Romans 7:22-25 (WEL) I rejoice in the Law of God according to the inner man. 23 But I see another law in my body warring against the law of my mind and enslaving me to the law of sin that is in my body. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So then with the mind I, even I, serve God’s law, but with the flesh [I serve] the law of sin.
V22 I rejoice in the Law of God according to the inner man.
The inner man is the soul/spirit, the nonmaterial person. It is seen by our thinking, decision-making, emotions, worship, etc.
Since Christ-followers are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), we now rejoice in God’s laws and leadership.
V23 But I see another law in my body warring against the law of my mind and enslaving me to the law of sin that is in my body.
Yet, we still have the unregenerated sinful flesh seeking its selfish desires. The flesh follows a different law—me first. Our mind is dedicated to God’s ways; our flesh is dedicated to its own desires. There is a spiritual war of sinful desires and godly desires.
Compare Galatians 5:17, Mark 14:38, and 1 Peter 2:11.
V24 O wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
The Psalmist expresses this idea as follows—Psalm 19:13 (NKJV) Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous [sins]; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
God does give grace—1 Corinthians 10:13. We are to ask God’s forgiveness of our sins—1 John 1:9-10.
The time will come when we either die or the Rapture occurs, and we sin no more (Romans 6:17).
V25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So then with the mind I, even I, serve God’s law, but with the flesh [I serve] the law of sin.
Who is the one and only deliverer from God’s wrath, the curse of sin, and the believing people of the earth? Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is alone the Savior.
Jesus is our Lord because He is head of the church. We are His servants.
Paul accepts his predicament, yet promotes holiness living and thinking God’s way.
To live a Christian life, we have God’s assisting grace (1 Corinthians 10:13 and 2 Corinthians 12:9), can pray (Psalm 22:19 and Psalm 40:12-13), can be forgiven (1 John 1:9-10), can fight the spiritual war (Ephesians 6:10-18), and resist (1 Peter 5:8-9).
We learn:
- More about the spiritual war we face with temptations (enticement and seductions).
- There is only one deliverer—Jesus Christ.
Questions:
- How are you fighting this spiritual war?
- Have you read your Bible and prayed today for strength?