To win the battle against sin in us, we need to make negative and positive confessions, following St. Paul’s example.
1. Paul’s negative confessions:
a. His inability to carry out the good he desired to do (vv. 15-18),
b. His inability to stop doing the evil he did not want to do (v. 19),
c. His being indwelt and overpowered by sin (v. 20),
d. His admission, “what a wretched man I am” (v. 24a).
2. Paul’s positive confessions:
a. His need to be rescued from his sin bondage (v. 24b),
b. His victory over sin through the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 25),
c. His salvation through Christ as the “worst sinner.” “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15)
3. Life Application:
a. Paul was a very religious and highly educated person but he was totally unable to defeat sin in his life, until Christ became his Savior and Lord (vv. 24-25). What about you?
b. Instead of excusing his sin-controlled life, Paul overcame sin that tyrannized his life by surrendering himself to the Lordship of Christ.
What about you?
