Overview:
Romans 7:1–7, 13–24
Let’s face it: every one of us who knows Christ as Savior has been torn within while fighting battles with the flesh. We feel frustrated, and we are occasionally defeated in that struggle. We realize we have God’s power within us, and we know that His Spirit is at work, prompting us to do what is right—but we do wrong. Knowing we should obey, we disobey. Wanting to think, say, and do what is best, we covertly rebel. We’re not short on desire, but when it comes to pulling it off, we blow it! Paul, speaking for all of us, brought truth out of the closet and exposed it for what it is: SIN. He put it this way: “I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin” (Romans 7:14). When Charles Haddon Spurgeon stood to preach on this awful reality, he appropriately titled his message, “The Monster Dragged to Light.” Now, let’s face that monster head-on.
Message Summary:
In the message “Portrait of a Struggling Christian,” Pastor Chuck Swindoll tackles one of the most relatable and transparent passages in all of Scripture: Paul’s description of the internal conflict between the new nature and the flesh. While Romans 6 presents the “fact” of our death to sin, Romans 7 describes the “feeling” of our ongoing struggle with it. Swindoll explains that even for the mature believer, there is a persistent “civil war” within. The sermon emphasizes that victory is not achieved through more rules or greater self-effort, but through a desperate realization of our own helplessness, leading us to the ultimate deliverance found in Jesus Christ.
Message Key Facts:
- The “I” Focus: In Romans 7:14–25, Paul uses the first-person singular pronouns “I,” “me,” and “my” approximately 40 times, highlighting the intense personal nature of the struggle.
- The Two Natures: Swindoll describes the believer as having a new nature that delights in God’s law, while still possessing “the flesh”—a bent toward sin that remains until we receive our glorified bodies.
- The Law’s Limitation: The Law is “holy, righteous, and good,” but it lacks the power to enable obedience. It serves as a mirror to show us our sin, but it cannot serve as a motor to power our sanctification.
- The “Wretched Man” Cry: The Greek word for “wretched” (talaiporos) refers to someone exhausted from intense labor or battle. It is the cry of a man who has reached the end of his own resources.
- The Solution is a Person: Paul does not ask, “What will set me free?” but rather, “Who will set me free?” The answer is found exclusively in the person of Jesus Christ.
Message References:
- Romans 7:14–17: The description of doing what one hates and the realization that sin still dwells within the “flesh.”
- Romans 7:18–20: The admission that “nothing good dwells in me” (the flesh) and the frustration of a will that wants to do good but lacks the power to perform it.
- Romans 7:21–23: The identification of the “law of sin” at work in the members of the body, waging war against the mind.
- Romans 7:24–25: The climax of despair followed by the immediate shout of thanksgiving to God through Jesus Christ.
- Galatians 5:17: (Contextual) Paul’s parallel description of the Spirit and the flesh being in opposition to one another.
Foundational Truths for Believers
Chuck Swindoll identifies four essential principles for understanding and navigating the spiritual struggle:
1. Maturity Does Not Mean the End of the Struggle
Being a Christian—even a mature one—does not mean the “flesh” is gone. The more we grow in Christ, the more sensitive we become to the presence of sin within us. Romans 7 is a portrait of a growing Christian, not a defeated one.
2. The Flesh is Irredeemable
There is no such thing as “improving” the flesh. It cannot be educated, disciplined, or religious-ized into obeying God. We must accept the fact that in our own natural strength, we are incapable of pleasing God.
3. Self-Effort Leads to Frustration
When we try to live the Christian life by the energy of the flesh (legalism or “trying harder”), we inevitably end up in the frustration of Romans 7. The Law can only condemn us; it cannot empower us.
4. Deliverance is a Gift of Grace
Victory over the “body of this death” is not a prize for those who fight the hardest; it is a gift for those who surrender the soonest. We are delivered only when we stop looking at our own “I” and start looking at Christ.
Practical Application
- Accept the Reality of the Battle: Don’t be surprised or disillusioned when you feel the pull of your old nature. Acknowledge the “war” as a sign that you are indeed alive in Christ and that the Spirit is active within you.
- Stop the “Self-Improvement” Program: Identify one area where you are trying to “conquer” a sin through sheer willpower. Admit to God today: “Lord, I can’t do this in my own strength. I need Your Spirit to take control.”
- Change Your Question: When you feel defeated, stop asking “What is wrong with me?” and start asking “Who can help me?” Focus your mind on the presence and power of Jesus rather than the persistence of your failure.
- Prepare for Romans 8: Understand that Romans 7 is the “tunnel” that leads to the “sunlight” of Romans 8. Use your frustration to drive you deeper into your dependency on God’s grace.
