Romans 7:21-24

For the fourth in our series of sermons, Retelling the Story, our reading is Romans 7:21-25.

Romans is an extraordinary document. It is a brilliant explanation of the relationship between sinful human beings and the Law that was meant to tame (or even eradicate) sin. I have not been using expressions such as “sinful human beings” because I am endeavoring to bring new life to old words and ideas. So I might say that Romans is a brilliant explanation of how God first tried managing our anti-love impulse, our fear-based consciousness, by showing us the rules of loving relationship, then commanding us to learn and do them. Romans takes apart just why that did not work, then explains how God succeeded in freeing us from sin through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans is brilliant, and also very complex. So, I always think it’s a good idea to read more than just the passage at hand. But with Romans I will say that you get a pass if it seems too complicated and obscure.

For our purposes:

Do you find what Paul writes in Romans 7:21 to be true for you — that temptation seems strongest exactly when we resolve not to give in?

Paul talks about being “captive to the law of sin” in verse 23. We 21st century Americans bristle at this, because we want to believe we are completely free and autonomous agents. What do you think of the idea that your free decisions are not completely free because sin is stronger than you are?

Although we will not get, this Sunday, to how God has set us completely free in Christ, how might Paul’s final statement in this passage be an acceptance of our inability to free ourselves that serves the power of God’s grace?