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Romans 7:16-20
What the Apostle Paul is referring to in this passage is the battle that goes on between the sinful nature and God’s Holy Spirit that is at war inside each of us who open our hearts to Jesus and seek God’s will for our lives – and to follow that will of God, which is against our natural sinful nature. As a Christian, we are desiring to please God, but we still have the sinful nature, through the ongoing temptations and trials that Satan continuously throws at us, striving to pull us away from Jesus. This is what Paul is battling with as he states in Romans 7:18-19 (NKJV), “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”
This is an example of the battle that is ongoing within us for the eternal destination of our souls.
This battle is the reason for the gospel – the good news of Christ Jesus who came to save the world from sin (John 3:16-17). But we need to understand that as Paul states of Christ Jesus in Romans 6:10-11 (NIV), “The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” We also need to understand that Satan will continue to shoot his fiery darts at us as he strives to make us fall away from our new life in Christ Jesus. This is why Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV), “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” This is the reality of the profession that Paul is making in Romans 7:14-25.
Dear LORD,
The battle that goes on within us to save us from sin is a great battle that has an outcome that will last for eternity. But please help us to understand that this battle goes on throughout our physical lives and that, as Christians, this battle truly is just beginning as Satan will continue to try to pull us away from our salvation in Christ Jesus. But please help us to also understand that Jesus has already defeated Satan, sin, and death once for all that we may stand tall in Christ Jesus and deflect the fiery darts that Satan shoots at us. Please help us to see that the wiles of the devil are useless against those who keep their faith and focus on our Savior Christ Jesus. For as we learn in Romans 6:10-11(ESV), “The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Please let it be so LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.