Our scripture today comes from the seventh chapter of the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul,

writing to the church at Rome. The Roman Empire was in tremendous power, perhaps the most formidable

governmental power in the earth.

They were the United States of America of the time.

They were the global superpower.

And the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Rome

and sharing some things here

that you perhaps are familiar with

from this seventh chapter of Romans.

Notice there these words.

Paul says, I'm a mystery to myself.

For I want to do what is right, but end up doing what is what my moral instincts condemn.

Now notice, I'm a mystery to myself.

He said, I don't even understand this.

He says, and if my behavior is not in line with my desire,

my conscious still confirms the excellence of the law.

And now I realize that it is no longer my true self-doing it,

but the unwelcome intruder of sin in my humanity.

For I know that nothing good lives within the flesh of my fallen humanity.

The longings to do what is right are within me,

but the willpower is not enough to accomplish it. My lofty

desires to do what is good are dashed when I do the things I want to avoid. So if my behavior

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