“For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” (Romans 7:19 NKJV)
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24 NKJV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2 NKJV)
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:14-17 NKJV)
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NKJV)
When you look in a mirror, who do you see? For many years I saw a sinful man in desperate need of a Savior. Much like Paul in Romans 7, I saw myself as a “wretched man” in a “body of death.” Prior to accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior that view of myself was appropriate. However, I kept that view long after my point of salvation. I was taught early on that I was just a “sinner saved by grace.” I identified with Chapter 7 and thought that continual struggle with sin was the “normal” Christian life this side of heaven. Sadly, many others are also trapped in Romans 7, and think that is all there is.
Eventually the Holy Spirit gave me a revelation of Romans 8:1. That verse jumped off the page into my spirit and radically changed my life. It renewed my mind and transformed how I see myself. Paul’s realization that he was not condemned radically changed how he saw himself, which in turn transformed how he lived. Receiving the revelation that there was no condemnation, even when he sinned, released him from his flawed view of himself. He was no longer identifying himself as a ” wretched man.” Now he identified himself as a “son of God,” an “heir of God,” and a “joint heir with Christ ” Like Paul, I see myself differently now that I have revelation knowledge of how deep this promise of no condemnation goes. I am no longer a “sinner saved by grace.” I am a Saint, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. I have been given the very righteousness of God. I am a joint heir with Jesus. I am a Son of God. I am more than a conqueror!
In chapter 7, as a “wretched man,” Paul continually failed in his struggles. In chapter 8, as a “child of God,” “heir of God,” and “joint heir with Christ,” there is no more mention of struggle. He actually now states he is “more than a conqueror.” Do you see the progression in Paul’s life as he moves through chapters 7 and 8? From a “wretched man” to the realization that he is not condemned. From the realization of freedom from condemnation to the revelation of who he is in Christ. From the revelation of his true identity in Christ to becoming “more than a conqueror.” Goodbye struggles. Hello overcoming life! This progression is the “normal” Christian life.
When the Holy Spirit revealed these truths to me I also moved beyond continual failure and began to learn and live…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 149: “Realizing my true identity turns the corner to a sin-less life.”