Scripture:

Romans 7:

13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes. (NLT)

Observation:

Paul describes here in chapter 7 the struggle that all Christ followers battle.  We recognize what is good.  God has made that clear to us in his word.  But within each of us still remains a sin nature that even takes what is good and perverts it for evil.

How in the world can we overcome our sin and live for Him?

This is the cry of all genuine believers.  Our hearts now yearn to live for the Father.  Through the death of his son Jesus on the cross God saw fit to look upon him and pardon us.  We have been justified before the Father.  It’s this process of sanctification that trips us up.  We continue to be deceived by our sinful nature.  What God intended for good in us…to conform us to the image of his son…to sanctify us…our sin nature turns into evil.  Where we rise…we eventually fall.  Where we succeed…we eventually fail.  Because of this “body of death” we reside in there will always be a measure of struggle and defeat in this life.  No wonder Paul calls for rescue!

24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

His answer is a final proclamation of victory.

25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Application:

The battle is not over.  It will rage on as long as we live in this world.  But we know the victor…we follow the champion…in the end the victory already belongs to Jesus.  We can be assured of that.

Know today that in your struggle to battle the sinful nature you are not alone.  There are plenty of other believers fighting alongside you.  Be comforted in the fact that Jesus leads the battle and has already destroyed the power of sin and death!  We will soon join him in eternity…free at last from this sinful body once and for all.

Prayer:

Pray that today you would rest in the finished work of Jesus on the cross.  Allow him to battle on your behalf.

1. markseekins posted this