Who Will Deliver Me?

 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.—Romans 7:14-24

There is much dispute in regard to exactly who Paul is referring to in this portion of Romans 7.  (Believer, Unbeliever, Carnal Christian, Legalist) I am of the opinion that since Paul uses the personal pronoun “I” he is speaking of himself as a believer who loves His Lord but struggles in his flesh to do the right thing. I, for one, am so glad that the Spirit of God through the godly Apostle Paul included this passage in Scripture.  My heart resonates with each and every thought. Paul’s honesty as he writes about his struggles encourage and help me to be open and transparent with my own sin.  It is such a comfort to know that Paul experienced the very same things I experience in my own walk with my Lord. 

The closer I draw to God the more I see just how very far I fall short of His righteous standard.  Looking at that positively, the more I see just how far I fall short, the more I see my need for Christ.  And that is such a good thing.  The best part of this passage, however, is that after Romans 7 comes Romans 8 whose first verse lightens my heart and makes it rejoice and sing!

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,—Romans 8:1a

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.—Romans 8:31-34

In Christ, I am forgiven. Truly where sin abounds, God’s grace abounds much more!  O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!