Romans 7:1-25
Thursday, 20 April 2023
“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!...........” - Romans 7:25
The entire chapter of Romans 7 deals with the subject of “freedom from sin.” The struggle of two natures within us is a reality. This is expressed in two ways – The law of God against the law of sin (Vs.22 & 23) and the mind against the flesh.
Paul describes this struggle in himself in Vs.9. There was a time when Paul was alive to God (Romans 6: 8,11,13). Then sometime after his conversion, when he was enjoying fellowship with God, he was confronted by the law, and he died—this is a figurative way of saying that his sin nature broke his fellowship with God.
The struggle of the two natures in him is expressed in a few other places: (NLT Version)
· Vs.15 -I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
· Vs. 18 – And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
· Vs.21 – I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
· Vs.22 & 23 – I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
The above description is a graphic portrayal of the struggle in every human being! Paul cries out in the end: Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? (V.24) This is a true picture of you and me – however there is hope; there is deliverance – that is what the key verse expresses!! The sin nature in us is a reality; rather than covering it and compromising with it, let us learn to deal with it. In our reading today, Paul gives us the clue to victory!!
To have victory over sin one needs to be dead to that which he is bound. The example provided is about marriage. Just as in the union of a husband and wife a child is born, out of our union with Christ, righteousness will be born! In 1 Cor.6:17 says, “…the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” His life will be imparted to us and thereby His Character, which eventually results in our victory over the sinful passions that rage a war in us.
Most people find the concept of joining with Christ or completely yielding to Him difficult. The practical aspect of this is given in Hebrews 10: 22 “… having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” It is the blood of Jesus that has the power to cleanse our conscience and it is the word of God (water) that has the power change our lives! Let us come near to God by trusting the power of the shed blood of Jesus Christ and align our lives with the word of God – we will find the victory over the sin nature!
Paul says ultimately in Vs. 25 “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” The continuation of this declaration of victory is seen in Romans 8:1: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus thank you for the way You have made for me to deal with my sin nature. Help me live a victorious life through You! Amen.
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