Delivered Through Christ – July 14, 2023

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 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. . . . What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:18,19,24,25

Delivered Through Christ

Maybe you’ve heard some people describe the Christian life as “victorious.” But when the apostle Paul describes the Christian life here, it doesn’t sound victorious. It sounds like a struggle. And what Paul says here about himself applies to every Christian.

Living for Christ means being in a war. Every morning when you put your feet on the ground, you step onto the battlefield of temptation. This battle rages inside of you.

Within every Christian lives the sinful nature. Your sinful nature is why you question God”s Word and struggle with its teachings. Your sinful nature wants you to be in charge, not God. This is why you can continue to do the evil you do not want to do.

On this battlefield, we have all been battered and defeated. It makes you want to scream with Paul, “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?”

Jesus, that’s who. The Bible tells us that Jesus “has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). So when you are troubled by your sins and by how often you have been defeated, know this: you have been delivered by the Savior who took your place in this battle and was perfect every day of his life. More than that, he died on the cross and gave his perfect life as the once and for-all sacrifice for all your sins. So even though you are not always victorious in your battle against sin, you are always delivered through Christ.

Prayer:
Jesus Christ my Lord, deliver me when the battle against temptation rages within. Amen.