David Bahn – Reflections

Romans 7:13-24

Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Some time ago a woman I knew, a mother of two, went through a painful divorce. It was hurtful to her and her children; deeply so. One place of relief she and especially her children experienced was in a support group for single moms and their children. When her son encountered other boys in the same predicament and pain he was experiencing he was visibly relieved. He had been especially hurt by his dad’s departure, and didn’t think anyone could understand him. He learned otherwise that particular evening.

That was a sad discovery to have to make, and even more sad that there are any number of boys and girls who experience such pain. But this is a similar response to people who read Romans 7: “Yes! That’s my experience too. Someone understands my spiritual struggle with sin! I cannot seem to get on top of it!”

I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

To know that even the great St. Paul, missionary extraordinaire, struggled with sin he could not conquer is somehow comforting to those of us who might not be as stellar in our Christian walk. But this truly is a sad comfort. There is little comfort in giving in and saying, “Well we’re all sinners after all.” That is true, but it’s a fatalistic approach, like saying – in the face of impending doom, “We’re all gonna die.” True, but not comforting.

Our true and great comfort is that we have a deliverer. There is a redeemer. He is our Lord Jesus Christ. He has ransomed us from sin and Satan’s prison. And though we’re not fully out there is a path to freedom, and One Day we will find ourselves fully delivered. In the mean time we will struggle. The world and our own sinful flesh will conspire to take us down. But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ that we will be delivered. We may find some comfort in others’ pain and failures. But the greater comfort is founded in the fellowship of those who – in spite of their sin, struggles, and pain – look to Jesus Christ who delivers us from our wretchedness.