“What wretched man that I am? Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
– Romans 7:24–25
These verses come at the end of a chapter where Paul has talked about his wrestling with sin and the flesh. His constant tendency, and temptation to do what he knows he should not do. Even what he doesn’t want to do. Yet, he finds himself moving toward doing it. He gets the instinct, “I’m a wretched man. Who will rescue me from this body of death, this sinful flesh that is constantly prone to turn from God?” He says in Romans 7:25–25, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 7:24–25 Reminds Us That Jesus is Our Rescuer From Sin
So get this, Jesus, yes, he’s died on the cross so that we could be forgiven of our sins. So that the payment of our sin has been paid by Jesus, but not just in the past. Even in the present, our battles with sin. He is our rescuer. Jesus is our rescuer, our deliverer. He delivers us from the temptations to sin, from the pull of the flesh every day.
Asking for God’s Help With Our Sin
Christ has saved us from the penalty of sin. We now combat sin not merely by saying no, but by running to Christ.
We need him to do that because we are constantly prone to sin. Prone to not do what God is calling us to do. So we pray, God we need You. We need Your help today. God, I look at all kinds of temptations to sin in my life. I know others will listen to this today we have got all kinds of temptations to sin around us. We need You to rescue us, not just from sin’s penalty ultimately. Although, obviously that is what we need most and we praise You for it. God, we praise You for sending Jesus who died on the cross, to rise from the dead so that we could have eternal life so we could be saved from death. All glory be to Your name for this gift.
Romans 7:24–25: God’s Spirit Can Help Us Overcome Sin
God, as we anticipate that gift to come eternal life, we pray that You would help us in our battles with sin today. God, deliver us to the power of Christ over sin. We see him in Your word. We see him resisting sin, never once giving in to sin. And we believe he lives in us. Your spirit is in us right now to help us have victory over sin today. So help us to run from sin today.
I just think about people who might listen to this who are struggling with sin and this is that area. I think about my own life, my own temptations towards sin and pride and selfishness. God, please save us today from sin. Deliver us today in the middle of temptation just like You taught us to pray, “Lord Jesus lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” You have the power to do that. You alone have the power to do that. We need you to say, “No to sin. Say yes to righteousness,” and to live in the life You’ve made it possible for us to live.
We pray God, help us to turn from sin and walk in obedience to You today even with this body of death or flesh that’s prone to sin. Lord by the power of Your spirit in us, help us to experience Your life today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
