Romans – Just Keith Harris

Romans 16 on 1/4 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Romans 16 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul closes Romans with something that feels very personal: gospel relationships. He commends Phoebe, a trusted servant (and likely courier of the letter) from the church at Cenchreae, and urges the Romans to welcome her in the Lord and help her in whatever she needs, since she has been a generous supporter of many believers (vv. 1–2). Then Paul pours out a long list of greetings—Priscilla and Aquila who risked their lives for him, the house church that meets in their home, early converts like Epaenetus, hard workers like Mary, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, and Persis, and dear saints like Rufus and his mother who had cared for Paul (vv. 3–15). The sheer variety of names highlights something beautiful: the church in Rome was made up of men and women, Jews and Gentiles, and people from many social backgrounds, all united in Christ and honored for faithful service rather than status (vv. 6–13). Paul ends this section by calling the church to express genuine family affection—“greet one another with a holy kiss”—and reminds them they are connected to the wider family of churches (v. 16).

But Paul doesn’t only end with warmth—he also ends with vigilance. He warns them to watch out for people who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine they have been taught, and he tells them to avoid such voices (v. 17). These teachers sound appealing, but they are driven by self-interest and use smooth talk to deceive the unsuspecting (v. 18). Paul rejoices that the Romans are known for obedience, and he urges them to be wise about good and innocent about evil (v. 19). Then he gives a striking promise: the God of peace will soon crush Satan under their feet—echoing God’s ancient promise of victory over the serpent (v. 20; cf. Gen. 3:15). After greetings from Paul’s ministry companions (including Timothy) and from Tertius, the scribe who wrote as Paul dictated, Paul ends with a doxology praising God who strengthens His people through the gospel—once hidden but now revealed through Scripture to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith—so that glory belongs forever to the only wise God through Jesus Christ (vv. 21–23, 25–27; cf. 1:5).

🌀 Reflection:
Romans ends by reminding us that doctrine is meant to produce devotion and durable relationships. Who has “worked hard in the Lord” around you that you’ve overlooked or taken for granted (vv. 6, 12)? And are you just as intentional to guard unity and truth as you are to enjoy community (vv. 17–19)?

💬 Mission Challenge:
Encourage one faithful servant in your church this week—someone who labors quietly like so many in Romans 16 (vv. 6, 12). Then protect unity by refusing to platform gossip, flattery, or divisive voices, and instead point someone back to the gospel that strengthens God’s people (vv. 17–18, 25–27).

Romans 15 on 1/3 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Romans 15 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul finishes his teaching on “the strong and the weak” by making the “strong” own the responsibility: real strength doesn’t insist on its own way—it bears with the failings of the weak and aims to build others up (vv. 1–2). Christ is the model. Jesus did not please Himself; He endured reproach and suffering in order to do the Father’s will and serve others (v. 3; cf. Ps. 69:9). Paul also reminds the church why the Old Testament still matters: what was written before was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (v. 4; cf. 2 Tim. 3:16–17). This leads into Paul’s prayer for unity—harmony that results in one voice glorifying God (vv. 5–6)—and his central command: welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God (v. 7).

Then Paul lifts their eyes to the bigger story: Jesus became a servant to the Jews to prove God’s truthfulness and confirm His promises to the patriarchs, and He also saved Gentiles so they would glorify God for mercy (vv. 8–9). Paul strings together OT texts from the Law, the Writings, and the Prophets to show this was always God’s plan: Gentiles rejoicing with God’s people, praising the Lord, and hoping in the Root of Jesse—the Messiah who rules the nations (vv. 9–12; cf. Deut. 32:43, Ps. 117:1, Isa. 11:10). Paul ends this section with a prayer that fits the whole point: that the God of hope would fill them with joy and peace in believing, so they overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 13).

In the rest of the chapter, Paul explains why he wrote so boldly to a church he didn’t plant: God gave him grace to serve as Christ’s minister to the Gentiles, and he sees his gospel work like a priest presenting an offering—Gentile converts made acceptable and sanctified by the Spirit (vv. 15–16). He boasts only in what Christ has done through him—by word, deed, and the Spirit’s power—as he preached from Jerusalem to Illyricum (vv. 18–19). Paul’s ambition has been pioneer mission work, preaching where Christ hasn’t been named (vv. 20–21; cf. Isa. 52:15), which is why he has been hindered from visiting Rome (v. 22). Now he hopes to come to them on his way to Spain and be helped by them (vv. 23–24, 28–29), but first he must deliver a collection from Gentile churches to the poor saints in Jerusalem—an act meant to strengthen unity between Jewish and Gentile believers (vv. 25–27). He closes by urging them to strive with him in prayer—for protection, for the gift to be received well, and for joyful fellowship when he finally arrives (vv. 30–33).

🌀 Reflection:
Where do you most feel the pull to “please yourself” instead of building others up? Romans 15 says Christian maturity looks like Jesus—willing to carry burdens, pursue unity, and treat Scripture as a steady source of endurance and hope (vv. 1–4). The church’s unity isn’t a side issue; it is meant to make God’s glory visible as we worship “with one voice” (vv. 6–7).

💬 Mission Challenge:
Pray for and support gospel work beyond your normal circle. Choose one missionary, church planter, or local evangelistic effort this week: encourage them with a message, intercede specifically for their protection and fruitfulness (vv. 30–32), and if possible give toward their work as a tangible act of partnership in the mission (vv. 24, 27).

Romans 14 on 1/2 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Romans 14 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul turns to a real-life church problem: believers disagreeing over “disputable matters”—issues Scripture neither clearly commands nor forbids. In Rome, some Christians felt freedom to eat anything and treat all days alike, while others (with more tender consciences, often shaped by Jewish law or pagan backgrounds) avoided certain foods and still honored particular days (vv. 2, 5). Paul’s command is simple but challenging: welcome one another—not to argue and win, but to live in peace as one family (v. 1). The “strong” must not despise the “weak,” and the “weak” must not condemn the “strong,” because God has welcomed them both (v. 3). Ultimately, each believer is the Lord’s servant, and it is before Christ—not one another—that we stand or fall (v. 4).

Paul grounds this unity in the lordship of Jesus. None of us lives to ourselves, and none of us dies to ourselves—we belong to the Lord (vv. 7–8). Christ died and rose again to be Lord of the living and the dead (v. 9). That means judgmental attitudes are out of place: we will all stand before God’s judgment seat and give account of ourselves (vv. 10–12). So instead of “judging” each other, Paul says we should “judge” something else—make a careful decision to avoid putting a stumbling block in a brother’s path (v. 13).

In the second half, Paul clarifies that nothing is unclean in itself (v. 14), yet conscience matters: if someone believes an action is wrong, to do it anyway is sin for them (vv. 14, 23). Love must govern liberty. If your freedom grieves or pressures a fellow believer, you are no longer walking in love (v. 15). The kingdom of God is not about food and drink, but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (v. 17). Therefore, we pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding (v. 19), willingly limiting our freedoms when needed so we don’t harm God’s work in others (vv. 20–21). Faithful maturity doesn’t flaunt freedom—it uses freedom to serve.

🌀 Reflection:
Are you more passionate about being “right,” or about building up your brother or sister? Romans 14 calls us to hold convictions with humility, to honor conscience, and to measure our “freedom” by love. Real maturity looks like Jesus—strong enough to lay down rights for the good of others (vv. 15, 19).

💬 Mission Challenge:
Reach out to a believer whose preferences or convictions differ from yours. Listen without mocking or correcting, and encourage them in what you share in common—Jesus is Lord, and you both belong to Him (vv. 8–9). Then choose one practical way this week to pursue peace and build them up (v. 19).

Romans 13 on 1/1 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Romans 13 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul continues the “gospel-shaped life” he began in Romans 12 by turning to how Christians relate to civil government. Because God is ultimately sovereign, there is no governing authority that exists apart from His permission and providence (v. 1; cf. Dan. 2:21). So believers are called to live as good citizens—submitting to lawful authority, not as people who worship the state, but as people who worship God and recognize His ordering of society (vv. 1–2). Government is meant to restrain evil and promote good, and when it functions as it should, it serves as God’s instrument to uphold justice in a fallen world (vv. 3–4). That’s why Christians should obey not only to avoid consequences, but “for the sake of conscience” (v. 5), paying what is owed and showing respect and honor where it’s due (vv. 6–7; cf. Matt. 22:21).

But Paul also makes clear that our submission has a boundary: God is the highest authority. Scripture shows moments when God’s people must refuse commands that would require disobedience to Him (Acts 5:29). Still, the ordinary posture of the Christian is humble, respectful obedience—paired with a clear conscience before the Lord (vv. 1, 5).

Then Paul returns to the heartbeat of Christian ethics: love. “Owe no one anything, except to love each other” (v. 8). Love is the debt we never finish paying, because love fulfills the law’s commands toward our neighbor—keeping us from harm, dishonor, and selfishness (vv. 9–10; cf. Lev. 19:18). And Paul ends with urgency: we live in a decisive moment of history. The “night” is fading, the “day” is approaching, and Christ’s return draws nearer—so Christians must wake up, throw off the works of darkness, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 11–14). Holiness isn’t vague: it means refusing patterns of sin, walking in the light, and refusing to “make provision for the flesh” (vv. 13–14).

🌀 Reflection:
Where are you quietly “making provision” for sin—leaving the door cracked, keeping the option open, nursing the appetite? Romans 13 reminds us that grace doesn’t make us sleepy; it wakes us up. Since the day is near, we don’t just avoid darkness—we actively put on Jesus and learn to live like people of the coming kingdom (vv. 11–14).

🎆 New Year Reflection:
A new year begins with a call to wake up. Romans 13 reminds us that time matters, eternity is near, and Christ is coming. As you step into this year, don’t drift or delay—put on the Lord Jesus Christ daily. Let this be a year marked not by spiritual complacency, but by watchful hope, obedient love, and lives shaped by the light of the coming King (vv. 11–14).

💬 Mission Challenge:
Pray for a governing leader (local, state, or national) by name today, asking God to give wisdom and justice—and then practice honor in one concrete way (vv. 1, 7; cf. 1 Tim. 2:1–2). Let your respect be real, and look for a chance to show that your ultimate hope is not in rulers, but in Christ the King.

Romans 12 on 12/31 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Romans 12 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

After eleven chapters of gospel mercy, Paul turns to gospel living: “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (v. 1). Because God has saved us by sheer mercy (11:30–32), the fitting response is not a one-time offering but an all-of-life worship—our whole selves, in the real world, for God’s glory (v. 1; cf. 6:13). That means resisting the pressure of “this age” and being transformed from the inside out as God renews our minds—so we can actually discern and practice what pleases Him (v. 2; cf. Eph. 4:23). Paul’s point is not “look for special signs,” but let Scripture-shaped thinking produce Scripture-shaped living (v. 2).

That renewed mind shows up immediately in humility and service. Paul tells believers not to inflate themselves, but to think with sober judgment—recognizing that every Christian is gifted by grace, and no one is the whole body (vv. 3–5; cf. 1 Cor. 12:12–27). The church is “one body in Christ,” made up of different members with different functions, which means we belong to one another and need one another (vv. 4–5). So Paul calls us to actually use our gifts—whether serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, or showing mercy—and to do it in a way that fits the grace God has given (vv. 6–8).

Then Paul paints what genuine love looks like when it’s Spirit-made and gospel-rooted. Love hates evil and clings to good (v. 9), honors others rather than competing for attention (v. 10), and serves the Lord with sincere zeal (v. 11). Love rejoices in hope, stays patient in suffering, and keeps praying (v. 12). It opens hands and homes to the saints (v. 13), blesses persecutors instead of cursing them (v. 14; cf. Matt. 5:44), and enters other people’s joys and sorrows (v. 15). It refuses pride, seeks peace when possible, and won’t repay evil for evil (vv. 16–18). Instead of taking revenge, it leaves justice with God (v. 19; cf. Deut. 32:35) and does active good even to enemies—because the gospel teaches us to overcome evil with good (vv. 20–21; cf. Prov. 25:21–22).

🌀 Reflection:
Where do you feel the strongest pull to “fit the pattern” of this age—your thinking, your speech, your habits, your reactions? Romans 12 reminds us that real change starts when God reshapes the mind through His Word, and it shows up in humble service and sincere love—even toward people who don’t deserve it (vv. 2, 9–10, 17–21).

🎆 New Year Reflection:
As this year closes, Romans 12 reminds us that the Christian life isn’t restarted with resolutions but renewed through mercy. God doesn’t ask for a perfect plan for the year ahead—He calls for a surrendered life today. As you step into a new year, offer yourself again to the Lord, trusting Him to do the transforming work as you live, love, and serve in response to His grace (vv. 1–2).

💬 Mission Challenge:
Bless one person this week in a concrete way—especially someone hard to love: pray for them, speak honor over them, serve them, or meet a need. Do it intentionally as an act of worship, asking God to use your kindness to display Jesus (vv. 1, 14, 20–21).

Romans 11 on 12/30 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Romans 11 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul asks the question many would be afraid to ask: Has God rejected his people Israel? His answer is immediate and emphatic—“By no means!” (v. 1). Paul points to himself as living proof that God is still saving Jews (v. 1), and he reaches back to Elijah’s day, when it seemed like faithfulness had vanished—yet God had quietly preserved a remnant for Himself (vv. 3–4). In the same way, Paul says, there is “at the present time… a remnant, chosen by grace” (v. 5). And grace and works cannot be mixed: if salvation is by grace, it cannot be earned—otherwise grace would no longer be grace (v. 6; cf. 4:4–5). Many in Israel were hardened in unbelief, just as the Scriptures foretold (vv. 7–10), but that hardening is not the end of the story.

Paul then explains that Israel’s stumbling was not so that they would fall forever. God, in His wise providence, has used Israel’s trespass to bring salvation to the Gentiles—and even this is meant to stir Israel to jealousy, so that many will turn and be saved (vv. 11–14; cf. 10:19). Using the picture of an olive tree, Paul warns Gentile believers not to become proud: they were “grafted in” by faith, while some Jewish branches were broken off because of unbelief (vv. 17–20). The root supports them, not the other way around, so arrogance has no place in the church (v. 18). Paul calls them to a humble, persevering faith that remembers both the kindness and severity of God—kindness toward those who continue in faith, severity toward unbelief (v. 22). And the door of hope remains open: God is able to graft the natural branches back in again (vv. 23–24).

Finally, Paul reveals a “mystery”: Israel’s hardening is partial and temporary, lasting “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (v. 25). In God’s saving plan, “all Israel will be saved” in the way He has ordained—through the Deliverer who takes away sins (vv. 26–27). Even now, Israel may stand as “enemies” regarding the gospel, yet they are still “beloved” regarding election, because God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable (vv. 28–29). God is weaving mercy through human disobedience—first mercy to Gentiles, and mercy also to Jews—so that no one can boast, and all salvation shines as mercy alone (vv. 30–32). Paul can only end one way: worship. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (vv. 33–36).

🌀 Reflection:
Romans 11 humbles us. We didn’t get “grafted in” because we were better, smarter, or more deserving—we stand by faith, supported by grace (v. 20; cf. Eph. 2:8–9). And it gives us hope: God is never done, never surprised, and never unfaithful to His promises—even when His ways are deeper than we can trace.

💬 Mission Challenge:
Pray for someone you think is “too far gone,” and then reach out with a simple act of gospel kindness—an invitation, a conversation, or a Scripture shared—trusting that the God who grafts in outsiders can also bring the hardened to faith (v. 23).

Romans 10 on 12/29 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Romans 10 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul continues with a pastoral ache for Israel: “my heart’s desire and prayer… is that they may be saved” (v. 1). Many of his fellow Jews are sincere and zealous, but their zeal is misdirected because it isn’t shaped by the truth of God’s saving plan (v. 2). Instead of submitting to God’s righteousness—His way of making sinners right through Christ—they tried to establish their own righteousness through law-keeping (v. 3; cf. Phil. 3:9). But Christ is the goal and culmination of the law, and He also marks the end of using the law as a pathway to righteousness. Right standing with God belongs to “everyone who believes” (v. 4).

Paul then contrasts the way of works with the way of faith using the Old Testament itself. Leviticus shows that law-righteousness demands doing—and doing perfectly (v. 5; cf. Gal. 3:10). But Deuteronomy shows the nearness and accessibility of God’s saving word, now fulfilled in Christ who has come down from heaven and been raised from the dead (vv. 6–8). The gospel is simple and clear: confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved (vv. 9–10). This promise is for all people—Jew and Gentile alike—because the same Lord bestows His riches on all who call on Him (vv. 11–13).

And if people can call on the Lord and be saved, then the message must be carried to them. Paul traces the “chain” of salvation backwards—calling, believing, hearing, preaching, sending—and celebrates the beauty of those who bring good news (vv. 14–15). Yet he also grieves: hearing is necessary, but hearing alone is not enough—many in Israel did not “obey” the gospel by believing it (v. 16). Even so, Israel cannot claim ignorance; the Scriptures foretold both Gentile inclusion and Israel’s resistance (vv. 18–21). The chapter ends with a stunning picture of God’s patience: He is still holding out His hands to a disobedient people (v. 21).

🌀 Reflection:
Romans 10 presses two truths into our hearts at the same time: salvation is truly near—Christ is accessible by faith—and salvation is urgently personal—you must believe, confess, and call on Him. Zeal and sincerity aren’t enough if we refuse to submit to God’s righteousness in Jesus.

💬 Mission Challenge:
Share Romans 10:9–13 with someone this week (in a conversation, a text, or a post), and invite them to respond to Jesus—not by trying harder, but by calling on the Lord who saves.

Romans 9 on 12/28 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Romans 9 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Romans 9 begins with Paul’s deep anguish over Israel. Though he has just celebrated the unbreakable security believers have in Christ (8:31–39), his heart is heavy because so many of his fellow Israelites have rejected the Messiah (v. 1–3). This sorrow is intensified by Israel’s unique privileges: adoption, glory, covenants, the law, worship, promises, the patriarchs—and even the human lineage of Christ Himself, who is “God over all” (vv. 4–5). Yet Paul insists that Israel’s unbelief does not mean God’s word has failed. From the beginning, God’s promises were never based on mere physical descent but on His gracious promise and calling (vv. 6–8).

Paul shows this from Israel’s own story. God chose Isaac, not Ishmael, and Jacob, not Esau—choices made before birth and apart from works—so that God’s purpose of election would stand (vv. 9–13). Salvation has always depended on God’s merciful call, not human effort or entitlement. When this raises the question of fairness, Paul answers plainly: God is never unjust (v. 14). Mercy, by definition, is undeserved (vv. 15–16). Using Moses, Pharaoh, and the image of the potter and the clay, Paul affirms both God’s sovereignty and humanity’s responsibility without trying to reduce the mystery (vv. 17–23).

The Old Testament itself foretold what Paul’s readers were witnessing: God would call a people from the Gentiles and preserve only a remnant from Israel (vv. 24–29). The real issue, Paul concludes, is not God’s faithfulness but the way righteousness is pursued. Gentiles received righteousness by faith, while many in Israel stumbled by seeking it through works (vv. 30–32). Christ stands at the center of it all—the promised stone. To some He is a stumbling block; to those who believe, He is a sure foundation who will never put them to shame (v. 33).

🌀 Reflection:
Romans 9 humbles us. Salvation is not something we earn, inherit, or control—it is a gift of mercy. Instead of arguing with God’s ways, we are invited to trust His character, grieve for the lost as Paul did, and cling to Christ as our only hope.

💬 Mission Challenge:
Pray specifically for someone who has heard the gospel but continues to resist it. Ask God to soften hearts, and look for an opportunity this week to speak about Jesus—not with pride, but with compassion and humility.

Romans 8 on 12/27 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Romans 8 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Romans 8 opens with one of the clearest and most hope-filled declarations in all of Scripture: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (v. 1). Because of Jesus’s saving work, believers are no longer trapped under the power of sin and death but have been set free by the law of the Spirit of life (v. 2). What God’s law could not do—because it was weakened by human sinfulness—God accomplished by sending His own Son as a sin offering, condemning sin in the flesh so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us (vv. 3–4). Life in Christ is marked by a new mindset and a new direction: those who belong to Christ are no longer defined by the flesh but by the indwelling Spirit, who brings life and peace (vv. 5–11).

Because the Spirit lives in us, believers are no longer debtors to the flesh. Instead, we are empowered to put sin to death and live as God’s sons and daughters (vv. 12–14). This life is not driven by fear or slavery but by adoption. Through the Spirit, we cry out to God as our Father—“Abba!”—with confidence and intimacy (v. 15). The Spirit Himself assures us that we belong to God and that we are heirs with Christ, sharing not only in His glory but also, for now, in His sufferings (vv. 16–17).

Paul then lifts our eyes beyond the present moment. The sufferings of this world, though real, are temporary and are not worth comparing with the glory that is coming (v. 18). Creation itself groans, longing for renewal, just as believers groan while waiting for the redemption of our bodies (vv. 19–23). In the meantime, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, even interceding for us when we don’t know how to pray (vv. 26–27). And we rest in the unshakable promise that God works all things together for good—not random good or easy good, but the good of shaping us into the image of His Son and bringing us safely to glory (vv. 28–30).

The chapter closes with a triumphant assurance. If God is for us, no accusation can stand, and no enemy can prevail (vv. 31–34). Christ has died, been raised, reigns at God’s right hand, and even now intercedes for us. Because of that, nothing—no suffering, power, fear, or circumstance—can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (vv. 35–39).

🌀 Reflection:
Romans 8 reminds us that the Christian life is lived between groaning and glory. We still struggle, suffer, and wait—but we do so with confidence. The Spirit lives in us, prays for us, and assures us that we belong to God. How does knowing you are truly secure in Christ change the way you face hardship today?

💬 Mission Challenge:
Encourage someone who is hurting or discouraged by sharing Romans 8:18 or 8:38–39. Point them to the hope, security, and unbreakable love that are found only in Jesus.

Romans 7 on 12/26 | NT260 — Reading & Growing in Christ

Click here for Romans 7 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul explains what it means that believers are “not under law but under grace” (6:14). Using a marriage illustration, he reminds us that law has authority over someone only while they live (vv. 1–3). In the same way, believers have died to the law through the body of Christ so we can “belong to another”—to the risen Jesus—in order to bear fruit for God (v. 4). Before Christ, the law interacted with our sinful flesh in a way that stirred up rebellion and produced “fruit for death” (v. 5). But now, in Christ, we are released from the law’s condemning hold so we can serve in the new way of the Spirit, not merely in the old way of written code (v. 6; cf. 2 Cor. 3:6).

That raises a hard question: if the law can stir up sin, does that mean the law is bad? Paul’s answer is just as strong as in chapter 6: By no means! (v. 7). The law is not sin; it reveals sin. Paul uses the tenth commandment—“You shall not covet” (Ex. 20:17)—to show how sin can seize God’s good command and turn it into an opportunity for more desire, more rebellion, and ultimately death (vv. 7–11). The problem is not God’s law; the problem is sin’s power working in us. So Paul concludes with a clear affirmation: “the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (v. 12).

In the second half of the chapter, Paul presses the point further: the good law is not the cause of death—sin is (v. 13). He describes the painful reality of the human condition: the law is spiritual and good, but we are weak and still battling indwelling sin (vv. 14–23). Whether Paul is mainly describing the experience of a person under the law or the ongoing struggle of a believer, the message lands in the same place: we cannot rescue ourselves by effort or moral performance. The struggle exposes our need and drives us to the only true deliverer. Paul’s cry becomes our hope: “Who will deliver me…?” And the answer comes immediately: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (vv. 24–25; cf. Gal. 5:17, 1 John 1:8–9). Romans 8 is about to show how that deliverance is lived out by the Spirit.

🌀 Reflection:
When you feel the tug-of-war—wanting to obey God, yet sensing sin “close at hand” (v. 21)—don’t let it drive you to shame or self-salvation projects. Let it drive you to Jesus. The struggle is real, but so is the Savior who rescues, forgives, and trains you to walk by the Spirit (v. 25; 8:1–4).

💬 Mission Challenge:
Encourage someone who feels stuck in spiritual frustration. Share Romans 7:24–25 and remind them that Christianity isn’t “try harder”—it’s deliverance in Christ, and new power by the Spirit (v. 6; 8:2).