Category Archives: Sin

Who is the Man of Romans 7:14-25?

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I have been doing some work lately on the nature of the Christian life from Paul’s grand expression in Romans 6, 7, and 8. Having spoken of the universality and the totality of man’s natural depravity in the first three chapters, the freeness of gospel grace and the wonder of justification by faith alone in the next two, Paul goes on to give a fit description of the Christian life and situates it in what has been called the “already-not-yet” tension. In Romans 6 he majestically points out the “already” of our identity, which is union with Christ in his death and resurrection. In Romans 7 he grapples with the “not yet,” as he struggles with indwelling sin. And in Romans 8, simply one of the greatest chapters in the entire Bible, he reminds those who live in that tension of the certain victory in Jesus Christ who has made us more than conquerors.

Unless I can be convinced otherwise, I think maintaining the tension of Romans 6, 7, and 8 is absolutely necessary. To be too much in the “already” leads to a deflated view of indwelling sin and the need to mortify the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit (Romans 8:13). To be too much in the “not yet” leads to a deflated view of our positive identity in Jesus Christ. All that to say, as we walk the seeming knife’s edge, on one side is the danger of legalism, and the other is antinomianism, both equally dangerous and condemning doctrines (and both are prevailing today!). Douglas Moo is right about one thing, “It may be generally said that the interpretation of few passages has been more influenced by one’s broad theological perspective and experience” (Romans, 443).

Of course, one of the important questions regarding Romans 7 is who is the “man” of Romans 7:14-25? Can a Christian suffer the experience which is described here, or is this struggle only that of an unregenerate person? Historically, many of the early church fathers saw this passage speaking of the unregenerate. Even Augustine in his early years adopted this view, but in the midst of the Pelegian controversy he came to see it as speaking of the believer. This interpretation was accepted by nearly all the Reformed and Lutheran right down to today—and is still widely held. For my part, recognizing some of the difficulties, I agree with the Reformers. Beyond being a fine exegetical point, I think the church is in danger of being robbed of much comfort if we fail to see the man of Romans 7 as a believer struggling with indwelling sin. My simple argument is that I don’t see how an unregenerate person could possibly say the things that are said here, while I can conceive how the believer can. Here are five reasons why many view this as speaking of the regenerate man (see Murray, Romans, 1:257-259):

  1. In v 22 Paul says, “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being.” This cannot be said of an unregenerate person, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed it cannot” (Romans 8:4).
  2. There is v 25, “I myself serve the law of God with my mind.” Again, this service is not merely external, but of the heart and mind and is impossible for the unregenerate man because he is “in the flesh,” and has “the mind of the flesh” (Romans 8:5-8).
  3. The man portrayed here is inclined towards the good (vv 15, 18, 19, 21) and the bad which he does he regards as going against that which he loves (vv 16, 19, 20). This is unlike the unregenerate who hates the good, but the man here hates the evil (Romans 8:5-8).
  4. The tension here between doing what he hates and not doing what he loves is inevitable in a regenerate person so long as sin remains in him. We cannot ignore the fact that sin persists in the believer. There is a certain contradiction in every believer, and the more sensitive one grows to the demands of holiness and the more he sees the strength of indwelling sin, the more he is brought to complain “Wretched man that I am” (v 24).
  5. This doesn’t mean the Christian is defeated. Paul’s complaint in v 24 is answered by his praise in v 25, which is an assured confidence and a great gospel hope. This word of thanksgiving is not the language of an unregenerate man.

A Burger King World

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I heard a good sermon yesterday on Matthew 16 and Jesus’ confrontation with Peter, and it’s really gotten me thinking. Despite your individual choice of fast food cuisine, we live in a “Burger King” society. We all know the famous slogan for those flame broiled burgers, “‎Have it your way, right away!” In fact, Burger King’s marketing technique is really genius because it appeals to our natural selves. We want things on our terms, we want to do things our way. Remember that kid’s game, Follow the Leader? What was “more” fun: actually following the leader, or stepping off the path and beating your own trail?

The mission of Jesus was one of suffering. The great temptation of Satan in Matthew 4 was to entice Jesus to get the crown without the cross. Yet our Savior withstood the devil and willingly chose the pathway of suffering—the crown was to be had only by means of the cross. Well, in Matthew 16 Jesus tells his disciples that he must go down to Jerusalem to “suffer many things.” This, of course, went against their expectations. This was Jesus the Christ, the son of the living God. Surely he wouldn’t have to suffer. You see, the disciples were always baffled by this—and the message here in Matthew 16 is, the cross comes before the crown.

But ambitious Peter couldn’t possibly conceive of this, and so we read in verse 22, “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” There’s two things to note here that are sometimes lost in English translations:

  1. First, the word “rebuke” really carries with it a certain strength in opposing—almost a violent opposition. This wasn’t a meek and mild suggestion on Peter’s part. This was a forceful opposition.
  2. Secondly, the words “Be it far from three” could better be rendered “May God be merciful to you, Lord! This will not be.” Peter is actually invoking the mercy of God, as if to say, “God is too merciful to let this happen to you.”

In this light we can see the GREAT error of Peter. Jesus is going to Jerusalem to suffer, to win the crown by the cross. This was according to the eternal plan of the Triune God, to work mercy through judgment. And in this moment Peter would step in the way and say, “God forbid!” If he could have in that very moment he would have stopped the predetermined plan of God to save sinners. Jesus is going this way, and Peter is going that way! Is it any wonder then that Jesus turns to him and says, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” He grabs the subtle serpent and holds him at bay, commanding Peter to fall in line, “Follow me,” he’s saying.

And so it is with us. We’d like to imagine that we wouldn’t have stood in Peter’s shoes, but let’s be honest, we would have, because we do. There’s an intrinsic principle in fallen humanity to be servant of none and lord of all. How often we think to build by our own plan, or to sail by our own bearing. These are destructive patterns in many of our lives, relationships, and in many of our churches. But Christ doesn’t build according to our blueprints any more than he sails the ship according to our compass. It’s not about doing things and having things “our way, right away.” It’s about doing and having things the way Jesus would have it–in our living and in our dying, in all of life, the gospel calls us to follow the Leader–the leader of our lives and the leader of our church. Get behind him!

12-Steps to Help Kill Sin

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Jesus noted the seriousness with which we must deal with our sin, “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast if from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:30). This is a necessary part of our sanctified life, and it’s what the old Puritans used to speak of as the “mortification of sin.” Unfortunately, this is a resolve that many in the church are lacking today. We’ve grown comfortable with our sin, and at times even hopeless that we can ever “cut it off.”

Alcoholic’s Anonymous knows something about this sense of comfort and hopelessness, and they have found tremendous success with their famous 12-step program. We can’t endorse the steps as they have them, being devoid of the gospel which alone can recover us from our addictions–to alcohol and to sin! Nevertheless, a modified version of their steps may be helpful as each of seeks to identify and mortify sin in our lives. These steps cannot be substituted for the work of the Holy Spirit in our sanctification (Romans 8:13), and we can’t think that overcoming sin is a matter of “mixing the right ingredients.” But that doesn’t give us a license for laziness. Jesus does say if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; and if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. What a holy resolve we must have against sin! As John Owen once wrote, “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”

  1. In light of the teaching of Scripture admit we are powerless over our sin–and that our lives have become unmanageable.
  2. Receive by faith whatsoever is revealed in the Bible as true and to be believed, trusted, and rested upon as the means of restoring us.
  3. Make a conscience decision to live, as far as it concerns us, according to the rule of obedience prescribed in the Bible and plead the promises of the Spirit in sanctifying us.
  4. Make a searching and fearless inventory of our lives according to the law of God as revealed in the Bible.
  5. Confess to God, to ourselves, and another person the nature of our besetting sins and seek accountability.
  6. Be resolute that by the might and power of the Lord, we will yield all things to the mortifying power of the Spirit.
  7. Humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and through prayer plead his promises to establish us in the faith that we may stand in the day of evil.
  8. Make a list of all the people we have harmed with our sin and become willing to make amends.
  9. Seek to live at peace, as far as it concerns us, with all men, including the one we have offended.
  10. Continually make a personal inventory, according to the Word of God, and when we are wrong promptly admit, confess, and repent.
  11. Increase our union and communion with God through the appointed means of grace.
  12. Do what we can to shepherd and give others the grace that we have found in Jesus Christ and the freedom of the Spirit to the praise of the Father.