Scripture:
Romans 7:13-25 NKJV
[13] Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. [14] For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. [15] For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. [16] If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. [17] But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. [18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. [19] For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. [20] Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. [21] I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. [22] For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind, I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Observation:
I know I went beyond where most people stop when they are quoting these verses, and if you look at it by doing so, we get a lot better understanding of what Paul is saying. The foundation of what is being said is that the law will not save us. So let’s dive into verses 13. It might be a little difficult to understand unless we define what Paul is saying is good because without knowing that Paul is talking about the law being good, the water gets kind of muddy. So the question he is asking is, has the law become death? Certainly, not the law was given to us, so we had an idea of what sin was. It’s in place to reflect who we are. In the book of James, he says the same thing, but he says it in a substantially different way. In James Chapter 1 verses 22 through 25, James talks about doing what GOD’S word says. How looking at GOD’S word is like looking into a mirror. The law was given to reflect who we are without Jesus. That is its purpose. To show us what sin looks like. What Paul is saying is we need that… it’s a good thing. Verses 14 through 16 and ongoing start to describe the battle that goes on inside of us every day. The battle between right and wrong. We have been given the law to show us what sin looks like, but without the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves in this struggle. We desire to do the right thing, but we find ourselves changing after what is wrong. This example of the struggle goes on for the next several verses from verse 17 on through verse 23. What Paul is essentially saying is that our flesh is at war with our spirit. Our flesh wants what feels good, and our spirit wants what is good, and what is good has been given to us in the law of the 10 commandments. The plumb line, so to speak. So now to Paul’s point in verses 24 and 25. Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank GOD for our LORD Jesus Christ, our SAVIOR.
Application:
How many times have you found yourself in a dilemma where you know the right thing to do but you still choose to do the wrong thing? It’s pretty easy to do, and let me burst your bubble… even the strongest of followers struggle with something. Our sinful nature doesn’t die just because we have a way to see what sin is. The struggle is real. It’s a battle we will face for the rest of our lives. Just when you overcome one thing, the enemy will come at you another way. Please don’t get this wrong, neither Pual nor I am saying that it’s OK just to fall into sin and live there. But what is being said is that there is an answer, and it’s Jesus. Knowing right from wrong doesn’t change our sinful nature it only amplifies it. The law points out who we are. First John Chapter 5 Verse 5 revaluation Chapter 3 verses 5 and 21 and Chapter 21 verse are all great places to look at the purpose of the Holy Spirit. We are built to overcome our sinful nature. The same Spirit that rose Christ from the dead lives inside of anyone who has asked HIM to be their SAVIOR. Revelation chapter 12 and verse 11 tells us how we overcome it by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. We are not meant to be slaves to sin. We are built to overcome it with Jesus. Now just so no one gets discouraged. I want you to know it’s a process. It doesn’t happen overnight for some of us it takes a while. We try and fail try and fail. Until one day it clicks and we are on to the next battle, and the process starts over try and fail try and fail. Justification happens immediately but sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ daily. Once you overcome one sin your next battle is waiting. Don’t fight the sanctification process. Continue to allow GOD to renew your mind and conform you to the image of HIS SON.
Prayer:
Father, we know that the battle is real. But you have already won. We don’t have to do this alone. You have given us all the spiritual blessings we need to be successful in this walk with you. We know that you will not start something that you do not finish. You have chosen us to be conformed to the image of Jesus. The express likeness. We want to reflect that. We want to be more like HIM every day and we know that you will not give up on us. Help us to love more like HIM help us to think more like HIM. Your word tells us that if we are in HIM we are new people. That old man is dead and a completely new man stands in HIS place. Please let that be seen not just by us but by all who come into contact with us. We want to reflect you. We are no longer a slave to sin. But we are bondservants of you let that be seen as well. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.