Self-Knowledge

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.  

Romans 7:24-25 

Paul understood himself well. As he wrote the book of Romans, he treated the most important subjects relating to sin and salvation. He began with condemnation, moved on to discuss justification, and proceeded to sanctification. Our text lies in the middle of his discussion of sanctification. In chapter seven of Romans, Paul pulls the curtain back to reveal his spiritual life. He does not gloss over his personal spiritual battles. He says, ‘For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.’ Our text is the conclusion of that discourse. As we meditate upon it, we immediately conclude that Paul knew himself well, and was not at all pleased. Thus he says of himself, ‘O wretched man that I am.’ It is good for us to know ourselves. Once we have a clear understanding of who we are, we understand why Christ is so important. As we read the whole text we see where Paul lands, in the arms of Jesus. Christ is the answer for what is wrong with us.  

Our Good and Wise God, 
we rejoice that You enable us to see ourselves clearly. 
We praise You that You teach us to look to Christ. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning