The Battle Every Christian Fights Within

Romans 7:13-20

Scripture (Romans 7:13-20 ESV): "Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 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. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me."

Devotion:

Boy oh boy, isn’t this true of all of us. Haven’t you ever felt like there's a tug-of-war going on inside you? I think if we are honest with ourselves for a moment, we can all recognize what Paul is writing about here. We know the good we ought to do, yet there's this relentless pull towards doing exactly the opposite. Paul gets it. He gets it because he is human. And thankfully he is honest with his own struggles here because he normalizes the struggle each and every one of us faces every day. He lays bare this internal conflict, not to excuse it, but to expose the reality of living in a fallen world, even as believers.

We need to recognize that sin hijacks what is good (the law, in this case) and uses it to create a mess within us. The law is spiritual and good because it reflects God's holy standards. Our struggle is not with the law but with our "flesh"—our human nature that's prone to sin.

Paul's personal struggle, which he shares openly, is relatable. He wants to do right, but finds himself doing the opposite. Not because he can’t be bothered, not because he lacks desire, not because he isn’t trying hard enough, but because he, like you and I, suffers from an inherent weakness inside us. A sinful heart. When Paul says, "It is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me," he's not shirking responsibility. He's highlighting the deep-rooted battle between his new identity in Christ and the lingering influence of sin. On the one hand we are new creations in Jesus. On the other, we still live in these “bodies of sin”.

But this passage offers both a dose of reality and a glimmer of hope. It's comforting to know that even someone as devoted as Paul wrestled with sin. But the real hope lies in recognizing this battle is part of the Christian journey. It drives us to depend not on our strength but on Christ's. Acknowledging our weakness is the first step toward victory, as it leads us to lean on the One who has overcome sin and death. The very fact that we are battling is actually a sign that we are saved. If Jesus didn’t live inside us we wouldn’t care. But we do care that we still sin - and that is encouraging.

Prayer: