Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24)
The Roman emperors viewed torture as a legitimate way to enforce the law. Their famous torture was by tying the body of a murder victim to the killer's back. Under the threat of the death penalty, no one may release the convicted criminal.
This terrible law practice reminds us of the words of the Apostle Paul written in Romans 7. It was as if Paul could feel a dead body bound to him and accompanying him wherever he went.
As children of God, we long for purity and holiness, but sometimes we feel helpless because we are bound to our "dead bodies" of flesh. Even though we are new creations in Christ and we know that the physical body itself is not evil, the tendency to sin will always be with us. That's why we cry with Paul, "Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (verse 24).
Paul answers his own cries in chapter 8. He says that through Christ's forgiveness we will be freed from eternal punishment (verse 1). Then by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we will be strengthened to do the will of God (verse 9). And in heaven, our mortal bodies will be set free (verse 23). We are no longer helplessly bound by the flesh.
Praise God, for Christ has broken the power of sin! We can serve Him in new life —MRD II
TO OVERCOME SIN
LEAVE THE OLD MAN AND KEEP THE NEW MAN
LEAVE THE OLD MAN AND KEEP THE NEW MAN
*) Take from Daily Meditation