“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” Rom. 7:24-25
The verses above are the last two of chapter seven. They follow the discourse of Paul regarding the battle of the Spirit and the flesh in us. The believer’s two natures often baffle and confuse him or her. The wisdom found in the Word of God will help in managing this conflict by identifying which aspect of behavior result from the Holy Spirit’s life and which result from the fleshly nature’s activity. Especially in the book of Romans. Thus, we can navigate our new life with Spirit-engendered wisdom and understanding.
Romans reveals a new, victorious method for our dealing with sin. Living free of sin’s rule is now possible because we are no longer slaves of sin, but have become slaves of God, able to choose righteousness rather than being bound to the old nature. Obedience to the Word of God gains a new nature of holiness.
Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the very life of Jesus Christ is brought into effect in our mortal bodies. As we yield ourselves to Him, Jesus becomes in and through us the very fulfillment of the Law and Word of God.
We must understand it is God through Jesus Christ that makes us what God’s Word says we are. We cannot make ourselves righteous, clean, faultless, or improve our position with God. Our “work” is to “believe on Him who He has sent.” We become who God says we are by reading and studying His Word.and allowing it to govern our thoughts and actions. Submit to God. It’s your freedom to do so, “whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
This article contains material from The Spirit-Filled Life Bible (NKJV) In Romans.