THE GROWTH OF FAITH, Dr. Samuel Lee
JESUS CHRIST IS OUR RESCUER
Passage: Romans 7:14~25  
Key verse: 25
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,(A) sold(B) as a slave to sin.(C) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.(D) 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.(E) 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.(F) 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a](G) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.(H) 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.(I)
21 So I find this law at work:(J) Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being(K) I delight in God’s law;(L) 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war(M) against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin(N) at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?(O) 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!(P)
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,(Q) but in my sinful nature[b] a slave to the law of sin.(R)
Footnotes
- Romans 7:18 Or my flesh
- Romans 7:25 Or in the flesh
Cross references
- Romans 7:14 : 1Co 3:1
- Romans 7:14 : 1Ki 21:20, 25; 2Ki 17:17
- Romans 7:14 : S Ro 6:16
- Romans 7:15 : ver 19; Gal 5:17
- Romans 7:16 : S ver 12
- Romans 7:17 : ver 20
- Romans 7:18 : ver 25; S Gal 5:24
- Romans 7:19 : ver 15
- Romans 7:20 : ver 17
- Romans 7:21 : ver 23, 25
- Romans 7:22 : Eph 3:16
- Romans 7:22 : Ps 1:2; 40:8
- Romans 7:23 : Gal 5:17; Jas 4:1; 1Pe 2:11
- Romans 7:23 : S Ro 6:16
- Romans 7:24 : Ro 6:6; 8:2
- Romans 7:25 : S 2Co 2:14
- Romans 7:25 : S Ro 6:22
- Romans 7:25 : S Ro 6:16
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. The desire to do good (14-20
God's law is spiritual and good. But we are unspiritual and prone to sin, that is, in our sinful natures. We have the desire to do good, but we cannot carry it out, at least not perfectly, due to sin living in us. This calls for a battle against sin and a surrender to Christ.
2. What a wretched sinner I am! (21-25)
When I want to do good, evil is right there. My inner being delights in God's law, but sin keeps enslaving and imprisoning me. Who can save a wretch like me? Amazing grace, how sweet the sound-Jesus Christ is our Rescuer! He saved us from our sin to make us right with God, and he continues to save us when we cry out to him. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Deliverer!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I do not do the good I know I should do. Rather, I fall into sin when I depend on my own effort or goodness or strength. Rescue me from all my sins of pride and rebellion.
One Word: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ!