Today’s readings: Romans 7-9, Psalm 146
Romans 7:14-25
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.
Romans 7 is a challenging chapter—especially the first part. Paul explains how God’s law works, how it is good, and yet how sin uses that very law to stir up evil impulses and actions within us. The logic is difficult for me to follow because he is so careful to tie together the thoughts of Romans 6, including the beautiful truth that we are no longer under the law, with the confession he will make later in this chapter.
And that’s where we can all gain a foothold of understanding.
Paul confesses that, in spite of himself, he cannot keep from sinning. He wants to do good things but ends up not doing them. (Think good intentions never acted upon, or promises not kept.) He doesn’t want to do evil things but ends up doing them. (Think giving in to temptation or failing to restrain sinful impulses.)
Most of us can identify with those realities. We face temptation and cave in. We intend to keep a promise but let it go. The gossip is too juicy not to share, and we sully someone’s reputation, speaking poorly of her rather than putting the best construction on her actions. The pain he has caused is too severe to ignore, so we sabotage his presentation or withhold vital information that would help him. We lose our temper in traffic, cut someone off, and maybe offer a few choice words we’d be embarrassed for our children—or grandchildren—to hear.
Or worse.
Why do we do this? Why do we give in to temptation? Why don’t we do the good we want to do?
Paul says it is sin dwelling within us that leads us to places we know we should not go. And if you haven’t given in to some of these more obvious outward manifestations of sin, remember Jesus’ words about adultery and murder. Sin isn’t merely a matter of outward actions. It reaches into the desires and intentions of our hearts.
Some think we are sinners because we sin. The truth is that we sin because we are sinners. And though we are also saints—not because of our goodness, but because we belong to Christ through faith—we will struggle with this reality until the day we are taken from this vale of tears into the glorious presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So we join Paul in his cry: “Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
And in his answer: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Our struggle with sin continues, but Jesus has won the victory for us, and one day he will come again. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Follow the Word is a daily Bible reading and devotional ministry of St. John Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas.
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