Romans 7:14-25
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. – Romans 7:19
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There’s a saying, “Humans are contradictory.” I think most people would agree with this statement. We want to be healthy yet don’t want to exercise. We want to go to bed early but often stay up late on our phones. We long to grow, but we’re unwilling to step out of our comfort zones. Our lives are full of such contradictions.
This is also the topic the Apostle Paul discusses in today’s passage. He draws from his own experience as a Pharisee to explain that it’s impossible to obey the law by one’s own strength; this was also why the people in the Old Testament failed.
In this week’s devotional scripture from Leviticus, every law given by God was repeatedly stamped with an emphasis, “I am the Lord your God.” He wanted the Israelites to live as his holy people because he is their God, and he is holy. Even though God repeatedly emphasised this, the people continued to sin, constantly falling into various traps of sin. Was it that they were unwilling? No, it was because their spirit was willing but their flesh was weak.
This is the dilemma Paul describes in Romans: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (v.15). It’s like he’s saying, I know the law is good and righteous… but I just can’t do it! It’s one thing for a person to know what sin is; it’s another thing to stay away and stop doing it. Knowing sin does not equal overcoming sin. Doesn’t this describe the exact struggle in our hearts?
Inwardly, we want to be a good Christian, a child pleasing to God, but our actions always lack self-control, continually doing things we later regret. We can totally relate to what Paul said: “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (v.18). However, if we use this verse as an excuse to escape responsibility, then we are grossly misrepresenting the author’s intention. He’s certainly not teaching us how to avoid the call of obedience, but rather simply stating a fact: our natural selves, any person whose heart is defiled by sin, inevitably will fail to keep the law and achieve holiness if we’re trying to do it by our own willpower. The contradiction and struggle of people under the law of sin—that battle between body and soul—will tear a person in half. This is why even the Apostle Paul cried out, “Wretched man that I am!”
But when Paul turned his gaze to Jesus Christ, he discovered that he didn’t need to rely on himself, but simply by relying on Jesus Christ, he could be delivered (v.25). Simply relying on him could set us free again.
Reflection:
Are you like Paul, having the desire to obey God’s will but struggling to live that desire out? Are you still relying on yourself and often end up saying, ‘I just can’t do this’? Turn your eyes to Jesus right now. Cry out to him to help you break free from the shackles of this battle between body and soul, so that you can shout in victory, like Paul did: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”(v.25).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for us, thank you for doing what we could not do for ourselves. Grant me faith and strength not to shirk my responsibilities in following and obeying you, but to rely on your mighty power in all things, so that I may experience your victory in my life. Thank you for giving me light and hope. I pray in your victorious name. Amen!
Click to read
There’s a saying, “Humans are contradictory.” I think most people would agree with this statement. We want to be healthy yet don’t want to exercise. We want to go to bed early but often stay up late on our phones. We long to grow, but we’re unwilling to step out of our comfort zones. Our lives are full of such contradictions.
This is also the topic the Apostle Paul discusses in today’s passage. He draws from his own experience as a Pharisee to explain that it’s impossible to obey the law by one’s own strength; this was also why the people in the Old Testament failed.
In this week’s devotional scripture from Leviticus, every law given by God was repeatedly stamped with an emphasis, “I am the Lord your God.” He wanted the Israelites to live as his holy people because he is their God, and he is holy. Even though God repeatedly emphasised this, the people continued to sin, constantly falling into various traps of sin. Was it that they were unwilling? No, it was because their spirit was willing but their flesh was weak.
This is the dilemma Paul describes in Romans: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (v.15). It’s like he’s saying, I know the law is good and righteous… but I just can’t do it! It’s one thing for a person to know what sin is; it’s another thing to stay away and stop doing it. Knowing sin does not equal overcoming sin. Doesn’t this describe the exact struggle in our hearts?
Inwardly, we want to be a good Christian, a child pleasing to God, but our actions always lack self-control, continually doing things we later regret. We can totally relate to what Paul said: “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (v.18). However, if we use this verse as an excuse to escape responsibility, then we are grossly misrepresenting the author’s intention. He’s certainly not teaching us how to avoid the call of obedience, but rather simply stating a fact: our natural selves, any person whose heart is defiled by sin, inevitably will fail to keep the law and achieve holiness if we’re trying to do it by our own willpower. The contradiction and struggle of people under the law of sin—that battle between body and soul—will tear a person in half. This is why even the Apostle Paul cried out, “Wretched man that I am!”
But when Paul turned his gaze to Jesus Christ, he discovered that he didn’t need to rely on himself, but simply by relying on Jesus Christ, he could be delivered (v.25). Simply relying on him could set us free again.
Reflection:
Are you like Paul, having the desire to obey God’s will but struggling to live that desire out? Are you still relying on yourself and often end up saying, ‘I just can’t do this’? Turn your eyes to Jesus right now. Cry out to him to help you break free from the shackles of this battle between body and soul, so that you can shout in victory, like Paul did: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”(v.25).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for us, thank you for doing what we could not do for ourselves. Grant me faith and strength not to shirk my responsibilities in following and obeying you, but to rely on your mighty power in all things, so that I may experience your victory in my life. Thank you for giving me light and hope. I pray in your victorious name. Amen!