“Aug 8, 2024 - The Frustration of Slavery to Sin”

Wednesday, August 07, 2024

The Frustration of Slavery to Sin

Reading:  Romans 7:13-20
    
    Paul is describing our need to be set free from the Law of Moses.  He has detailed (Rom 7:7-12) how the Law’s prohibitions actually tempted him to sin.  “Did that which is good, then, bring death to me?  By no means!  It was sin, producing death in me through what is good”(Rom 7:13).  Sin, not the Law, is the culprit.  “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin”(Rom 7:14).  It is important that we remember in the following verses that Paul is talking about the time when he lived under the Law of Moses and was sold under sin—not how he lives now in Christ.

    Living in slavery to sin is frustrating.  “For I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate”(Rom 7:15).  He says this in different ways:  “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing”(Rom 7:18-19).  Paul wants to keep the Law, but instead he keeps finding himself sinning.  His desire is sincere, but he is not able to consistently do what he wants to do.  “Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me”(Rom 7:20).  His frustration just proves his point:  someone else is in charge.  He is a slave to sin.  He needs to be set free.  Only Jesus can do for him what the Law could not:  liberate him from this agonizing slavery (Rom 8:2-3).

    We relate to this passage because we have lived in slavery to sin.  We have struggled with not having the power to put sin behind us.  We know what it is to want to do right but continually find ourselves failing.  It is important for us to remember how desperate things were so that we can see the forgiveness and liberation Jesus brings.  It also will help our efforts to teach others; knowing how frustrating that state is will help us appeal to others to come out of it. 

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One Thing to Think About:  Do I remember what it was like to be a slave to sin?  Am I currently enslaved?

One Thing to Pray For:  Opportunities to help others find liberation in Jesus
 

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