YOUR ANSWER IS FOUND IN A PERSON

[TFDADD]

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! ~ Romans 7:24–25

Romeine 7:24-25 ~ Afr. 2020 -
24 Ellendige mens wat ek is! Wie sal my tog red uit hierdie doodsbestaan?
25 Aan God die dank – deur Jesus Christus, ons Here!
So dien ekself dan met my verstand die wet van God, maar met my sondige aard die wet van die sonde.

The flesh in us can produce a whole gamut of emotions and thoughts, from defeat, jealousy, greed, and lust to anger, inferiority, condemnation, and arrogance. As long as we are in this physical body, the flesh is active in us.

But we can rejoice because when Jesus died on the cross, the Word of God tells us that He “condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3).

Romeine 8:3 ~ Afr. 2020 -
3 Dit waartoe die wet, verswak deur ons sondige aard, nie in staat was nie, het God gedoen: Deur sy eie Seun vanweë die sonde in die gestalte van 'n sondige mens te stuur, het Hy die sonde in die mens veroordeel, ...

All the negative thoughts and toxic emotions from the flesh have already been judged and punished at the cross. Today we can experience victory over the flesh through the power of the cross.

You can read all about the apostle Paul’s struggle with the flesh in Romans 7:18–19: “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. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice”.

Romeine 7:18 - 19 ~ Afr. 2020 -
18 Ek weet immers dat die goeie nie in my woon nie, dit wil sê, nie in my sondige aard nie. Die wil bestaan wel by my, maar die doen van die goeie nie.
19 Die goeie wat ek wil, doen ek nie; maar die kwaad wat ek nie wil nie, dit doen ek.

Did you notice how many times the words “I,” “me,” and “my” are mentioned in just the two verses above? I’m sure you can identify with the apostle Paul here in his struggle with the flesh.

It’s the struggle we all face when we are occupied with ourselves and warring with the flesh within us. It’s a life of vexation, angst, defeat, and despair.

This is not where God wants you to live, my friend. A believer doesn’t live in Romans chapter 7. Through Christ Jesus, we should be living in Romans chapter 8. Let’s read on and discover how Paul broke free from this bondage of self.

Just a few verses later, Paul cries out, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24).

Romeine 7:24 ~ Afr. 2020 -
24 Ellendige mens wat ek is! Wie sal my tog red uit hierdie doodsbestaan?

The answer, my friend, is found in a person, and Paul tells us this person is Jesus: “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom. 7:25).

Romeine 7:25 ~ Afr. 2020 -
25 Aan God die dank – deur Jesus Christus, ons Here!

Only our beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ, can deliver us from the flesh. And in Christ we can step into the first verse of Romans chapter 8, which proclaims, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (NASB).

Romeine 8:1 ~ Afr. 2020 -
1 Daar is dan nou geen veroordeling vir diegene wat in Christus Jesus is nie.

This is where we as new covenant believers ought to live. Not in the domain of constant struggle and despair, but in the domain of no condemnation and victory.

Amen.

[partner]

Baie dankie.