ROMANS Study Guide

(2) The strength to live the Life in Christ does not come out

of you… even your new “born again self” that has a

heart after God and sincerely desires to please him…

it cannot deal with the Law of Sin working against it.

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

2. The cry of the frustrated Believer:

a. Paul declares himself a “wretched or afflicted” man… miserable!

1) How many Christians have cried out like this… “I have tried

hard to please and serve you Lord but I cannot overcome this

secret sin or constant sense of failure. I try and I try, and I am

spiritually dry and tired and want to just quite. There is no joy

in serving the Lord… it is just too hard.”

2) Who is going to deliver me from this “body of sin?”

a) This would be consistent with Paul’s idea of the “flesh

nature” (the inner selfish tendency that even takes what we

do to help others and turns it into self- benefit…what’s in it for

me?!)

b) Some have seen vs.24 a reference to the Roman custom of

tying a murderer to the dead body of the one he or she

killed - having to drag it around until it infects and

kills them in return.

(1) This is an assumption that Paul is referring to this custom

but it brings to mind the terrible reality of sin not dealt with.

(2) But even if you accept this illustration… it can still show

the destroying and defeating power of our “body of sin”

(flesh nature) trying to serve God under the Law (in our

own efforts and strength).