Romans 7:24. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
If you’ve ever read any of Romans 8 then you know that it is one of the most glorious chapters in all of scripture. It begins with no condemnation, and ends with the everlasting love of God. Romans 8 is what life in Christ is supposed to be. It is the normal Christian life.
But (this is crucial) there is no Romans 8 experience without first a Romans 7 experience. Romans 7 is all about the internal battle that rages between indwelling sin and the indwelling Spirit. A battle climaxing in 7:24 – Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
If you’re thinking right now “Gee, I don’t feel a battle going on inside of me. I don’t feel wretched. I don’t need deliverance. I’ve got my sin under control,” then, Christian, you have a big problem. Honestly, I’m way more worried about Christians who can’t recognize or feel the battle than I am about those who are beaten down from the struggle. Why? Because we only desire and receive grace from the place of desperation. Only the person who knows they are wretched will cry out for God’s gracious deliverance. Only the drowning person will cry out for rescue.
So although Romans 7 is not to be the normal Christian life, it is the necessary Christian experience if we are to move forward into the Spirit-empowered life of Romans 8. If you are living in true Romans 8 victory, you only got there through Romans 7:24.
But why wretched? Why so dramatic? Why so despondent? Because this is where self-righteousness always leaves us. This is what all law-keeping eventually leads to. This is what all proving ourselves to God results in. The wretched stench of death.
You see, there is no true progress in the Christian life without first experiencing complete and utter failure. Only the Christian who cries out in desperation for deliverance from carrying the heavy, rotting, disease-laden load of their dead self, their old self, will experience any kind of spiritual growth by faith alone in Christ alone. Only the Christian that is despondent from all their striving, earning, performing, and proving is ready for God to do his work of grace in their life.
I can overcome this habit with accountability partners and changed behaviors. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I can solve my family crisis with better communication techniques. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I can grow spiritually by studying the Bible. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I can keep the law of God by the Spirit. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I can find God’s blessing in my obedience. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I can get back on the right track by re-dedicating my life to God. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
To live is Christ allows us to take a deeply honest look at our own wretched failure as law keepers. Then and only then can we place our hope in the one who will deliver us from the body of death.
You: Have you had a Romans 7:24 experience?
You in Christ: How does being in Christ end the demand for us to perform for God?
Christ in you: What is the difference between doing things for God and Christ living his life through you?
To Live is Christ 