Victory Through Christ When We Are Weak
Daily Devotional-Victory Through Christ When We Are Weak
How do we stay close to God? The first response for most of us would be to pray, read the Word of God, and attend church. That is true; however, many times, the enemy of Christ wants to discourage us, so he presents things in front of us to make us try his influence.
This is also a reminder of when Jesus told a certain disciple how to pray (Luke 11: 1-4). Verse 4 states, ” Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil.”
The human desires of life often get in the way of staying as close as possible to God and our spiritual self. This is when we have to pray harder, study the Word of God, and renew our commitment to walk in the light of God. The scriptures provide examples of Paul’s confession about the flesh.
Paul’s words are profound, and understanding them sheds light on the tension between sin, the flesh, and the believer’s desire to live according to God’s will.
Explanation of Romans 7:17-20
Paul in this passage, is being very honest about a personal, universal struggle: the battle between flesh and righteousness. Even though Paul was a devoted follower of Christ, he explains that his flesh is weak.
Below, we’ll break this down verse by verse to understand what he’s saying.
Verse 17: “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Paul acknowledges that when he is tempted, it’s not his (spiritual nature) that is responsible. Instead, he blames the old fleshly nature that still dwells within him. This verse shows that even though we are believers and have been made new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), we still have the old fleshly nature. These two natures war against each other.
Paul’s point: The Christian life involves a continual struggle between the redeemed spirit (who we are in Christ) and the desires of the old fleshly nature. This doesn’t give one the excuse of (oh, that was my sinful nature) but it emphasizes that even those striving for righteousness can encounter struggles with their inner fleshly nature. The old unhealthy natures that were habits and caused sin, often present themselves.
Verse 18: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
Here, Paul clarifies that“the flesh” refers to his human nature apart from God—the part of him still prone to selfishness and sin. He admits that he wants to do good, but his flesh is weak and keeps dragging him down.
The phrase “no good thing dwells in me” emphasizes that nothing in Paul’s fleshly sinful nature can produce the righteousness God desires. Even though he desires to do what is right (because of his renewed spirit in Christ), his flesh prevents him from consistently acting faithfully on that desire.
Verse 19: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”
Paul confesses that, despite his best intentions, he often finds himself doing the things he hates (sin) and failing to do the good that he wants to do. This verse captures the frustration that many believers experience: even though we love God and want to obey Him, we still fall short at times.
This verse illustrates the internal conflict between our desire to obey God and the persistent pull of sin. It shows that following Christ is not always easy—we are engaged in an ongoing battle against the sinful tendencies of our human nature.
Verse 20: “Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”
Paul repeats the idea from verse 17: when he sins, it is not his true self (his redeemed nature) acting, but the sin living in him. This doesn’t mean he avoids responsibility for his actions. Rather, Paul highlights the reality that **sin is deeply rooted in human nature**, and believers must continually depend on God’s grace to overcome it.
Sin “dwelling in me” means that sinful nature still exists even after salvation, and it won’t be fully eradicated until we are with God in eternity. This verse shows the need for believers to continually **seek God’s strength and live by the Spirit**, not by the flesh.
Key Lessons from Romans 7:17-20
1. The Christian life is a journey of constant struggle and growth.**
Even mature believers like Paul experience the pull of sin. This struggle does not mean we aren’t saved—it’s part of our sanctification process as God works in us to make us more like Christ.
2. Our strength alone isn’t enough.
Paul’s frustration points us to the reality that we cannot defeat sin by willpower alone. **We need God’s help daily.** We rely on the Holy Spirit to overcome temptation and live out the righteousness God calls us to.
3. We are still responsible for our actions.
Though sin “dwells” in us, we are called to resist it. **Paul isn’t making excuses** for sin but highlighting the importance of recognizing the internal battle. This awareness draws us to humility and dependence on God.
4. There is hope through Christ.
Paul goes on to say later in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Though we struggle, God’s grace covers us. Christ has already won the victory over sin, and through Him, we can live victoriously as we stay close to God and walk by the Spirit.
Closing Thought For Daily Devotional- Victory through Christ
Romans 7:17-20 encourages believers to be honest about their struggles. It reminds us that even the greatest followers of Christ experience inner battles. However, this passage does not leave us hopeless. Paul’s words point us toward God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, which are essential for living a life close to God.
Though the struggle with sin is real, we are not defined by our failures. When we stay close to God, surrendering our desires to Him daily, we experience His transforming power. We may not be perfect, but through Christ, we are forgiven and strengthened to live in victory.
Proverbs 31 Ministries-Devotional
