with sin. &nbsp;Who commands us to <i>“lay down” </i>meaning, we cease to rely upon our own forgiven flesh. &nbsp;Bless us Father to forever be resting in Jesus. &nbsp;We pray in Him, Amen.</div><div><br></div><div>Love,</div><div>Dad/Baba/Eric/ Grandpa Pickle Pastor</div><div>“A chapter a day, every day, progressively, be transformed, ‘soak’ in the living Word. &nbsp;God’s Word is our habitation, and we, broken-hearted, contrite, forgiven, believing, children of God, are His.”</div><div><br><br><div><a href="https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&amp;c=Global_Acquisition_YMktg_315_Internal_EmailSignature&amp;af_sub1=Acquisition&amp;af_sub2=Global_YMktg&amp;af_sub3=&amp;af_sub4=100000604&amp;af_sub5=EmailSignature__Static_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><br></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>


Romans 7;17&18
17.  So then it is no longer I (the born anew man) that do it, but sin which dwells within me.18.  For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I (the born anew man) can will what is right, but I cannot do it.
Here, Paul sets forth the war that (for this earthly life) is ongoing in the Believer.  The war between the flesh and the born anew man. This war is allowed to exist by God’s design and perfect will.  Through this ongoing war, “Those who belong to Christ” learn to “crucify the flesh with its’ passions and desires.”  (Galatians 5;24)
Hear what Paul further says about this ongoing war:  “But I say, walk by the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would.” (Galatians 5;16&17)
Clearly, Paul sees himself as being a conflicted born anew man, made up of his “old self” which he calls “the flesh”, and the born anew man.  
The born anew man has the Mind of Christ, meaning, he desires to do only the will of the Father.  But, the “old self” still serves sin.  In yesterdays devotion, we learned that in this ongoing war, the will of the flesh is stronger than the will of the born anew man with the Mind of Christ.
It is imperative for Believers to understand that the “old self” the flesh, NEVER improves.  He DOES NOT EVER change.  He remains our mortal enemy until physical death.  Christians who believe their old nature is progressively weakened, and they are actually becoming less sinful and more godly are deceived.
When Paul says, “NOTHING GOOD DWELLS IN ME.”  He is referring to his “old self.”  The carnal nature residing in our flesh remains unchanged.  He says this as a baptized Believer.
When he says, “I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.”  he is clearly showing us that the “old self” is stronger than the born anew man.
Being Believers who must live in their physical body, where the carnal nature still resides, is terribly discouraging.  It is like living in a war zone.  Of ourselves, we cannot live obedient to the will of the Father, even though we with the Mind of Christ desire to do so.
I realize yesterday's and today’s readings have offered little encouragement.  Be not dismayed, comfort and hope for us weak forgiven sinners is about to be introduced by Paul.  We must endure one more day’s (Sunday) description of our failing warfare as Believers against sin, then, on Monday we will learn about our hope and power for victory.
Prayer:  Merciful Father, indeed we of ourselves, even as Believers, remain weak, helpless sheep.Bless us to by faith, look to our Good Shepherd, who supplies us with all that we need in our warfare with sin.  Who commands us to “lay down” meaning, we cease to rely upon our own forgiven flesh.  Bless us Father to forever be resting in Jesus.  We pray in Him, Amen.
Love,Dad/Baba/Eric/ Grandpa Pickle Pastor“A chapter a day, every day, progressively, be transformed, ‘soak’ in the living Word.  God’s Word is our habitation, and we, broken-hearted, contrite, forgiven, believing, children of God, are His.”

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