O Wretched Man
 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I write to you, dear brothers and sisters, to expound upon the words I penned regarding the struggle of the soul, as recorded in the letter to the Romans:  

> *"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 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" (Romans 7:24-25).*  

### **The Cry of the Wretched Man**  
Do you not feel the weight of these words, beloved? They are the cry of a heart that longs for deliverance from the power of sin and the weakness of the flesh. This "wretched man" is not one without hope but one who has come to the end of himself. He recognizes that within his own strength, he cannot fulfill the righteous requirements of God’s law.  

1. **The Struggle Between Flesh and Spirit**:  
   As I have written before, *"the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh"* (Galatians 5:17). This internal war is the experience of all who desire to walk in the Spirit while still living in a body prone to sin.  

2. **The Weight of the Law**:  
   The law is holy and just and good (Romans 7:12), but it reveals our inability to achieve righteousness on our own. The more we strive to fulfill the law in our own strength, the more we realize our need for a Savior.  

---

### **The Glorious Deliverance Through Christ**  
But thanks be to God! The cry for deliverance is not left unanswered. The solution is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the One who rescues us from this "body of death."  

1. **Freedom in Christ**:  
   Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has delivered us from the penalty and power of sin. *"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).  

2. **A New Master**:  
   While sin once reigned over us, now grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life (Romans 5:21). Though we still battle with the flesh, we no longer fight as slaves but as those who have been set free by Christ.  

3. **The Mind and the Flesh**:  
   With my mind, I serve the law of God, for it is my delight. Yet, in my flesh dwells no good thing. This tension reminds us that our ultimate victory will come when we are glorified, free from the presence of sin altogether. Until that day, we lean wholly upon the grace of God and the power of His Spirit.  

---

### **The Importance of This Truth**  
Why is this passage of such great importance to us, beloved? Consider these reasons:  

1. **It Teaches Us Humility**:  
   Recognizing our inability to save ourselves or live righteously in our own strength keeps us humble before God. *"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble"* (James 4:6).  

2. **It Points Us to Christ**:  
   The cry for deliverance leads us directly to Jesus. He is our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).  

3. **It Encourages Us in the Struggle**:  
   The struggle against sin does not mean we are defeated but rather that the Spirit of God is at work in us. The very battle is evidence of life in Christ.  

4. **It Fills Us with Hope**:  
   Though we groan in this body, we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). Our hope is not in ourselves but in the One who has promised to complete the good work He began in us (Philippians 1:6).  

---

### **A Final Exhortation**  
Therefore, beloved, do not lose heart in the midst of the struggle. Remember that the victory has already been won through Jesus Christ our Lord. Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Cling to the promises of God, for He is faithful to sustain you. And when the day comes that we are fully delivered, let all glory and honor and praise be given to Him who alone is worthy.  

Grace be with you all,  
Apostle Paul