Paul's Epistle to the Romans

Who Is The Wretched Man In Romans 7?

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Who Is The Wretched Man In Romans 7?

Romans 7:13-25

We come this morning to a very well-known and controversial passage of Scripture.  I will tell you right at the outset, that this passage of Scripture is very difficult to interpret. The reason it is so difficult is because there are several different ways it can be interpreted.

There are 3 main interpretations of the man in Romans 7:

The Mature Christian View.  This view says that the man in Romans 7 is the apostle Paul’s current experience as he was writing the book of Romans. They say that the things Paul wrote are the normal and expected experience of all Christians.

The Immature Christian View.  This view says that the man in Romans 7 is an immature Christian who is trying to keep God’s law in the energy of his flesh. They say that this person needs to get out of Romans 7 and into Romans 8 as soon as possible. This immature believer needs to learn how to experience the deeper life.

The Non-Christian View.  This view says that the man in Romans 7 is not a Christian at all. Paul is describing himself before conversion when he was under the Law, trying to obey it, but failing miserably. Paul was looking at his own pre-conversion experience, but seeing it through the eyes of a Christian man.

The reason there are three views of this man in Romans 7 is because a strong argument can be made from the text for all three of these views.  Good, godly, and intelligent men have held all three views. None of these three views are heretical. When I taught through the book of Romans in 1991, I taught the Mature Christian View.  Well, here we are in 2019, 28 years later, and I no longer hold to this view. I now hold to the Non-Christian View. And I will do my best to persuade you that this view has the strongest argument from Scripture. However, if I am unable to convince you of this view, that’s okay. We can agree to disagree, because our interpretation of this passage is not a salvation issue.

To be honest with you, it has been difficult for me to embrace the Non-Christian View, because almost all of my favorite Bible teachers hold to the Mature Christian View:  John Piper, John MacArthur, and Mark Webb.  But I can’t base my interpretation of a passage on what other people believe, even if I really value their ministry.  I must come to an interpretation based on the best evidence for each position.

So, this morning I’ll start off by giving you the reasons why some people believe this man in Romans 7 is a Christian. Then, I will give you my reasons for why I believe he is not.  Then, we will draw out some application from the text.

1. Reasons Why Some Believe This Man Must Be A Christian

• Romans chapters 6 – 8 are about the Christian life. Therefore chapter 7 must also be about the Christian life. What is the answer to this argument?  Well, it is very easy to show that not all of Romans 6-8 are about the Christian life.  Romans 7:5 is not describing a Christian.  Romans 7:7-12 is not describing a Christian.  And Romans 8:5-8 are not describing a Christian.  This, to me, is a very weak argument.

• Paul shifts from the past tense in 7:7-13 to the present tense in 7:14-25. Therefore, these interpreters conclude Paul is talking about his pre-conversion experience in 7:7-13, and his current Christian experience in 7:14-25.  Now, that seems like a very natural way to understand the passage doesn’t it?  But, could there be any other reason Paul might have shifted from the past tense to the present tense, other than because he is shifting from his past to his present?  I believe so.  You see, in the Greek language, the tense of a verb is used primarily to give us the kind of action, not the time of action. In the English language, things are different. We use present tense verbs to describe action that is happening now, and past tense verbs to describe action that happened in the past. However, the Greek language was different. A present tense verb in the Greek describes an action that is continual and ongoing. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the action is happening. Therefore, it would have been natural for Paul to switch to the present tense, if he wanted to describe his experience that was ongoing and continual, which I believe was exactly what he was doing. Paul wanted to describe for his readers the continual defeat he experienced as a Jew under the law.  There is another reason Paul may have switched to the present tense. An author sometimes will make this change in order to make his writing more dramatic and vivid.  Speakers and authors still do this to this day. If I want to make my story more vivid I switch to the present tense. I might say, “And I’m driving down the road when I see a man staring out his window right at me. Then he picks up a rifle and aims it right at me!”  In order to really give you the sense that you are reliving the story, the author puts it in the present tense.  So, I can understand that Paul may have switched to the present tense, both to highlight the continual defeat he experienced in trying to keep the law, and to make his experience under the law more vivid to his readers.

• What Paul describes in Romans 7 seems to be a lot like what he describes in Galatians 5:17, which everyone agrees refers to a Christian. “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”  In both passages there is a conflict between two opposing forces.  We reason that if Paul is talking about Christian experience in Galatians 5:17, and it is a lot like Romans 7, then Romans 7 must also be about Christian experience. In addition, Paul’s experience here seems to be exactly my experience. Since I am a Christian, Paul too must have been describing a Christian’s experience. The problem with this argument, is that we are arguing for a Biblical interpretation based on our experience. That is not a good practice. Our interpretation of a passage must be based on something much more solid than our personal experience.  Also, when we look closely, we will see that Galatians 5:17 is not the same experience as Romans 7.  In Galatians 5:17, the conflicting forces are the flesh and the spirit. However, in Galatians 5:16, we are promised victory in this conflict if we walk according to the Spirit. In Romans 7, we do not see a conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. Instead we see a conflict between the Law and sin. And in Romans 7 we do not see a promise of victory. Instead, the general tenor is that of defeat.

• Another argument is taken from some of Paul’s statements about his relationship to the Law and sin. In Romans 7:15 Paul says that he hates it when he breaks the law. In 7:22 he says that he joyfully concurs with the law of God in the inner man. Those who believe Paul is describing Christian experience say that he could not be describing an unregenerate man. They refer to Romans 8:7-8 which says, “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  However, the man in Romans 7 does not subject himself to the law of God. He joyfully agrees with the law of God, but he doesn’t subject himself to it. Instead, he continues to disobey it, because of indwelling sin.  Now, what about this objection? Is it impossible for an unregenerate man to say that he joyfully concurs with the law of God in the inner man? I don’t think so.  Remember, that Paul was a Pharisee, and the Pharisees loved God’s law. In Romans 2:17, Paul said that the Jew relied on the Law. In 2:20 he said that the Jew had in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and truth. In 2:23 he said that they boasted in the Law. We even read in Mark 6:20 that Herod enjoyed listening to John the Baptist. Does that mean Herod was regenerate? Of course not! As a Pharisee, Paul would hate it when he disobeyed the Law, and he would agree inwardly with all the Law taught and stood for. But that does not mean that he had been born again.

Now, there may be more arguments someone could give for this man being a Christian, but those are the most common and forceful arguments.  Now, let’s take a look at the arguments for this person being a non-Christian.

2. Reasons Why Some Believe This Man Must Be A Non-Christian

• The Structure Of The Chapter. To me, this is the most persuasive argument for this man being a non-Christian.  Paul say sin Romans 7:5, “For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.”  In that sentence, Paul has linked the Law with sin. He said the Law aroused our sinful passions. So, that causes him to answer an objection in 7:7, “Is the Law sin?”  He answers with his characteristic, “May it never be!”  Then he gives a lengthy reason of why the Law is not sin. He concludes in verse 12 with, “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”  Then in verse 13, Paul asks another question, “Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me?” Paul has just said in verse 11 that sin took opportunity through the commandment, deceived him and through the commandment killed him. So, Paul asks who is the real culprit in his death. Is it the Law? Is it that which is good? Paul’s answer again is, “May it never be!” Then he goes on a long explanation of why it is not the Law which killed him, but rather sin. Paul shows that sin is utterly sinful, because it takes something which is good, and uses it to destroy him. So, Romans 7:13-25 is Paul’s answer to the second question.

Now, many Bibles actually begin a new paragraph at verse 14. In fact, the NASB, NIV, NLT all start a new paragraph at verse 14. However, surely that is a mistake! Now, I understand why they start a new paragraph at verse 14. It is because in verse 14 Paul begins talking in the present tense, instead of the past tense. But the reason verse 14 can’t be the beginning of a new paragraph is because of how the verse begins. It starts with the word “For.”  In fact, the New International Version doesn’t even translate the Greek word “gar”. It omits it altogether, which is criminal! In the Greek, the sentence begins with “For.” Now, the word “For” is used to explain or further elaborate on something that has just been written. You never begin a brand new thought with the word “For.” If verse 14 is the beginning of a new paragraph, we would expect Paul to ask another question from an objector, but he doesn’t.  Verse 14 is an explanation of verse 13. In verse 14 Paul is explaining how sin was able to bring about Paul’s death through the Law which is good. It is because Paul is sold into bondage to sin.

So, Paul asks two questions, and answers them. The first question and answer come in 7:7-12. The second question and answer comes in 7:13-25. When you see this structure, then you understand that 14-25 are new a new thought, but an explanation of how it was that sin was so exceedingly sinful that it could take something so good, the Law, and use it to kill him. So, if that is the case, then 14-25 are not Paul’s description of his Christian experience, but his description of how evil sin was in his life to keep him captive and under its dominion. It caused him finally to cry out in 7:24, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” That is the cry of an unconverted man for deliverance from sin. Paul’s answer is that God will set him free through Jesus Christ our Lord!

• Paul’s Clear Statements in Other Parts of Romans. Some things Paul says in Romans 7 are flatly contradicted by other things he says in Romans which describe a saved person.  For example:

Romans 7:14, “I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.”  In Romans 7:5 Paul describes the unsaved man as being “in the flesh.” In Romans 8:9 Paul again describes the non-Christian as one who is “in the flesh” and he says “he cannot please God.”  Then in Romans 8:9, when he describes the Christian he says, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”  So, Paul defines a true Christian as someone who has the Spirit of God dwelling in him. So, the person who is “in the flesh” is someone who does not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Well, Paul describes the person in Romans 7 as being “of flesh.” What is shocking is that after Romans 7:6, there is not one single mention of the Holy Spirit until we come into Romans 8. This entire section in Romans 7 is of a man trying to keep the Law without the Spirit and failing miserably. But in Romans 8:4 we find a Christian described as one who fulfills the requirements of the Law, not by walking according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  That causes me to stop short and consider again who this person is.

Further, Paul says this person is “sold into bondage to sin.”  Literally, the Greek says “I am of flesh, having been sold under sin.”  Now, is it true that the Christian is a person who has been sold under sin?  Paul uses the expression “under sin” in another place in the book of Romans. It comes up in Romans 3:9, “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.”  Now, when Paul says that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, who is he referring to? He is referring to all those who have been condemned and are under God’s wrath. He’s not talking about the saved.

Also, is it true that the Christian is under bondage to sin? Is he under the dominion of sin?  He says in Romans 6:6, “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.”  He said in Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  He said in Romans 6:22, “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit.”  How is it possible for a Christian to be sold into bondage to sin, and yet be no longer a slave of sin, and for sin not to be master over him, and for him to be freed from sin?  I don’t believe you can harmonize those statements.

Romans 7:19 says, “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” This verse says that Paul practiced evil. However, Galatians 5:21 says that those who practice evil will not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 John 3:9 says, “No one who is born of God practices sin.”

Again Romans 7:23 says, “but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”  Is it true that a Christian is a prisoner of the law of sin?  Romans 8:2 says “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”  Romans 8:2 says that the Christian has been set free from the law of sin. Romans 7:23 says this person is a prisoner of the law of sin.  Who is described as a prisoner of sin in Scripture?  Paul describes the unsaved in 2 Timothy 2:25-26 this way, “with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”  Now, here the person is described as being held captive. Well, what do we call a person is held captive? A prisoner! This prisoner has not repented. He doesn’t have the knowledge of the truth. He has not come to his senses. This is a lost man. Thus the one who is a prisoner of the law of sin in Romans 7:23 can’t be a saved man.

• Paul begins Romans 8:1, “Therefore there is NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Why does Paul use the word “now”?  It would seem to describe a shift from the wretched man of Romans 7 to the victorious Christian of Romans 8.  The man in Romans 7 is condemned by the Law that he does not keep. The man in Romans 8 is not under condemnation. He is also described as being “in Christ Jesus.”  I submit to you that Romans 7 is describing a non-Christian, and Romans 8 is describing a Christian.  Paul gives us very pregnant verses in Romans 7:5 & 6.  In Romans 7:5 Paul talks of the person who is “in the flesh.”  Then he describes that man’s experience in Romans 7:13-25.  Then in Romans 7:6 Paul speaks of the person who has been released from the Law, who serves in newness of the Spirit and not oldness of the letter.  He then describes that man in Romans 8:1-17.

Conclusion

Folks, those are the reasons that I no longer believe Romans 7 is talking about a saved man. Of course, you will have to make up your own mind who you believe Paul is talking about.

But, if I’m right about that, what are the implications for our lives?

1. Paul is not describing our Christian experience in Romans 7! We can’t run to Romans 7 to excuse or defend, or justify our sin. We can’t say, “I may be sinning in this area, but everyone does, even the apostle Paul. Look at what he says in Romans 7!”  Now, it is true that all Christians struggle with sin. James says in James 3:1, “For we all stumble in many ways.”  1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”  These passages clearly teach that the Christian is not without sin. The presence of sin still remains in his life. But the Bible does not teach that the Christian is dominated by sin! Romans 7 describes a person under the dominion of sin. My friends, that is not you! You are no longer slaves to sin. You have been freed from sin. Sin shall not be master over you. There is a huge difference between sin being present with you, and sin dominating you. If you sin as a Christian, never justify it by quoting Romans 7.

Instead of going to Romans 7 to find a description of your Christian experience, go to Galatians 5:16-17, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”  Now, here we do see that the Christian life involves conflict, struggle, and opposition.  However, the things in conflict are not Sin and the Law.  Rather, they are the flesh and the Spirit.  In Romans 7, the picture is of continual defeat. But here in Galatians 5, the picture is of struggle and conflict, but victory as long as the believer walks by the Spirit.  Galatians 5 paints a much more optimistic view of victory over sin than Romans 7 does.  You and I need to know that we can overcome sin by walking according to the Spirit. It is possible, and it is available, and it is what God wants for us!

2. If you are not a Christian, do not suppose that you will ever be justified by your Law keeping! Romans 7 teaches that when a lost person strives to keep the law, he experiences defeat and misery, not salvation. In fact, he ends up as a wretched man! He knows what he ought to do, and there is a part of him that wants to do it, but he ends up failing over and over and over. My friend, if you are not a true follower of Jesus Christ, this may be describing you!  Your life will continue to be characterized by defeat and wretchedness, until you come to Christ!  Remember, it is our union to Christ that causes us to die to the Law and be released from the Law, so that we now serve in newness of the Spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.  So, if you recognize that you are lost and know how you ought to live, but find yourself in bondage to sin, what can you do?  Paul asks that very question in Romans 7:24, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”  There’s your answer. There is your Deliverer. You can’t set yourself free by just trying harder. You’ve already tried that, and it doesn’t work. You need Someone mighty enough to actually deliver you. You must be united to Christ by faith. You must turn from everything that keeps you from Jesus, and you must cling to Him with all your might. He can set you free from this wretched existence, and give you new life! Come to Jesus today!

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