Romans 7:14-25a; Matthew 11:25-30

Obedient Rebellion

            Tug of war was a rite of passage when I was younger. I remember when I was in elementary school, at the end of the year, all the classes faced off in a tug of war championship. I remember being on the winning side a number of times, and the losing side a fair number too. For all the times that I’ve been on both sides of a tug of war, how I felt at the end wasn’t actually dependent on whether we won or lost, but rather how even of a fight it was. Was it a challenge or not? For if you’ve seen a lopsided tug of war, you know what I’m talking about. When it’s obvious that one side will win before it even begins, then it’s not all that surprising when they do it in record time too. In such a match, the weaker side often faces the feeling of hopelessness. It’s the question of, “Why try when you know you’ll lose anyway?” For when this feeling takes over, people tend to succumb to giving up without even trying. Now, consider our life of faith. Whether you realize it or not, faith is itself like a tug of war. That is, we daily face this strain within ourselves as we seek to walk a life of faith. For on the one side is our sinful nature and all our sinful inclinations. On the other side, is you… all by yourself. How much hope do you have at winning? Thus, we meet the feeling of hopelessness that so often envelopes so many people. But we can’t give in to it!

            For today, in our Epistle reading, Paul explains this reality that we all feel. Being pulled in two opposite directions can be exhausting, but it’s a fight we must take up if we’re to walk the straight path toward heaven. Let us fully understand the depth of sin and depravity we face, but then look at who stands on our side. Thus, today we shall learn:

GOD HAS SET US FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN TO BECOME OBEDIENT TO THE LAW OF FAITH!

I.

            I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I find myself fighting my own desires. I’m sure just like anyone who tries to lose weight, you know the struggle. Your mind tells you that you should go exercise, eat healthier, not eat as much dessert, and so on. Yet, so often, what do you do? Sit on the couch and watch tv instead of going outside, go back for seconds when you don’t need to, grab an extra dessert just because you can. Indeed, every good habit that we wish to form takes a lot of sacrifice and dedication. Just finding the time to sit down and read your bible for 15 minutes a day is far harder than it sounds. For we see this on a daily basis that the good habits our conscience tells us we should have are not the things we actually do. While one might say it’s only because we lack the willpower, the truth is even more difficult than this. For as Paul writes, “We know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate,” Romans 7:14-15. Our fleshly passions are at war with our heavenly rebirth.

            Now, let’s move beyond the simple examples of weight loss and other difficult habits. For we must understand the core of the problem, the depth of our sinfulness. As Paul had said, we are “sold under sin.” Our flesh is completely corrupt to the point that we’re slaves, sold to sin as our master. That means, prior to our new birth in baptism, sin had unfettered reign in our body. Every action of our flesh is aimed toward sin. For our fancy term for this is concupiscence. It means we naturally lean towards sinful desires rather than holy ones. We’re much more comfortable with the bad choices than the good ones. It’s much easier to lie, cheat, steal, and the like, than it is to tell the truth all the time, help the needy, or protect and defend the helpless. For again, as Paul says, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out,” Romans 7:18. This is why we can’t follow our passions and make it to God. Our passions are opposed to God and his will.

II.

            For this is why we don’t listen to anyone who says “Follow your heart.” No, the only way to break free of our sinful passions is to follow Christ! We must subdue our own sinful passions and make them obedient to the law of Christ. For this is the nature of God’s law. It is his holy will and desire for all that is good for us. As Paul said, “Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good,” Romans 7:16. Indeed, God’s law is good. His law is holy and righteous and pure. For when we break the law, it’s not a fault of the law, but a fault in ourselves. For so we read in God’s law, do not steal, do not murder, do not commit adultery, and the like. Let us understand this clearly then. If the law is good, it’s not meant then to restrict us unnecessarily. Rather, God’s law is the pattern or guide of what a good, holy, and righteous life looks like! For so, let us seek to restrain our passions, to fight against our sinful inclinations that we may obey God’s holy law and live in bliss and joy forever! 

            And how do we become obedient to God’s law? Not by trying harder. Not by following our passions. Not by finding more willpower within ourselves. It’s only by the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:24-25. It was Jesus who broke the chains of sin by forgiving you. It was Jesus who loosed the shackles of death by becoming like we are and going to the cross for us. The cross is the power of the new life in God. It removes the power of sin from us and instills in us a spirit of obedience to Christ. That is what faith is. By faith, we’re no longer obedient to sin and death, but rather to God and his law and eternal life! Consider also, what Jesus says in our Gospel, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. When the burden of sins weighs us down, when the fight for good becomes difficult, when struggles in this life overwhelm us, run to Jesus! He alone offers us the peace and rest from our labors. He alone can remove the strain of sin and death. He alone can give us the obedience which leads to eternal life!

            So dear brothers and sisters in Christ, come to Jesus and find rest for your souls. Lay down your sins and your passions before Christ that he may renew you in body and soul with his forgiveness, mercy, and grace. And then, look to the cross of Christ so that we may become obedient in faith unto life everlasting! In Jesus’ name! Amen!