Gospel Transformation (Part 2)

Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 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. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.- Romans 7:16-‬25 ESV

Dr. John Applegate

A Picture of Addictions

For a layman to preach, one of the best ways to start is to address from where we come. Not to instruct about topics that we know little, but rather what we are familiar with.

Addiction to drugs are much like desire for other's approval. Addicts were seen as people with some sort of moral failure. Why then are we equating pride to addiction?

"Bondage to the rule of a substance, activity, or state of mind, which then becomes the center of life, defending itself from the truth so that even bad consequences don't bring repentance, and leading to further estrangement from God." - Ed Welch

Each person has different desires and natures that makes them vulnerable to various substances, activities... From gambling, drinking, eating, ... etc.

Challenges to Applying the Gospel

We go through these addiction cycles. We're told to apply the gospel, but what does that mean? We don't unpack the gospel and see how it maps and applies itself to each person's addictions and the rest of their lives.

We are aware of our conscious personality, but what of the the subconscious? A picture of a crack pipe, needle, or other drug paraphernalia can trigger the reward center of the brain in 33ms. Too fast for the conscious mind to process, but enough for the brain to start considering the addiction. It's like our addictions know how to bypass the guard at the front gate and go around to the easy back door.

The heart knows both the conscious and the subconscious. It drives them both. It is our core identity that drives our behavior. This is why we often co-op the gospel to drive our own desires and agendas. The Gospel is used and abused, often rationalized as a way to justify our sinful addictions.

The Gospel Path to Freedom

So what then? Are we to be forever stuck in this cycle of addiction? Paul calls us wretched men. And then tells us of our new identity in Christ. What does this mean?

We need to learn several things:

First, there is a fight. Self deceptions are coming. There is an enemy within, foremost among sinners. Prepare to spot the lies that will open the door for other sins to sneak by. We must prepare for the next attack rather than sitting in the dark.

Secondly, we need to know our counterfeit gods in our lives. There are competing desires that keep us from taking in the Gospel. They keep us from tapping into the power of the Gospel when the battle comes to our gates.

Lastly, consider the downsides of our sin. Burn the sweetness of Christ into our hearts. Consider the aftermath of sin, the guilt and remorse. Think of the intimacy we have with God and how this sin distances us from God. We need the pleasures afforded by Jesus to overtake the pleasures of our addictions/sin.

"Faith keeps us laying hold of the grace and mercy of Christ and thereby avoiding despair.  Repentance keeps us facing our ongoing struggle with sin and thereby avoiding pride." - How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp

We are without hope without the gospel of Christ. This is our path out of addiction. Jesus came into our world to identify with the outcast, shameful, and guilty. We need not be afraid, Jesus came for those who struggle with guilt and shame.