May we be less consumed with the diagnosis of our heart and more overwhelmed at the triumphant prognosis that Christ brings to our human condition as we consider these things, pray through them, asking God to change our hearts.

[13] Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. [14] For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. [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. [21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:13-25 ESV)

Having my sin exposed does not drag me down, but actually serves to lift me up by magnifying God’s grace in my life.

Application:

• Why is specific confession regarding our sin so difficult?
• Where might we be confusing a greater comprehension of our sinfulness with being sin-focused?
• How can growing in our understanding of our hearts make us more grateful for the grace of Jesus Christ?
• What is the relationship between our understanding how much we have been forgiven and our love for God?

Additional Resources:

Here are two additional articles that can assist us in understanding this passage in Romans

Three Life Lessons from Jerry Bridges on Being Transformed

John Piper: Who Is This Divided Man?