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?

Romans 6:6-11 :: Sinner or Saint?

Romans 6:6-11 in The Message and TNIV

If my old way of life really was nailed to the Cross with Christ, why does it keep rearing its ugly head?  If I am included in Christ's sin-conquering death, why do I still have to fight with sin?  Other translations say that I am free from the power of sin, but sometimes it really doesn't feel like it. I know in my head that sin speaks a dead language and means nothing to me, but I still want to listen to it and I still find myself speaking it from time to time.

Questions like these are real to a lot of people...maybe even to you.  And if I am totally honest with you, they are real to me sometimes.  I don't drift into "big sins" since I became a Christ follower (but I didn't really before either).  I don't get wasted on the weekends, I don't contemplate murder, I don't have illicit affairs...those things are pretty easy to stay away from.  Is that because sin has no power over me?  Maybe.

I do however drift into "little sins" almost daily.  I struggle with thinking Christ-like thoughts about people. I struggle with laziness sometimes.  I struggle with pride.  I struggle with the things that aren't easily seen by others.  What's the deal?  Did the "power over sin" miss these little ones because it was so focused on the bigger ones?

What have you been taught about the power of sin and your ability to defeat it?  Do you see yourself as free from sin and able to say no, no matter what the sin may be?  Do you believe that the power won't fully be realized until after we leave this earth for heaven?  Do you see yourself as a sinner or a saint?