dwelleth no good thing
William MacDonald teaches that the believer must recognize the inherent sinfulness of the flesh and focus entirely on Christ rather than self to experience true spiritual victory.
In this sermon, William MacDonald explores the profound truth found in Romans 7:18 that no good thing dwells in the flesh. He emphasizes the necessity for believers to recognize the sinful nature within and to avoid self-centered introspection. Instead, MacDonald urges Christians to fix their eyes on Jesus Christ as the source of true life and victory, warning against the pitfalls of modern psychological approaches that focus excessively on the self.
Text
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.” (Rom. 7:18)
If a young believer learns this lesson early in his Christian life, he will save himself from a world of trouble later on. The Bible teaches that there is NO GOOD THING in our old, evil un-regenerate nature. The flesh is absolutely no good. It is not improved one iota at the time of conversion. It is not improved by a lifetime of consistent Christian living. In fact, God is not trying to improve it. He has condemned it to death at the Cross and wants us to keep it in the place of death.
If I really believe this, it will deliver me from a futile search. I will not look for anything good where God has already said it can’t be found.
It will deliver me from disappointment. I am never disappointed when I don’t find any good in myself. I knew it wasn’t there in the first place.
It will deliver me from introspection. I start with the premise that there is no victory in self. In fact, self-occupation spells defeat.
It will guard me from psychological and psychiatric counseling which turns the searchlight on self. Such therapy only compounds the problem instead of solving it.
It teaches me to be occupied with the Lord Jesus. Robert Murray McCheyne said, “For every look you take at self, take ten looks at Christ.” That is a good balance! Someone else said that even a sanctified self is a poor substitute for a glorified Christ. And the hymnwriter wrote, “How sweet away from self to flee, and shelter in our Savior.”
Much modern preaching and many new Christian books send people on an introspective binge, occupying them with their temperament, their self-image, their hang-ups and inhibitions. The whole movement is a tragedy of overbalance and it leaves a trail of human wreckage.
“I am too bad to be worth thinking about; what I want is to forget myself and to look to God, who is indeed worthy of all my thoughts.”
Sermon Outline
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I
- The flesh contains no good thing
- Conversion does not improve the flesh
- God condemns the flesh to death
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II
- Recognizing no good in self prevents futile searching
- Avoiding disappointment by knowing the truth about the flesh
- Guarding against introspection and self-occupation
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III
- The dangers of psychological counseling focused on self
- The importance of focusing on Christ instead of self
- Biblical and hymn encouragement to look away from self
Key Quotes
“The Bible teaches that there is NO GOOD THING in our old, evil un-regenerate nature.” — William MacDonald
“God is not trying to improve it. He has condemned it to death at the Cross and wants us to keep it in the place of death.” — William MacDonald
“For every look you take at self, take ten looks at Christ.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Accept that your sinful nature is completely corrupt and cannot produce true goodness.
- Avoid excessive self-examination and instead focus your thoughts on Jesus Christ.
- Resist the temptation to seek victory through self-effort or psychological introspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that 'in me dwelleth no good thing'?
It means that our sinful nature is completely corrupt and incapable of producing true goodness apart from Christ.
Does conversion improve our sinful nature?
No, conversion does not improve the flesh; God has condemned it to death and calls believers to live by the Spirit.
Why should Christians avoid introspection?
Because focusing on self leads to defeat and disappointment, whereas focusing on Christ leads to spiritual victory.
Is psychological counseling helpful for Christians?
MacDonald warns that counseling focused on self-examination can worsen problems instead of solving them.
How can believers maintain the right focus?
By continually looking to Jesus Christ and not dwelling on their own sinful nature or shortcomings.