I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. (Romans 7:21-22)1
From Romans 7:21 through the end of the Romans 7, Paul describes the battle in our minds and the victorious end to the struggle.
The “law of God according to the inward man” is not the Mosaic law. The Mosaic law was according to the performance of the outward man. The law of God is “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” according to the new man that we have become in Christ.2
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. (Romans 7:23)
Notice that Paul says that the battle is between the law in his members (the law of sin and death3) and the law of his mind. He has the mind of Christ. The law of his mind in the new creation is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. The law in his members (in his flesh) brings his flesh into captivity to the law of sin in his members. Some believers have been taught that this is a war between two natures – the sin nature and the divine nature, but Paul is not talking about a sin nature. He is talking about the flesh which has been severed from our new identity in Christ. The battle is simply between the new man joined to the Spirit and the flesh where sin operates.
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25)
Notice he said “WHO will deliver me?” Not “what.” Jesus is our Deliverer from this body of death!!! Jesus is our Redeemer! Jesus is our Rescuer! Jesus is our Savior!!
(from page 158 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
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1All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
2Romans 8:2
3Romans 8:2
