John's text this morning is taken from Romans chapter 7 verses 14 through 25

for we know that the law is spiritual but I am of flesh sold into bondage to sin for what I am of flesh sold into bondage to sin.

For what I am doing, I do not understand.

For I am not practicing what I would like to do.

But I am doing the very thing I hate.

But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the law,

confessing that the law is good.

So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh.

For the willingness present in me, but the doing of the good is not.

For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

But if I'm doing the very thing I do not want. But if I'm doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing

it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good,

for I joyfully concur with a law of God in the inner man.

But I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and

making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

Wretched man that I am, who will set me free from the body of this death?

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So then on the one hand I myself, with mind am serving the law of God, but on the other with my flesh the law of sin.

Amen.

Father in heaven, my heart's desire now, as we look into your word is that you would guard me from error and grant that my spirit would be in tune with yours when you inspired this word so that both the truth

is spoken and in a demeanor that is fitting for these realities.

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