Romans 7: 15-25a
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no the evil I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law is at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members at of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!
A Thought
Paul is battling with the same things that is common to all mankind: Before we are in Christ we are by nature a slave to sin; After we have been born again into a new life in Christ, we still fight some of the same battles because we have not tamed our sinful nature. We desire to now delight in doing what is right, but God permits these battles with our old nature to reveal the sin that still has a hold of us. The members of our mind is at war with the members of our body. Paul asks the question–“who will rescue me?” Paul has found the answer. It is the same answer available to each of us; we must trust Jesus the Christ to reveal through his Word how we can overcome this never ending battle. We must never turn back; His grace is sufficient. The truth of his Word will set us free for joyful obedience; we must keep growing into His likeness.
Our Prayer
Father thank you that through the law we now know what sin is. Thank you that through the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ, we can now be forgiven from the law of sin and death. Help us to keep setting ourselves apart from the world and to keep obeying your Word of truth to be strengthened to overcome sin. Free us for joyful obedience in you. Thank you for grace and mercy that leads to eternal life in you. We love you in Jesus’ name, amen.
