WHO SHALL DELIVER ME?
PART ONE
“…who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
Romans 7:24
Death has many faces. The Greek word used here is translated “death” 115 times in the New Testament. In the scripture above and in many other places it is speaking of a death that is the result of a spiritual condition. Somehow over the years in the Christian church we have become so numb to the power of His Life that we fail to see what His resurrection is to impart to us. Paul is speaking here in Romans of a life that is an expression of death…
“… for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”
Romans 7:18 – 19
In response to this condition of willing to do good but not doing, and of doing what one does not want to do, there is recognition of a need for deliverance from the “body of THIS death”. Romans 7 is not to be the abiding experience of the normal Christian life; it is a necessary part of the journey as we grow and develop our relationship with Him, but it is NOT our dwelling place! Paul goes on a few verses later and declares…
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:2
The Romans 7 experience is characterized by one key word…. “I”. From Romans 7:14 – 23, the word “I” is mentioned 25 times. Attempting to live the Christian Life in our own resources will always bring us back to the “death” herein described in Romans 7. Romans 8 speaks of the LIFE in Christ Jesus! It speaks of the LAW of Life in Christ Jesus; a LAW that frees us from the law of sin and death. For the law of sin and death rules with an iron fist over the self life; it cannot be defeated by the self life no matter how good our intentions are. Christian Theology cannot save me from the “body of this death”, it can only intensify it! The end of all ministry MUST CULMINATE IN HIM. It matters not how good someone’s teaching or preaching is; without the LIFE of Christ ruling and reigning in me its profits nothing. The purpose of true ministry is to bring men into relationship with Christ Himself for HE ALONE can save us from our sins. HE ALONE can lift us into a realm of LIFE that is freed from the law of sin and death. This does not negate ministry; it defines and empowers it with the realization that in the ministration of truth, living vital truth, are the people of God made free. A ministry that leaves the people of God with an abiding experience of Romans 7 is not a ministry of TRUTH!
The purpose of TRUTH is to MAKE us free. Truth is not words, it is not opinions. Truth is the LIFE and POWER of the SON ruling and reigning within the hearts of men.
“And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall MAKE you FREE”
John 8:32
Brian Troxel
