Many people know, at least sorta know, that the last half of Romans chapter 7 describes a person, even a good person, as trapped in a place where that person can't do what that person wants to do. Sin makes him/her powerless.
Verse 19 "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice." Alas!
However, the first six verses of Romans chapter 7 describes a marriage that is terminated by the death of one of the two spouses, and says this is how it is, or can be, with us. [And who is us? It could be you.] We are not hopelessly trapped in doing what we do not want to do. How?
Verse 6 "But now we have been delivered from the law [and from the sinful nature], having died to what we were held by so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter."
Then Romans chapter 8 picks it up again, and in it, we all rejoice at our freedom in Christ Jesus.
Does this describe you? Are you free from all that oppresses, from the law, from the curse of the law, from religion, from that which makes you do what you do not want to do?
Chapter 8 starts out this way and describes how we are delivered:
The NewLivingTranslation says it this way:
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body, God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son [Jesus] as a sacrifice for our sins.
The NewKingJamesVersion says it this way:
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son [Jesus] in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, [The word "flesh" here refers to our sinful nature.]
That's how we are set free. God does it; He rescues us!
Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! He is the savior! He will set you free from the bondage of sin and self! He starts the process of setting you free! And usually starts off with a bang!
Your part is to say "Thank you! I need this! I need you, Jesus. Please set me free! Thank you, Father God!"
Larry Carroll
