The final two verses of Romans Chapter 7 (v 24 and 25) describe the victory that Paul finds in Jesus Christ.
“Wretched man that I am!” writes Paul in exasperation: the entire tone of this statement shows that Paul is desperate for deliverance; he is overwhelmed with a sense of his own powerlessness and sinfulness.
We must come to the same place of desperation to find victory. Our desire must go beyond a vague hope to be better. We must cry out against self, and cry to God with the same desperation Paul had.
“Who will deliver me?” – Paul’s perspective finally turns to someone outside himself.
“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v 25) – Paul finally looks outside himself to Jesus, and as soon as he looks to Jesus, he has something to thank God for – and he thanks God through Jesus Christ!
Paul sees Jesus standing between himself and God, bridging the gap and providing the way through to God. ‘Lord’ means Paul has put Jesus in the right place – as Lord and master of his life…
Prayer – Lord, thank you for these wonderful truths. We echo Paul’s words when he says, “I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate… Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
We praise you that with Paul we can answer, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Thank you, Jesus, that through the power of the Holy Spirit we can have daily victory over sin!
Thank you that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has indeed set us free from the law of sin and death! Amen.