The Struggles of the Saints
Romans 7:14-f.f.
Paul continues on the idea that the Law not only shackles the saint but it causes the saint to struggle. This truth was lived out in his own life. First, Paul was a Pharisee that was so zealous for the law that he persecuted the church of God. He thought that he was fulfilling the law. Second, he met the Lord on the road to Damascus but still tried to find peace in doing the law. This is evident by what Paul tells us here in this seventh chapter of Romans. Many Christians are living in this phase and feel frustrated. The final phase, Paul gets into in the next chapter and so will we when we get there.
In verse 14, Paul gives us the recipe for the struggle. The law is spiritual but we are carnal. We are physical beings and we must realize that trying to live the law is trying to fight this battle in the flesh. It cannot be done and only leads to frustration.
Verses 15 – 17 are a little confusing upon first reading them but are actually very simple. Paul is telling us the reality of the struggle. In the Christian are two natures; the old man and the new man. When we accept Christ, we are new creatures, all things are passed away, and all things are become new. However, the old nature revives it self and battles against the new nature in us. When we sin, it is the old man working in us not the new for the new man agrees with the law.
Paul then gives us the key to understanding this struggle in the next few verses. Paul tells us that there is nothing good inside him. This is because of what he said in verse 14 he is carnal. We must realize this if we are going to be victorious over the struggle. There is nothing good in and of ourselves. Therefore, we cannot fight this battle alone.
Paul ends the last two verses with the remedy for the struggle. We must realize that our power to live in Christ and not the law lays solely in Christ and His finished work. The key is not living the law but living Christ.
In closing, look at II Corinthians 10 and Luke 9:23. First, we notice that we walk in the flesh but our battle is spiritual. We cannot fight in the strength of our own arms. Then, when we take ungodly thoughts captive, we must be in readiness of mind. This happens before we need it. We must do our part to be ready so when temptation comes our way, we are ready and can bring it into captivity. Then if we want to follow Christ, we must take up our cross, which means to get rebellion out of our lives. We cannot follow Christ until this happens. So, where are you in the battle today? Do not live the law but rather live Christ.