Romans 7:13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 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. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
“Oh wretched man that I am!” (Romans 7:24)
There are seasons in life when those words don’t feel theoretical—they feel painfully personal. For me, the past few years have been marked by loss, disappointment, physical weakness, and moments where I quietly wondered if the best days were behind me. I’ve walked through a season where what once felt strong began to feel fragile, and where confidence slowly gave way to self-doubt.
Like the apostle Paul, I’ve found myself asking, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Not as a theological question—but as a heart cry.
Romans 7 reminds us that acknowledging our brokenness is not the end of the story. Paul doesn’t stay in “wretchedness.” His eyes lift. His focus shifts. “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Deliverance does not come through striving, explaining, or fixing ourselves. It comes through Christ.
I’ve had to learn—sometimes daily—to stop rehearsing what I lack and start resting in what Jesus has already finished. The miracle of the cross is not that we become strong enough, but that Christ is sufficient when we are not. Taking every thought captive means refusing to live in “I am a failure” and choosing instead, “I am not condemned—I am in Christ.”
This is where real freedom begins. Not by denying the struggle, but by refusing to let it define us. The joy of salvation is not found in perfection, but in dependence.
Here in Romans 7 this is what Paul does not do…
- He does not beat himself up endlessly
- He does not stay in Romans 7 despair
- He does not deny the struggle
- He does not try harder in the flesh
“I’m wretched” is a diagnosis, not a lifestyle.
Everything turns in Romans 8
For many they can identify with Paul and for many more they can just stay in Romans 7, “Oh wretched man that I am.” However, there is Romans 8 which is the remedy to the self-loathing problem. Here are six things Paul does to overcome the battle of the mind.
1. He checks his position (who he is in Christ)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1)
Paul starts with identity, not behavior. He reminds himself that he is in Christ, he is not condemned and he is not defined by failure. You cannot walk in freedom while living under accusation. This is exactly what the mind will focus on. Condemnation of self. Paul make it clear to himself, and us, he is now in Christ and therefore there is no condemnation or need to beat ourselves up.
2. He checks the source of power (Spirit, not self)
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)
Paul stops asking “Why can’t I do better?” And starts living from “The Spirit does what I cannot.” Sin is not defeated by effort—it’s displaced by a stronger life. In other words, we can’t get rid of sin. Sin is in our bodies until we die and then receive a new body at Christ’s return. In the meantime, we can overcome because of Christ, not in our own effort to grind it out and overcome sin in our own effort.
3. He checks what his mind is set on (on the flesh or on the spirit)
“Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh… but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5)
Paul does not say that we should “Pretend sin isn’t there.” Instead, he says, Redirect your focus. The battlefield is the mind…
- What you feed it
- What you agree with
- What you dwell on
Where the mind goes, the life follows.
4. He checks who is leading (led by the spirit)
“As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)
Paul had to learn how to leave the old covenant of works and striving and trust in Christ’s finish work on the cross. Paul had to learn to respond, not react. Follow, not force. Yield, not strive. Victory comes through yielded leadership, not rigid control.
5. He replaces “wretched man” with sonship (Belonging to God)
“You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption…” (Romans 8:15)
This is huge. Paul does not live out his life as a new Christian believer thinking “I’m wretched all the time.” He lives out his faith now knowing “I am a son learning to walk.” Conviction draws you closer.
Condemnation drives you away.
6. He checks the end of the story (God is for us)
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
Paul anchors his heart in God’s commitment toward him as well as God’s love for him and God’s faithfulness to him. The truth is sin may accuse us, but God will intercede to help us… and He did by sending His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to abolish the law and undo the power of sin’s condemnation that says “O Wretched Man That I Am.”
A critical correction
Paul does not stay in self-loathing. He acknowledges weakness without living in shame. The Christian life is not “I am wretched, period.” It is “I was wretched, but Christ is sufficient—and He is changing me.”
To Sum It Up
Paul overcomes sin not by fixing the flesh, but by living from the Spirit; not by focusing on failure, but by abiding in Christ; not by calling himself wretched forever, but by remembering he is a son being transformed.
When the struggle hits, Paul would:
- Refuse condemnation
- Reaffirm identity in Christ
- Yield to the Spirit
- Reset the mind
- Walk forward, not inward
Supporting Scriptures:
- Galatians 5:16–17 (NKJV)
“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… for these are contrary to one another.”
Directly parallels the inner conflict Paul describes. - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Identity shift that counters the ‘wretched man’ mindset. - John 8:36 (NKJV)
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Freedom is a Person, not performance. - Psalm 51:10–12 (NKJV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God… restore to me the joy of Your salvation.”
Old Testament echo of inner renewal and joy restored. - Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
The ‘I’ of Romans 7 gives way to Christ-life. - Philippians 3:12–14 (NKJV)
“Not that I have already attained… but I press on…”
Acknowledges imperfection without condemnation. - Colossians 3:1–3 (NKJV)
“Set your mind on things above… For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Supports mind-renewal and Spirit-focused living. - Hebrews 12:1–2 (NKJV)
“Lay aside every weight… looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
Shift from striving to fixing our eyes on Christ. - 1 John 3:20–21 (NKJV)
“If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart…”
Perfect companion to ‘no condemnation’ (Romans 8:1). - Isaiah 55:8–9 (NKJV)
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts…”
God’s way of transformation is higher than self-effort.
Devotional Questions:
- In what ways have I been defining myself by my struggles or perceived failures rather than by who I am in Christ? Take time to notice where the “wretched man” mindset may still be shaping your thoughts.
- What thoughts do I most need to take captive and realign with the truth that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you which inner narratives need to be replaced with truth.
- What would it look like today to stop striving and begin resting in what Jesus has already finished for me? Consider one practical way you can live from dependence instead of self-effort.
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