Who is this wretched man?
Who is this wretched man?
Who is this wretched man?
Who is this wretched man that Paul is talking about? Is it Paul before his conversion or perhaps at his conversion? Or is it Paul as a Christian struggling with his sin? I believe it is the latter. Paul is talking about himself as a believer. He speaks of himself in the present when he describes his struggle, his weakness, his desire to obey, but his inability to carry out his desire. What’s more is Paul describes himself as delighting in the law of God, but this is only possible if Paul is a believer!
However, a number of commentators believe Paul is talking about his pre-conversion state, and they believe this is indicated by statements like “I am of the flesh…” and “there is nothing good in me…” But here Paul is simply reminding us of the sinful nature that remains in believers. It is true that we are no longer IN the flesh, but we might still say that we are OF the flesh, that is, we still have a sinful nature. Also when Paul says “there is nothing good in me” he quickly qualifies that statement with “...that is, in my flesh.” So it seems best to view Paul as describing his present struggle with sin. Before the law of God Paul saw himself still as a “wretched man” who needs deliverance still.
The implications of this for the Christian life are significant. We are reminded that the law cannot change us, we need Christ to change us. As Sinclair Furguson says “just as it is impossible for the law to justify the sinner, so it is impossible for the law to sanctify the saint.” We need Jesus Christ and the power of the gospel if we are to grow.
Also, this understanding helps us maintain assurance of faith even while we struggle. If Paul, who is perhaps the greatest Christian to ever live, can continue to struggle with his sin, then certainly we will as well. The difference between a Christian and a non Christian is not that the Christian wins the fight with sin in this life, the difference is that the Christian maintains the fight with sin in this life. One day we will be free from all sinning, but in this life “we groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Rom 8:23).
Bible Text: Romans 7:14-25 | Preacher: Ian Goodman | Series: Romans—The Greatest Letter Ever Written | Who is this wretched man that Paul is talking about? Is it Paul before his conversion or perhaps at his conversion? Or is it Paul as a Christian struggling with his sin? I believe it is the latter. Paul is talking about himself as a believer. He speaks of himself in the present when he describes his struggle, his weakness, his desire to obey, but his inability to carry out his desire. What’s more is Paul describes himself as delighting in the law of God, but this is only possible if Paul is a believer!
However, a number of commentators believe Paul is talking about his pre-conversion state, and they believe this is indicated by statements like “I am of the flesh…” and “there is nothing good in me…” But here Paul is simply reminding us of the sinful nature that remains in believers. It is true that we are no longer IN the flesh, but we might still say that we are OF the flesh, that is, we still have a sinful nature. Also when Paul says “there is nothing good in me” he quickly qualifies that statement with “…that is, in my flesh.” So it seems best to view Paul as describing his present struggle with sin. Before the law of God Paul saw himself still as a “wretched man” who needs deliverance still.
The implications of this for the Christian life are significant. We are reminded that the law cannot change us, we need Christ to change us. As Sinclair Furguson says “just as it is impossible for the law to justify the sinner, so it is impossible for the law to sanctify the saint.” We need Jesus Christ and the power of the gospel if we are to grow.
Also, this understanding helps us maintain assurance of faith even while we struggle. If Paul, who is perhaps the greatest Christian to ever live, can continue to struggle with his sin, then certainly we will as well. The difference between a Christian and a non Christian is not that the Christian wins the fight with sin in this life, the difference is that the Christian maintains the fight with sin in this life. One day we will be free from all sinning, but in this life “we groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Rom 8:23).