Wretched – Romans 7:13-25
Bethel Baptist Church – David Rising
Romans 7:13-25 – November 8, 2026 – Sunday AM
Wretched
Last Sunday we covered Romans 7:7-12 and discovered in Paul’s argument that the problem with our struggle with sin is not the law. The law is not the problem. Rather, the problem is sin. Sin takes advantage of the law and stirs up in us all kinds of evil desires and, sadly, too often we participate in sin. When we do, we are voluntarily signing up for slavery to a cruel master.
God’s law points out our sin and informs us where the problem lies. No, the law is not sin. Verse 12 says: the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
And so the law is good.
We thus find ourselves in a bind because there is a problem and we as Christians want to sort it out.
In the text for today, we will walk through that difficulty and find the answer.
As I go here and there in the vehicle, I try to pick up some radio preaching as best I can. Sometimes it’s a hit, other times it’s a miss. Last week, not less than two times I heard preachers address this very issue. We have also been discussing this in SS, and I gather it something we need to think about.
As a follower of Jesus whose sins have been forgiven and whose chain with king sin has been severed, we wonder still why we keep going back to our old ways, even after being blessed with forgiveness and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We will trace Paul’s argument today with verses that voice a struggle. As this struggle comes to a peak, we will see the answer at the end. Pray.
In Romans 6:1, 6:15, and 7:7 we have seen three tough questions raised followed by an emphatic response of “NO.” We find a fourth question in verse 13:
13 Has then what is good become death to me?
Given the context of verse 13, this “good thing” must refer back to the law. The commandment was described as holy, just, and good. And so the law, the commandment is good.
Paul says here that even though the law is good, has it not become death to me? In other words, did the law ultimately cause my death?
Look again at verse 10:
Romans 7:10 (NKJV) 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.
The commandment did ultimately result in my death, but the commandment is not sin. The law is not the problem.
Notice Paul’s response:
Certainly not!
No, the law has not become death to me. The law is good.
It is sin – sin is the problem, to restate the point of verses 7-12.
1. Sin used the law to kill me (7:13)
The point of verse 13 is the same as verse 11:
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.
The law condemns, but sin brought us to that point.
Notice the extended explanation in the rest of verse 13:
But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.
Paul is driving home this point. Sin is the real problem!
Sin becoming exceedingly sinful is like adding three exclamation points at the end!!!
Last week we ended our message with the hymn speaking about how we loved God’s law. As I sang it, it almost did not seem right because the law is so very closely associated with our guilt, shame, and death.
And yet, here is Paul defending the law again and keeping the spotlight upon sin where it belongs.
Sin is the problem, and sin is what was producing death by partnering with the law to bring about our condemnation.
Paul says that “sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me.” That’s a very interesting phrase.
Think of sin as that magic pen you can use to write all over things. You can’t see the ink unless you shine a black light on it. The law is the black light.
The law makes sin be seen as sin, calling it out and giving it a name.
If I covet in my mind and say nothing and do nothing, no one would ever know I was coveting – except God, of course. But if I read the law and now understand that my thoughts were wrong and called “coveting,” now I am aware and sin has been identified.
When a police officer arrests someone for breaking the law, the officer might take the heat, but at the end of the day it is the lawbreaker that is at fault. The officer simply represents the law and usually gets blamed for the problem.
Do we ever see this in our world today? Of course. The world is upside down.
The law is not the problem.
Paul has very strongly established the issue: it is sin. Sin is the problem.
And so we find ourselves in a dilemma. Notice verse 14:
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
2. Our struggle (7:14)
Paul portrays the problem here of knowing something with our minds, but living in the real world. When we get to verse 25 we’ll see the same mind/flesh duo, but only after we have heard the answer.
Now before we proceed with verses 14-25, I acknowledge that this is one of the more difficult places in Romans.
These verses have given bible students plenty to discuss over the centuries.
Daniel Davey in his commentary (RBP) notes that in the early days of church history, it was determined that Paul’s discussion here points back to his pre-Christian days. But over time, and especially around the Reformation time and beyond, that view changed. Now the focus is how these verses depict the struggle within the Christian life.
Without going into a long discussion on the reasons, I prefer the view that Davey calls “most satisfying” – seeing these verses as the struggle that believers in Christ do experience as we deal with sin in our lives.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
This verse does sound a lot like what our life was like before Christ changed us and set us free.
But as we reflect on the teaching from Romans 6 and as we look in the mirror and analyze our hearts, I think we would agree that working out our salvation with fear and trembling as Paul says in Philippians 2:12 is a very daily and a very challenging thing.
Verse 14 is not all there is to say about our situation, but it sets up the struggle we see in verses 15-24.
Yes, believers who have been set free from sin’s bondage can still present ourselves to sin and give king sin that dominating place in our lives.
Would an unbeliever admit that the law is spiritual? I doubt that is the sentiment of someone who is still spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1).
Our dilemma is that we are both still in the flesh but also made alive in Christ. There is the battle between the mind and the flesh that we see in these verses, and it is the battle we feel and experience every day.
As long as we are still alive on this planet, living in our bodies, as long as we await our glorification, we will constantly have the battle of the two natures. I know some don’t see it this way, but I think that is an accurate assessment of the state of the regenerate believer.
There may be some Christians who want to convince us that they don’t have these kinds of struggles, and that obeying God consistently is something that they do. I am not here to accuse or to argue with anyone, but I think an open and honest look in the mirror reveals the dilemma Paul describes here.
3. Our struggle illustrated (7:15-24)
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
Paul states here what I have said under my breath many times: what is wrong with me! Why did I just say that? Why did I just do that?
There is a struggle here between action and thinking, between doing and understanding.
For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
We sometimes end up doing what we hate, rather than doing what we should do. When there is no pressure, our mind tells us what we should do and we agree – yes, we want to do that. But when life happens, we sometimes end up doing the other thing.
This verse helps us understand how pervasive and clever sin works in our minds and hands.
We know God’s law says it is wrong to covet, but we still end up coveting. How does that happen?
In verse 16 Paul illustrates verse 12: the law is good.
16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
This one can be confusing, but I think Paul is saying that when the law evaluates what we do and calls it sin, we agree with the law. This verse illustrates the response of a believer when we are confronted with God’s truth when we have sinned. The believer may not “like” the assessment, but we agree that the law is right and we are wrong. This is the basis for our confession of sin.
Now in verse 17 Paul emphasizes the point he has been hinting at all along:
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
Is Paul giving an excuse here? Is he excusing himself from the process? I don’t think so.
Paul says that sin within him directly influences his actions. This is true for us as well. Sin is a very powerful force within us still.
When we became a believer in Christ, our sin did not immediately disappear from our lives. Sin still dwells within us.
If sin automatically had no strength in our lives, the imperatives of chapter six would be unnecessary. If we automatically submitted ourselves to Christ and willingly offered our members for service to Jesus every single time, we would not need all of these verses to remind ourselves of the truth.
As I read about the New Covenant, that day is ultimately coming. But it is not here yet.
Notice Paul takes this a step further and continues to vindicate the law:
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
This is another remarkable confession, and one we can be relieved to find here, even though it is describing a frustrating situation.
Sometimes we hear people speak of their Christian life as if they had no flaws. “God says it,” they say, “and I simply do it.” No problems. It’s just that simple. Right?
Can we not agree that verse 18 so clearly describes us at times?
Sometimes we can doubt our salvation when sin shows up in our lives.
“Maybe I’m not truly saved?” “Maybe, God is not really at work in my life?” And so on.
What Paul states here, and clarifies with the parenthetical statement, is that as long as we are still humans in the flesh, sin will remain a power in our lives. Yes, it is not the same power it once had before Christ transformed us, but still a power nonetheless.
We know in our minds what we should do because we have read the law and we agree that it is good and right. We have the right desire to obey God, and that is one of the indicators for our encouragement.
Genuine Christians do see the law as good, as an indicator of what God requires, and do want their lives to be on the right track, pleasing Him in every way.
But then life happens and we often struggle.
Paul speaks here of the absence of how to do what is good, even though his mind tells him what is good and right to do.
The power to do what is right does not exist in the flesh, but rather in the Spirit.
The power to do what is right does not exist in the Law, but rather is from the Spirit.
I think this is similar to what Paul said in verse 6: that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Paul continues:
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
Paul repeats here essentially what he has already said. These two verses illustrate the complete frustration of one seeking to do what is right and recognizing the power of sin that still remains in the flesh.
We want to do right, but we fail. We want to avoid sin, but we end up doing it.
The power that remains in our flesh – sin – is the fly in the ointment, the rock in our shoe, the saw dust in our eyeball, the kink in our neck. Whatever metaphor works for you, sin is the problem.
Notice Paul uses the term “dwell” – sin dwells in me. In the Greek, the attention is upon sin:
αὐτὸ ἀλλὰ ἡ οἰκοῦσα ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία
Literally it is “but the dwelling-in-me sin.” The article “the” surrounds the description (PTC) “dwelling in me” with “sin” at the end.
Sin needs a host, and that host is me. It is us.
Sin is like a bacteria, yeast, leaven, cancer, virus, bug – whatever picture works for you. It is a “thing” that dwells, lives, abides, is at home, in our flesh.
It is no coincidence that the positive imperative for us is that we abide in Christ, abide in the truth. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and so let us abide in Christ.
When we are home, we are “at home.” At peace. At rest.
Where we live, we relax and are at home, literally. Sin wants to be at home in our lives, but we must not let it be comfortable dwelling in us. Paul will say more about this in chapter 8.
Paul continues in verse 21:
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Paul concludes here with an important point: evil is present with him. Certainly, this is true for the unbeliever, but also still true for the genuine, born-again Christian.
Paul labels this conclusion a law (τὸν νόμον). The NASB translates ‘law’ here as ‘principle’ – that he has discovered an important principle.
This law or principle is this: whenever we want to do good, we also discover that evil is still present with us.
This describes our two natures: sin nature and the new nature, or the old man and the new man.
Some theologians say that when a soul is converted, the sin nature is totally gone. Yes, scripture does speak about all thing becoming new. The old has gone, the new has come.
But is the old nature completely gone? Is sin eradicated from our flesh? I think not. Paul would point us back to Romans 6. If we still present ourselves to sin, we become slaves of sin again (6:16).
Verse 22 admits what a true believer will confess: that God’s law is a delight, it is right, it is a joy to know and to follow.
Just read Psalm 119. Read Psalm 1.
The truly blessed, happy man – the one who is godly – delights in the law of the LORD and in His law he meditates day and night.
That is what our inner self knows and believes.
But at the same time, verse 23, we recognize another law, another powerful principle at work in our flesh. That battle against the mind too often brings us back into captivity to the law of sin.
Paul has painfully taken us through this struggle session and I think in our humble and honest hearts, we agree that this is the truth.
Yes, we may have some good days, but we are still humans and struggle with indwelling sin.
I think that most of us have gone through a kind of crisis in our Christian life at one time or another. If you have not, you may one of these days.
If you do, dial up Romans 7 and talk to a good Christian friend.
When we first come to know Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are overjoyed and we are ready to walk in that new life.
We have a heightened sensitivity to our sin and want to honor God.
We seek to change, but then we find that our old ways are still with us and they want to have a comeback.
We eventually recognize that the Christian life is a struggle, and we stumble onto Romans 7 and begin to work through it.
This struggle leads Paul to verse 24:
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
This is a powerful statement and one that I trust you will understand and think about. The struggle we have seen in this text is real, and can bring us to the point of exhaustion spiritually that we may want to give up.
Whenever that sin in our lives has once again body slammed us to the ground, we may echo something in our lives like verse 24.
Paul identifies himself in a very interesting way. He calls himself wretched (ταλαίπωρος) and needing deliverance from the flesh.
The word ‘wretched’ can be translated “pathetic” (L&N), “miserable, distressed” (BAGD).
It’s not really a flattering term, but it describes us well as we struggle daily in our battle with sin.
Some of you may have heard Todd Friel on “Wretched Radio” or on YouTube. I think this verse is where he gets the term.
For some of us who know for sure we have been saved by grace through faith, it is still hard to admit that we still sin. We prefer others to think we are flying high and have overcome all our battles.
We prefer people see us in the best possible light.
Paul helps us recognize the reality of life in Christ in a cursed world and in this body of death.
Paul asks a very powerful question in verse 24:
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Notice it is not “what” will deliver me, as if some medicine, some activity, some thing.
Rather, it is “who” will delivery me. It is future.
25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
χάρις δὲ τῷ θεῷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν
4. Our deliverer: Jesus (7:25)
Literally, it is “but grace/thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The answer is God the Father through God the Son. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.
This statement is most powerful when we think about all that Paul has said about Jesus so far in Romans.
The answer to the struggle is not to look deeper within, like yoga, and be more impressed with yourself.
The answer is not to distract ourselves with entertainment and pleasure.
The answer is not to try harder at keeping the law, since we will always fall short.
The ultimate answer is to look to Christ. Thank God for Jesus.
When will He deliver us? Some day.
When God calls us home, the struggle is over.
When Jesus returns for us, the struggle is over.
Paul summarizes the state of our Christian life at the end of verse 14:
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
This points out the struggle between the mind and the flesh, between the law and sin. This text has been heavily debated, as I have said, between those who see this as describing the pre-Christian experience and those who see it as the Christian experience.
Arguments can be made for both sides, and perhaps it has equal application as well. The law in and of itself is insufficient to give us the victory over sin, because the law partners with sin and fans it into flame.
And yet, we know that the law is good and right, but we see ourselves unable to keep its demands. We are doomed, it would seem. But not actually. God has given us enough teaching in Romans to help us live honorably for the Lord.
We keep our focus on Jesus and we wait for the redemption of the bodies which we will see in the next chapter.
We live daily by the power of the Spirit and continually offer ourselves to God for service rather than to sin.
Application
1. Think – “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:11).
2. Stop – “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (Romans 6:12).
3. Present – “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13).
4. Remember – “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
Next week we begin the powerful Romans 8.