The Struggle with the Flesh

This eighteenth message from Romans reveals Paul's personal struggle with sin, because of his own body. He had explained that the way out of bondage to the Law was through one's death (7:1-6), and that there was no problem with the Law, because it was only holy, righteous and good (7:7-12). He now shares that though he died to the Law there is still a battle between his new nature (spiritually righteous) and his old body (physically evil) (7:13-25). In Paul's FIRST QUESTION, he asks if the good Law can bring forth death, and the response is an absolute no! The reality is that the Law is profitable, giving guidance, but Paul's flesh is destructive, producing groanings because it was devoted to sin. Paul was in a QUANDARY, living in this struggle between what he desired to do and what he hated. This state of stress came from his flesh, as evil was still present in him - the source of this rivalry came from the members of his own body. Paul's SECOND QUESTION asked for a way to be free from his grueling body of death - in gratitude he thanks his Savior Jesus Christ. He is now able to habitually serve God's law with his mind, even though at times he serves the law of sin with his flesh.