Amen sister Doreen. I really like that truth that you point us to. Jesus may wait to answer our prayers in many cases, but not so when we seek forgiveness of our sins. This is very helpful in understanding the gospel message, and the conversion of Paul. Paul's conversion was not, sudden conversion. It was the end of a long protracted process of wooing by the Holy Spirit. Thus, we understand the true meaning of Romans, chapter 7. It is Paul explaining his conversion experience. Paul was not converted in Romans 7, but he did come to the point of seeing that he could not keep the law in and of himself. It was during that time of wooing that Paul discovered he was evil by nature. He ends the chapter with a prayer to be to be delivered from the "body of this death" in which he lived. On the road to Damascus, Jesus answered that prayer. So I ask, if we understand that Jesus answers the prayer for deliverance from sin immediately, when did Paul pray that prayer to be set free from his evil selfish flesh?
When the Laodicean goes through a Romans seven experience, and discovers he is evil by nature, when we see we are not keeping the law of God, thus we are condemned, then he is no longer a Laodicean and God can heal him from that which has kept him in bondage. As you say, dear Sister, Jesus will heal our sin sick hearts. He will cleanse the heart, white as snow.
Paul, Saul, thought he was keeping the commandments, until he had a true standard by which to measure his life. He saw Christ, in the words and face of Stephen and all of the true Christians he was persecuting. He then saw the law reaches beyond outwards actions, and goes to the intent of the heart. Here, he saw himself condemned. The law cannot save, but it is the "school master" that points us to our need of a Savior, a Savior that delivers us from "the body of this death" in which we live.
When we come to the point of seeing we are in bondage to sin, and cannot deliver ourselves, then we look for a Savior as did Saul. Then, Jesus reveals Himself to us and if we will allow Him in, He will immediately take possession of the heart and cleanse it wholly from sin.
Many teach and believe that we cannot keep the law perfectly, because we live in sinful flesh. It is true we may not obtain holy flesh this side of the second coming, but we may possess a new mind and a new heart. This is where we may be transformed in character and nature. All who reject this truth are rejecting the inspired counsel in Scripture (Ezekiel 36:26, 27) and what we read in today's chapter.
The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from his terrible disease is an illustration of His work in cleansing the soul from sin. The man who came to Jesus was "full of leprosy." Its deadly poison permeated his whole body. The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touching him; for he who touched a leper became himself unclean. But in laying His hand upon the leper, Jesus received no defilement. His touch imparted life-giving power. The leprosy was cleansed. Thus it is with the leprosy of sin,--deep-rooted, deadly, and impossible to be cleansed by human power. "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores." Isaiah 1:5, 6. But Jesus, coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution. His presence has healing virtue for the sinner. Whoever will fall at His feet, saying in faith, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean," shall hear the answer, "I will; be thou made clean." Matthew 8:2, 3, R. V.
Jesus does not lie. He will make us clean. Unless we be cleansed, we do not have salvation. If we will study Romans seven and eight prayerfully, in the light of this promise from Jesus, we will have the scales of "unbelief" removed our eyes. We then can spend a thoughtful hour a day beholding the Savior and by thus doing, die daily to sin. Miracles of miracles!