What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom. 7:24–25)
Expanded Passage: Romans 7:21-25
The raft was wrecked. The riders were stranded. The gawking crowd was helpless. A group of college students had built a raft to navigate a nearby river after the spring thaw. Everything was fine . . . until it wasn’t. The raft, having picked up a bit more speed than anyone had anticipated, collided with the large pillar supporting a bridge and began to crumple, pushed by the pressure of the river’s steady flow. “River Raft Rescue” ran the headline in the local paper. And what a relief the rescue was! Firefighters lowered ladders to retrieve the stranded would-be sailors, helping them back to solid ground.
Paul’s bleak picture now reaches its sobering depth. The body, animated by sin through the sinful nature, is a body of death. Jesus called the Pharisees and teachers of the law “whitewashed tombs,” filled with death (Matt. 23:27). Such a desperate state surpasses even a stranded raft. The whole life is stuck in death and decay and needs a rescue. Just as the rescuers sparked cheers and applause from the onlookers and brought great relief to the rescued, Paul erupts in exuberant praise. Why? Because his question has been answered! Who will rescue the life caught in death? Jesus Christ our Lord! The wretched man is rescued by the crucified Savior. Thanks be to God!
Pause and praise God for the rescue of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Aaron Perry serves as director of Wesleyan academic initiatives for Education and Clergy Development of The Wesleyan Church.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
