While sitting down, reflecting on failing to keep my New Year’s resolutions, I finally saw the problem. Since I was sitting in front of a mirror, I saw that I was my problem! It’s not a problem of my intentions or lack of resolve in my resolutions. It’s deeper than that. It’s my reliance on my intentions and resolve. It’s my trust in my will power.
Romans 7 and 8, speak to this. I will try to avoid overly technical issues in these chapters, but I do need to make one point. Romans 7 and 8 form a single literary unit. A hard break between these chapters can be misleading. One of the earliest interpretive rules I was taught was, “When you see the word ‘therefore,’ see what it’s there for.” And there it is in Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation… (NIV).” Unless we connect with the struggle of chapter 7, we will not fully appreciate the glory of chapter 8.
All of chapter 7 is important, but I will limit myself to Paul’s autobiographical section, beginning with his passionate confession in 7:14-25. This is certainly autobiography, but Paul is hardly claiming to be unique. It is his story, but it’s also mine and yours.
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And
if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself
who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in
my sinful nature. [flesh] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For
I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now
if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my
inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against
the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a
wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? (Romans 7:15-
24 NIV)
Of course, Paul doesn’t end there, but it may be that we rush to his ending, and too quickly soak in the glory of his answer without first feeling the angst of what he says here. Yes, we interpret the Scriptures—we must. But the Scriptures interpret us, and just as I see myself and my failures in the mirror, I see myself in these words. A cheap gospel of easy self-affirmation is no real gospel. These words, taken earnestly, drive us into the waiting arms of the Savior, and ultimately, that is the good news.
As for interpreting this passage, the ongoing debate has been whether Paul is describing his pre-Christian or post-Christian life. While there are contrasts of before and after, here the contrast is between flesh (NIV “sinful nature”) and Spirit. In this passage we see the flesh and what it does and what it cannot do. All of Paul’s verb tenses are present and imply an ongoing struggle. That’s my experience when I trust in the flesh.
What we need is not a better trained flesh, but the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and He is given to us through Jesus. Now, hear Paul’s answer: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25 NIV)
Chapter 8 is glorious. So, what’s the difference between chapters 7 and 8? Well, that’s not quite the right question. The right question is, “Who’s the difference?” The answer is not that I’m the difference, but rather because of Jesus and the presence of the Spirit, I’m different. I’m empowered.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through
Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and
death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did
by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he
condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully
met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4 NIV)
First, notice that Paul’s pronouns changed from “I” to “you.” Paul was always including his readers throughout chapter 7. Now, he includes us in the glory! Because we died with Christ, we are no longer condemned, and are set free from the futility of self-reliance.
Beyond the personal victory, Romans 8 tells us that we are swept into a cosmic victory where we are more than conquerors, as the new creation moves to its climax.
Now, back to resolutions. Perhaps before we make specific resolutions, thank God we no longer rely on ourselves. Then, as our primary resolution, pray for the Spirit’s presence and power in our battle against the sin that finds us vulnerably weak. Determine to live more closely to the body of Christ, our family, where we can freely confess our sins and weaknesses, and draw strength for the battle. Now, in the power of the Spirit, be resolute.
Tim Kelley