Romans 7:21-25 :: Law of God and law of sin

Romans 7:21-25 (The Message and TNIV)

Paul is now bringing this issue to a close.  In these verses he is clearly summarizing what has gone before in chapter seven.  Paul sees two laws at war in his life - the divine law of God and the law of sin.  He sees himself as a captive in this war and that he clearly does not have total victory.  The depths of Paul’s situation can be heard in the statement, “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps.  I’m at the end of my rope.”

There are points where Paul seems to be leading us somewhere.  Issuing rhetorical questions to create a yearning in us for the answer.  No doubt, Paul understood the struggles personally, but there definitely appears to be a destination to his questions.  Is there no one who can do anything for me?  Isn’t that the real question?

In verse 25, Paul removes the curtain with a huge “Tada!”  The answer is that Jesus Christ can and does.  Jesus is the one who acted to set things right for us with God.

So Jesus does what we can’t do on our own.  Jesus does what the law couldn’t do.  Jesus makes everything right.  Really?  How?  Since becoming a Christ-follower have all these struggles disappeared in your life?