“We serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out“
Romans 7: 6b, 18b

“‘Cause there’s a war inside of me
Between who I want to be
And who I am“
Todd Agnew, War Inside

–

Yesterday we celebrated our risen Lord. All last week we focused on Christ’s victory—victory over sin, death, Satan, slavery. We celebrated redemption. Justification. Jesus has won! Jesus has purchased us, His victory is ours. Glory to God.

We are saved, we are new creations in Christ. We are victors in Christ. Done. Surely, we must be moving on to the “Love one another till Jesus comes” part of God’s Big Story. But, no: here we are focusing on inner conflict, on wretchedness. Does that feel like a step backwards?

Today, following Easter, you likely returned to your “regular” routine, or you will soon. And you hope that the joy and peace, the awe of and gratitude to God, remains at the forefront of your mind and heart.

But if we’re honest, our everyday work/school/serving life—especially the life within our own hearts and minds—is not a constant state of spiritual victory. You feel the tension, you feel the pull of temptation buffeting you. Sometimes you lose a round of the battle. Maybe you think you’re the only one, so you put on your “I got this” face.

Paul understood this. Paul—this spiritual giant—goes into great detail about his inability to “do what is good.” Paul knew the scriptures thoroughly, and if anyone was aware of having new life in Christ, it was him. If he was not free of this internal cage match, who can be?

Paul knows that we need to hear some truths about ourselves, about God, and about the Good News, even as we enjoy our secure salvation. We’re not home yet and we cannot just coast along until we are! Just as we did when we first embraced the gospel, we need to know the depths of the bad news to grasp the magnificence of the good news and be ready to embrace the ongoing rescue we need. If we don’t pause to look at our weakness, we won’t run to the only source of strength available.

Dear Paul: Thank you for letting me know it’s not just me.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • Read through Romans 7. What do we do with this disconnect between knowing we’ve been justified, and our continuing need of a savior?
  • How does it tie into the idea that the gospel is not just the starting line, it’s the whole race?

Church Reading Plan: Proverbs 19; Colossians 2