“A SURVEY OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS” ROMANS 7:13-25 SANCTIFICATION WITH REFERENCE TO THE BELIEVER, PART III

As we continue our study in this grand letter of Romans, Paul has endeavored to convey to these Roman believers that they have died both to sin and the law through identification with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:4; 7:4).  Knowing this as a fact, the believers are exhorted to live in the newness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 7:6).  However, the believers must understand that the Law was never intended to produce the strength needed to procure life; rather, the Law only served to condemn the believers, really revealing the utter sinfulness of the human nature (Romans 7:8-11).

In this sanctification section of Romans (7:13-25), the grand Apostle Paul really reveals the intense struggle between sin and himself.  What an intense struggle that Paul is engaged in; and this picture of Paul’s struggle in his spiritual life is the same struggle that we are engaged in!  As stated in the previous verses, Paul discovered that the Law was “holy and just and good” (v. 12), but the real problem was the principle of sin operating from within him!  Again, defining the Law, Paul rejected any idea that death originated in God’s Law; rather, death came as a result of sin which worked through the Law in a crafty way (v. 13).

A key to understanding this section (Romans 7:13-25) is to know that in verses 7-13, Paul is referring to his pre-salvation state.  Sin was working death in him through the Law.  The more Paul tried to keep the Law, the more prominently sin’s grip came into view!  Trying to overcome sin by self-efforts, Paul only experienced defeat and futility for Paul uttered that he was enslaved to sin, “sold under sin” (v. 14).  Being “carnal and sold under sin,” Paul expresses disapproval of his actions in verse 15.  He actually hated what he did.

Although Paul described himself as being under sin’s dominion, he recognized the goodness of the Law that condemned his actions (v. 16).  In verses 17-18, Paul expresses his frustration in attempting to live the Christian life through self-efforts.  While he desired to do good, he found it impossible in himself to perform the good.  We cannot as Christians overcome the flesh or sinful nature by trying to keep the requirements of the Law.  Our sinful natures cannot be overcome by keeping the Law, nor through any self-efforts of ours!

The Christian life is about our allowing the Lord to live His life through us!  We must yield to His power!  Continuing to manifest that he was living a frustrated and defeated life, Paul concluded that indwelling sin was the root of his spiritual defeated life (Romans 7:19-24).  Paul took full responsibility for his sin, but the root problem in his spiritual life was the indwelling principle of sin!  Paul recognized that his sin came from his sin nature (flesh) which dwelt within him.  In verse 24, Paul had exclaimed a question, looking for a solution to his defeated and frustrated spiritual life.  The question, ‘Who shall deliver me?” in verse 24, was answered in verse 25.  Paul answers that question by stating that “deliverance from sin comes only through Jesus Christ.”

May God Bless!