Romans 7:24, 25 - The Sinful Nature Is Conquered in Christ!
Romans 7:24, 25b (NIV) What a wretched man I
am! Who will rescue me from this body that is
subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers
me through Jesus Christ our LORD!
Romans 7:24, 25b (NLT) Oh, what a miserable
person I am! Who will free me from this life that
is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God!
The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
INTRODUCTION
In Romans 7:7-25, is Paul describing his own
experience as a believer or unbeliever?
Paul uses the personal pronoun "I"
throughout this passage, using his own experience as an
example of what is true of unredeemed humanity
(7:7-12) and of true Christians (7:35). Some
interpret this chronicle of Paul's inner conflict as
describing his life before Christ. They point out that
Paul describes the person as "sold under sin"
(7:14), as having "nothing good" in him (7:18), and
as a "wretched man" trapped in a "body of
death" (7:24). Those descriptions seem to
contradict Paul's earlier description of the believer
(6:2, 6, 7, 11, 17, 18, 22).
It is correct, however, to understand
Paul here to be speaking about a believer. This
person desires to obey God's law and hates sin
(7:15, 19, 21). He is humble, recognizing that
nothing good dwells in his humanness (7:18). He sees
sin in himself, but not as all that is there
(7:17, 20-22). And he serves Jesus Christ with his
mind (7:25). Paul has already established that
none of those attitudes ever describe the unsaved
(1:18-21, 32; 3:10-20). Paul's use of the present
tense verbs in 7:14-25 strongly supports the idea
that he was describing his current experience as
a Christian.
Even those who agree that Paul was
speaking as a genuine believer, however, still find
room for disagreement. Some see a carnal, fleshly
Christian under the influence of old habits. Others
see a legalistic Christian, frustrated by his
feeble attempts in his own power to please God by
keeping the Mosaic Law. But the personal pronoun "I"
refers to the apostle Paul, a standard of spiritual
health and maturity. This leads to the conclusion
that Paul, in 7:7-25, must be describing all
Christians - even the most spiritual and mature - who,
when they honestly evaluate themselves against
the righteous standard of God's law, realize how
far short they fail. Notice, particularly,
Paul's honesty and transparency in the four laments
(7:14-17, 18-20, 21-23, 24-25). [MacArthur Daily Bible
2003]
COMMENTARY PEARL
While trying to educate myself on
nutrition, I recently came across an article that
encouraged readers to eat foods that would give life to
their bodies. That particular wording stung. I
know I need to eat healthier, but my favorite
foods are often salty, creamy, chocolatey,
buttery, fluffy, and caffeinated. I know that pure
water and raw fruits and vegetables are good
choices, and when I choose them, I'm completely
satisfied. But I give in to eating what's not so
healthy for me more often than I would like. My lack
of willpower leaves me feeling defeated.
The Apostle Paul captured his feelings of
hopelessness in Romans 7. Instead of doing the good
things he wanted to do, he did the evil things he
didn't want to do (Romans 7:19). He described this
struggle as an internal war between his mind that so
desperately wanted to follow the Spirit and his body
that was destined to sin and death (Romans 7:23).
But even in the midst of that deep despair, Paul
had hope in Jesus Christ. No amount of
willpower, attitude adjustments, or nutrition advice
will compel me to make the right food choice all
the time. Each day, I battle between what I want
to eat and what I know I need to eat. No matter
how much I try to change my bad choices, I can
only get so far on my own. My real hope for
healthy change is through the life-giving Spirit of
Jesus Christ within me. Ericka Loynes
Faith Step: Next time you have to make a
choice, consider all of the options you have and
what you really want to achieve. Then, ask Jesus
to help you make the healthy, life-giving
choice. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Let no one think he can overcome without the
help of God. You must have the energy, the
strength, the power, of an inner life developed within
you. You will then bear fruit unto godliness, and
will have an intense loathing of vice. You need
to constantly strive to work away from
earthliness, from cheap conversation, from everything
sensual, and aim for nobility of soul and a pure and
unspotted character. MS. 4a, 1885. MM144
The surrender of all our powers to God
greatly simplifies the problem of life. It weakens
and cuts short a thousand struggles with the
passions of the natural heart. MYP30
Wretched Man
I would willingly ask God for a part of
your sufferings. I know my weakness is so great
that if He left me one moment to myself, I would
be the most wretched man alive. And yet, I do
not know how He could leave me alone because
faith gives me as strong a conviction as reason.
He never forsakes us until we have first
forsaken Him. Let us fear to leave Him. Let us always
be with Him. Let us live and die in His
presence. - Letter 12
Brother Lawrence was honest about his
weakness apart from Christ. He recognized the
internal battle within himself to do wrong: that in
his own strength, he could not do right simply
by determining to do so. As believers, we all
understand the frustration, confusion, and doubt caused
by our sin. Even though we've been set free
from our sin, we do not always live into that
reality. Struggling against sin is a lifelong battle.
However, it's won each day as we submit ourselves to
the Spirit of God resting in His power to
deliver us from our own weaknesses. [The Practice of
the Presence of God: 40 Day Devotional by
Brother Lawrence/Alan Vermilye]
The Answer is Jesus
Paul was honest about his struggles.
Looking at his own life, he concluded that he was
"rotten through and through." This great apostle
confessed, "No matter which way I turn, I can't make
myself do right... When I try not to do wrong, I do
it anyway."
In spite of his desire to do the right
thing, sin still had control: "I am not really the
one doing it; the sin within me is doing it." He
felt that he was a slave to sin and "there is
another law at work within me, that is at war with
my mind."
What was the answer? Jesus. Jesus gave
him the power and ability he needed. He helped
him overcome the grip that sin had on his life.
Throughout history, men and women from
every nation have experienced the same struggles.
They thought they could change through their own
efforts, by working harder or making a decision. But,
as Paul found, we cannot make these
transformations on our own. All of us need Jesus!
Today you may feel trapped by sin,
habits, or circumstances. In spite of your efforts,
you may feel defeated. Weighed down by problems
and haunted by memories, you may face troubling
temptations. You may be worried about your needs,
preoccupied by your job, or anxious about the future.
The Bible assures you that, for every
question, the answer is in Jesus Christ." You need His
strength and power to achieve victory. You cannot do
it on your own.
Right now, tell Him about your feelings
and needs. Then, surrender your life to Him, and
allow Him to give you the victory you need. Jesus
is your answer today. By Inspiration Ministries
https://inspiration.org/daily-devotional/the-answer-is-jesus-3/ Gift from Rachel 2017
The Holy Spirit will help us and nudge us
along into spiritual adulthood. But it means we've
got to starve our old, sinful nature and feed
the new creation we are in Christ.
Holy Spirit, draw me further into life -
authentic life - today. If I've been playing with mud
pies at the side of the road, help me to get back
on the journey. [A Spectacle of Glory by Joni
Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Romans 7:24, 25 - The Sinful Nature Is
Conquered in Christ!
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160610-1524.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2007/20070129-0914.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
