Saved Wretch

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? – Romans 7:24

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. – Romans 8:1-2

I love the hope that Romans 8:1-2 brings right after reading Romans 7:24. Did you know that you’re a wretch, through and through? Do you actually believe that about yourself or do you think you are the exception? The truth is, “nobody does good, not even one” (Ps. 14:2-3, Rom. 3:12). It’s true; you’re evil and vile. Even more evil and vile than you can imagine. Even your good deeds are repulsive to God. Certainly goes against the self-esteem movement of our day. It would do us well to let ourselves marinate in the reality of our own human condition; to be quick to say things and present ourselves to others in such a way that doesn’t make us look as good as we want everyone to believe we are. We would do well to “boast in our weaknesses” (2 Cor. 12:9) instead of thanking God “that we are not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even tax collectors” (Luke 18:11). As I’ve followed Jesus for the last 16 years, I’ve realized just how wretched I am more and more. No doubt, I’m less sinful today than I was 16 years ago by the Grace and work of the Holy Spirit. I’ve gained freedom from various sins, but it remains that sin dwells within me. Even now as I write this, my dog is whining very annoyingly and I can feel the physiological response of my flesh to this stimuli: my heart rate increasing and my body temperature rising. I really wish the dog would put a lid on it. Indeed, sin is always “crouching at the door” (Gen. 4:7); even in the midst of writing about how awful sin is!

Sin dwells within me. I do the very things I do not want to do. Back to Romans 7:

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. – Romans 7:15-20

This is the human condition. Any desire a Christian has to do good comes from God, not us. Even if you have been following Jesus for decades; the good you do today is a Grace of God! Reading your Bible, praying, being a part of a local church, etc. over the years are not at the root of why you do the good you do today. They’re not what’s supplying your good works. Your knowledge of the scriptures nor your theology are the reason you do good works today. Any good works you do today are by the power of the Holy Spirit that empowers you daily. Back to Romans 8 again:

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. – Romans 8:5-9

We are 100% dependent on God to live a life that is pleasing to him. We must be in the Spirit. Apart from him, we are just in the flesh and everything that the flesh does down to its most basic level, is evil/hostile to God. And what are the works of the flesh?

For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world. – 1 John 2:16

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. Galatians 5:19-21

We even commit sins we’re not even aware of! We must not forget this as we follow Jesus. It is bad news—actually, horrible news that we are born into such a wretched and utterly hopeless condition, but that’s what makes the Gospel such good (great) news! Just as much as you should marinate in the reality of Romans 7, you should marinate in the reality of Romans 8:1:” There is therefore now no condemnation!” If you are in Jesus, you are no longer condemned. You are no longer stuck in your hopeless condition. You are no longer God’s enemy or a wrench in his sight. You are actually able to obey God’s commands and live a life pleasing to him, even though you still wrestle with the old man or woman within. The fact is, now you are actually “wrestling” with the old man or woman, imperfect yes, but wrestling nonetheless!

Not only are you no longer an enemy of God, but now you’re a friend! God likes you. You’re no longer destined for wrath:

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. – 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

Don’t forget this or lose sight of it! 16 years later and I still find myself falling back to the simplicity of the Gospel as I reach my wits end over and over again as I follow Jesus. It’s always been very easy for me to get caught up in “doing the stuff” over the years and lose sight of the greater portion: Jesus. The reality is, he doesn’t need my help or my service. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills:

10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. 12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. – Psalm 50:10-12

I simply get the joy of being a part of his work of redemption. The Gospel is timeless. It never changes. He never changes. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. We’re the ones who waver. We’re the ones who are finicky and unstable, or “prone to wander,” as the old hymn goes. The Good news is, we get to cling to Jesus, the “Rock of Ages” over and over again, and even as we fail to cling to him, he clings to us:

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. – John 10:28-29

Like CH Spurgeon said, “You are a great sinner, but he is a great savior!”