“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” – (Romans 7:24-25 NIV)
In Romans 7, the apostle Paul discusses the struggle between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the spirit. He begins by explaining that the law of Moses, which includes the Ten Commandments, is good and holy, but it reveals the presence of sin within human beings.
Paul shares his own personal struggle with sin, acknowledging that even though he desires to do what is good, he often finds himself doing what he doesn’t want to do. He describes a conflict within himself, where his mind desires to follow God’s law, but his flesh or human nature is prone to sin.
Paul emphasizes that this struggle highlights the weakness of human nature and the inability of the law to save or deliver us from sin. The law reveals our need for a Savior and our dependence on God’s grace.
Paul concludes by pointing to the ultimate solution found in Jesus Christ. He highlights that it is through Jesus’ death and resurrection that believers are set free from the power of sin. By receiving the Holy Spirit, believers can now live a new life empowered by God’s grace.
In summary, Romans 7 teaches that even though the law is good, it reveals our struggle with sin and our inability to keep it perfectly. We are prone to do what is wrong, even when we desire to do what is right. This highlights our need for a Savior, and that Savior is found in Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice and the gift of the Holy Spirit, believers are set free from the power of sin and can live a new life in obedience to God. It is through God’s grace and the work of Jesus that we find deliverance and transformation.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” – (Romans 7:24 NIV)
When reading this passage what stood out to you?
How do you sense God may want you to apply what you discovered?
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