Two areas of struggle faced by most people are dealt in Romans 6-8. Some people have mistaken their freedom in Christ to ignore God’s laws, ie. they use it as a license to sin; others believe that being legalistic (ie. keeping the Law) gives them merit before God. Paul himself explains his struggle in keeping the Law in Chapter 7. A believer in Christ is free from sin and law, but he must keep his life under check so that he will serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter (Rom.7:6).

 

At the end of Chapter 7, Paul declares his victory through Christ Jesus and affirmatively states in Romans 8:1-3 that those who are in Christ Jesus and walk according to the Spirit lives in freedom and are out of condemnation!

 

Most believers face this dilemma when they feel the struggle in their flesh! It is futile to ignore the pull in the flesh but beneficial to identify and deal with it. Romans 7 is entirely dedicated to explaining the intense struggle in the flesh and the ensuing victory through Christ Jesus. It should encourage each one who reads this message that though there is very intense struggle in your flesh (that you feel incapable of overcoming), you can win over it through Christ! Paul went through it and records his testimony for our encouragement and edification.

 

The path of victory explained by Paul is the path of victory for us too.

1. Know your purpose & work for it: Joined with Jesus to bear fruit
   
Rom.7:4 – Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
   The concept of joining means marriage. Just as an outcome of a marriage, children are born, our joining with Christ will produce the fruit of Christlikeness. The Christian character has been undermined largely by many believers and they would like to give priority to mere financial prosperity, ignoring prosperity in the core areas of Christian life – ie. Christ-like character.
   As explained in Romans 8:29, the purpose of Christian life is to be Christ-like. We can end up in doing a lot of things and wasting our time and resources, if we are not focused and understood our purpose. Be very clear today that by virtue of our union with Christ, we are to produce the fruit of Christlikeness in us. Just as the intimate union of spouses result in the fruit of the womb, an intimate relationship with Christ will produce the fruit of Christ-like character in you.
    

2. Know your Guide & obey Him: Walk according to the Spirit
   
Romans 8:2: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
   As in every new endeavor (may it be a marriage, job), there needs to be a counselor who would guide and instruct, there is the perfect Guide and Instructor given to us –the Holy Spirit. Never ignore Him or belittle His instructions –which many tend to do. The Spirit of God is a priceless Companion for every believer– let us rely on Him, learn from Him and submit to His instructions and corrections.

 

As evident from the above verse, the Spirit of God will always function in such a way that He will give us freedom from sin. He is the Spirit of Life!

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Prayer:

Dear Father, thank You for the victory I have over the struggle in my flesh, through Jesus Christ! May Christ-like character to be formed in me as I yield myself to the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.