Romans 7:21–25 (ESV)
The Law and Sin
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.
In yesterday’s reading, Paul gave the famous “do-do” passage that points out Paul’s struggle with sin. The things I should do, I don’t do... the things I shouldn’t do... I do do [my
paraphrase]. Some people claim that this is before Paul was saved... but how can you get that out of what he says. Actually it is quite clear that he is talking about his struggles with sin while being a Christian. Paul even refers to himself
as “Wretched man that I am!” Martin Luther refers to us as both Saint and Sinner. We cannot lose the “old Adam” until we get to heaven. Until then, we are saved by Christ’s Righteousness through our faith.
The Lutheran Study Bible states: Our struggle with sin is not a past event; it is a present reality. We know God’s will and desire to serve Him, but we cannot overcome sin. Even if we try, we fail. We cry out, “Who will deliver me from this
body of death?” There is only one answer: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Jesus rescues us. Though we sin daily, He continues to forgive and restore us.
I pray: O
Lord Jesus, I love You. Lead me in daily repentance. Forgive my sin and strengthen my faith. By Your Spirit, deliver me. Amen.