Romans 7:13-25 "Two Kinds of Law

Romans 7 brings us face to face with the deep and ongoing struggle every Christian experiences between the desires of the Spirit and the persistent pull of the flesh. Paul, writing as one who has been set free from the law by the grace of Christ, describes a war within himself—a war that is not unique to him, but is the common experience of all who belong to Jesus. The law of God is holy, righteous, and good, but it was never meant to save us. Instead, it exposes the exceeding sinfulness of sin, showing us just how far we fall short of God’s perfect standard. Sin is not simply a matter of degree or comparison; it is a total rejection of God’s holiness, and even the smallest sin is an act of cosmic treason.

Paul’s honesty about his own inability to do the good he desires, and his repeated failure to avoid the evil he hates, is both sobering and strangely comforting. Even the “super Christian” apostle finds himself doing what he hates and failing to do what he loves. This is not an excuse for sin, nor a denial of responsibility, but a confession of impotence—a recognition that, left to ourselves, we cannot overcome the power of indwelling sin. The flesh, the old self, continues to wage war against the new desires given by the Spirit, and this battle is not a sign of spiritual failure, but of spiritual life.

Yet, in the midst of this struggle, there is hope. Paul’s cry, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” is met with a triumphant answer: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” The solution is not found in more effort, more law, or more guilt, but in the finished work of Christ. Only Jesus can set us free from the power and penalty of sin. This freedom is not the absence of struggle, but the assurance that the victory has already been won, and that one day, when Christ returns or calls us home, we will be finally and fully delivered from the presence of sin.

Until that day, the ongoing battle with sin is a normal part of the Christian life. We are not called to resignation or despair, but to perseverance and hope, knowing that God, who began a good work in us, will bring it to completion. The invitation remains open: lay down the crushing burden of self-salvation, and trust in Christ alone for freedom, forgiveness, and new life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Law Exposes, But Cannot Save The law of God is holy and good, but its purpose is to reveal the depth of our sin, not to provide a path to righteousness. When we measure ourselves against God’s standard, we see the true extent of our need and the utter impossibility of self-salvation. This realization is not meant to drive us to despair, but to Christ, who alone can save. [05:08]
• 2. The Struggle with Sin is Ongoing Even after coming to faith, the battle between the desires of the Spirit and the pull of the flesh continues. This internal war is not a sign of spiritual immaturity, but of spiritual reality. The presence of this struggle is evidence that the Spirit is at work within us, creating new desires even as the old ones resist. [14:53]
• 3. Responsibility Amidst Impotence Paul does not excuse his sin by blaming it on an uncontrollable force; rather, he confesses his inability to overcome it in his own strength. We are responsible for our actions, yet powerless to change ourselves apart from God’s grace. This tension drives us to humility and dependence, reminding us that victory comes only through Christ. [20:11]
• 4. Hope and Freedom in Christ Alone The answer to our wretchedness is not found in more effort or stricter rules, but in the finished work of Jesus. Christ has already won the victory over sin and death, and by faith in Him, we are set free from condemnation. This freedom is both a present reality and a future hope, sustaining us as we await the day of complete deliverance. [30:45]
• 5. Perseverance Until Final Deliverance The ongoing struggle with sin is not a cause for resignation, but for perseverance. God promises to complete the work He began in us, and our hope rests in His faithfulness, not our performance. We press on, not in our own strength, but in the assurance that Christ will bring us safely home. [32:06]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:37] - Setting the Stage: Law and Grace
• [01:43] - The Two Laws at War
• [02:08] - Reading Romans 7:13-25
• [03:56] - The Exceeding Sinfulness of Sin
• [06:09] - Sin: Not a Matter of Degrees
• [08:10] - Struggle with the Flesh
• [09:27] - The Law is Spiritual
• [11:15] - The Old Man and the Flesh
• [12:23] - The Internal Struggle
• [14:53] - Competing Desires Within
• [17:14] - Even Paul’s Ongoing Battle
• [18:49] - Sin as a Power
• [21:27] - Desire and Ability Mismatch
• [24:02] - Evil Lies Close at Hand
• [25:46] - Delight in God’s Law
• [27:38] - The War of Two Laws
• [29:43] - Who Will Deliver Me?
• [30:45] - Thanks Be to God Through Christ
• [32:06] - The Ongoing Battle and Final Hope
• [33:29] - Freedom from Man-Made Burdens
• [34:41] - The Invitation to Surrender
• [36:06] - Closing Prayer and Assurance

Bible Reading

Romans 7:13-25 (ESV) —
> 13 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.
> 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
> 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
> 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
> 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
> 18 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.
> 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
> 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
> 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
> 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,
> 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
> 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
> 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Observation Questions

1. According to Paul in Romans 7:13-25, what is the purpose of the law, and how does it relate to sin? ([05:08])
2. How does Paul describe his internal struggle with sin and the flesh? What language does he use to show the conflict? ([12:23])
3. What is Paul’s emotional response to his inability to do the good he desires? How does he express his need for deliverance? ([29:43])
4. What is the answer Paul gives to the question, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” ([30:45])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul say that the law is “holy, righteous, and good,” but still unable to save us? What does this reveal about the role of God’s law in the Christian life? ([01:05])
2. Paul admits to doing the very things he hates and failing to do what he loves. What does this honesty teach us about the normal Christian experience? ([14:53])
3. How does Paul balance personal responsibility for sin with his confession of powerlessness to overcome it on his own? ([20:11])
4. What does it mean that the ongoing struggle with sin is not a sign of spiritual failure, but of spiritual life? ([32:06])

Application Questions

1. Paul says the law exposes the depth of our sin but cannot save us. Are there ways you have tried to “fix” yourself by following rules or being “good enough”? How has that worked for you? ([05:08])
2. Paul describes a war within himself between the desires of the Spirit and the pull of the flesh. Can you think of a recent situation where you felt this kind of internal battle? What did you do in that moment? ([14:53])
3. The sermon says that even the “super Christian” Paul struggled with sin. How does knowing this affect the way you view your own struggles or the struggles of others in the church? ([17:14])
4. Paul confesses his inability to overcome sin in his own strength, yet he doesn’t excuse his actions. How do you tend to respond when you fail—do you make excuses, feel crushed by guilt, or turn to Christ for help? ([20:11])
5. The answer to Paul’s cry for deliverance is “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” What does it look like for you to trust in Christ’s finished work instead of your own efforts, especially when you feel defeated by sin? ([30:45])
6. The sermon says the ongoing struggle with sin is normal, but we are called to perseverance and hope. What are some practical ways you can persevere in your walk with Christ this week, even when you feel discouraged? ([32:06])
7. The invitation is to lay down the crushing burden of self-salvation and trust in Christ alone. Is there a specific area of your life where you need to surrender control and trust Jesus for freedom and new life? ([34:41])