1. “Why Do We Act the Way We Do?” Romans 7:14-25

2. I. We continue to have a battle with the flesh. There is a struggle within us to live the right way. There is a struggle within us to live the right way. –What we want to do we do not do (15). –What we hate to do we do (15). –We continue to fight the sin nature (21).

3. I. We continue to have a battle with the flesh. There is a process to being set free from sin. There is a process to being set free from sin. –We have been saved from the penalty of sin. –We are being saved from the power of sin. –We will be saved from the presence of sin – ultimately in heaven!

4. II. We cannot fight this battle in our own strength. When we try, it leads confusion (15, 17). When we try, it leads confusion (15, 17). –We don’t understand why we do the things we do. –It is no longer us, but sin living in us. It leads to frustration (18). It leads to frustration (18). –We are unable in our own strength to do good

5. II. We cannot fight this battle in our own strength. When we try, it leads confusion (15, 17). When we try, it leads confusion (15, 17). –We don’t understand why we do the things we do. –It is no longer us, but sin living in us. It leads to frustration (18). It leads to frustration (18). –We are unable in our own strength to do good. –We keep on doing what we don’t want to do.

6. II. We cannot fight this battle in our own strength. It ultimately leads to desperation (24-25). It ultimately leads to desperation (24-25). –Recognition – “What a wretched man I am!” –Helplessness – “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” –Resolution – “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

7. Next Steps 1. Ask: “What am I a slave to?”

8. Next Steps 1. Ask: “What am I a slave to?” 2. Ask: “What do I have to say ‘no’ to?

9. Next Steps 1. Ask: “What am I a slave to?” 2. Ask: “What do I have to say ‘no’ to? 3. Ask: “What do I have to say ‘yes’ to?

10. Next Steps 1. Ask: “What am I a slave to?” 2. Ask: “What do I have to say ‘no’ to? 3. Ask: “What do I have to say ‘yes’ to? 4. Confess and ask forgiveness and help.

11. Next Steps 1. Ask: “What am I a slave to?” 2. Ask: “What do I have to say ‘no’ to? 3. Ask: “What do I have to say ‘yes’ to? 4. Confess and ask forgiveness and help. 5. Find someone you trust to be accountable to.

12. Next Steps 1. Ask: “What am I a slave to?” 2. Ask: “What do I have to say ‘no’ to? 3. Ask: “What do I have to say ‘yes’ to? 4. Confess and ask forgiveness and help. 5. Find someone you trust to be accountable to. 6. Ask the Holy Spirit to take over and change us.