Overview:
It’s impossible to ignore our sin. Our flesh continually battles the new nature given to us in Christ. While our internal struggle can feel discouraging, there is hope for victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Further explore sin and the law from Romans 7 with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Discover why Christians still battle sin after trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Learn the truth you need to accept. Embrace the realistic portrait of a struggling Christian. Pursue new life in Christ, even as you fight against sin and your flesh.
Message Summary:
In “Portrait of a Struggling Christian,” Pastor Chuck Swindoll addresses one of the most relatable and transparent passages in all of Scripture: Romans 7:14–25. Many believers experience a frustrating “civil war” within themselves—wanting to do what is right but finding themselves falling into old patterns of sin. Swindoll paints a realistic portrait of this internal conflict, reassuring listeners that this struggle is not a sign of spiritual failure, but a characteristic of the Christian life.
The message explores the tension between our new nature in Christ and the persistent pull of the “flesh.” Swindoll explains that the Law is holy and good, but it is powerless to change our hearts; it only highlights our inability to save ourselves. By looking at Paul’s own admission of “wretchedness,” we are led to the only source of true victory: not trying harder, but looking to Jesus Christ our Lord.
Message Key Facts:
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The Reality of Conflict: Every Christian possesses two natures—the new nature given by God and the “flesh” (the old nature), which remain in constant opposition.
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The Limitation of the Law: The Law is like a mirror; it can show us the “dirt” on our faces (our sin), but it has no power to wash it away.
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The “I” Problem: In Romans 7, Paul uses the first-person singular “I” dozens of times, highlighting the exhaustion of trying to live the Christian life through self-effort.
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The Cry for Help: The climax of the struggle is not a resolution to do better, but a desperate cry for a Deliverer: “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free…?”
Message References:
Primary Scripture References
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Romans 7:14–20: Paul’s description of the baffling struggle where he does what he hates and fails to do the good he desires.
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Romans 7:21–23: The “law” of the mind versus the “law of sin” at work in our members, leading to spiritual captivity.
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Romans 7:24–25: The realization of human helplessness and the immediate turn toward the gratitude of Christ’s victory.
Core Principles for Life
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Accept the Reality of the Battle: Do not be surprised by internal spiritual conflict. The presence of a struggle is actually evidence of a new nature that is now sensitive to sin.
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Stop Relying on Willpower: Self-reformation is a “religious treadmill” that leads to burnout. You cannot conquer the flesh by the power of the flesh.
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Identify the Purpose of the Law: Use the Word of God to identify sin, but look only to the Grace of God to overcome it.
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Shift Your Focus to the Deliverer: When you feel overwhelmed by your failures, stop looking inward at your “wretchedness” and start looking upward at your Savior. Victory begins with the words: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
