Category Archives: Romans

Bible, Holy Spirit, Law, Righteous, Righteousness, Romans, Scripture

RIGHTEOUS ACTS

ROMANS 8:4

“so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Knowing the right thing to do and doing the right thing are two different things. For instance, I know what a NFL quarterback is supposed to do. I could even learn his playbook. But I will never be a NFL quarterback. I cannot perform the acts he is required to do (throwing a 50 yard pass, read defenses in seconds and adjust the play, etc.). The same holds true for us spiritually. Let Paul explain.

In verse 4 of Romans chapter 8, Paul uses a word that is translated above as “requirement.” I normally agree with the New American Standard, but here I prefer other translations which use “righteousness” or “righteous requirement.” The Greek word is dikaióma. Notice the little “-ma” on the end of that word. Zodhiates stresses that when that suffix is used on the end of word, it points out the result of an action, not just the action. So, read the verse that way, “so that the result of the righteous act of the Law might be fulfilled in us…”

APPLICATION

Dikaióma “is not precisely the word so often used in this Epistle to denote ‘the righteousness which justifies’ (Ro 1:17; 3:21; 4:5, 6; 5:17, 18, 21), but another form of the same word, intended to express the enactment of the law, meaning here, we believe, the practical obedience which the law calls for.” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary) That cannot be done by us. It is the Spirit of God in us.

Back to my analogy of the NFL quarterback. Pretend through some magical spell that the spirit of Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre entered my body. I would then possess the wisdom, knowledge, experience and physical ability to be that NFL quarterback. It would not be Carl. It would be Aaron or Brett. That would be awesome, but I couldn’t claim any of the credit for touchdowns or passes made.

There is nothing in you as a follower of Christ that you can boast in. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that. “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” You didn’t save yourself or maintain your spiritual walk by yourself. It is the work of the Spirit. Praise God that it is not up to us. Amen? Now, let the Spirit live through you today.

Father God, I submit myself to Your indwelling power today to use me how You see best.

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Bible, Flesh, Forgiveness, Law, Romans, Scripture

FLESH

ROMANS 8:3

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,”

Man, o man! The older I get, the more I feel my body wearing out. It doesn’t matter that I’ve lost a lot of weight in the past year trying to get healthier. It doesn’t matter that I try to walk about three miles every day and even lift some light weights and do sit ups. My body is wearing out, and I cannot stop it. The sin which entered mankind back at the Garden of Eden has corrupted us and caused us to die little by little. That’s okay. I know where I am going when this old body does finally wear out.

Paul talks about the flesh today in verse 3 of chapter 8. I want you to look carefully, though, at how he uses it. The Greek word is sarx which is translated as flesh, meat of an animal, the body, human nature or human being. It’s used 149 times in the New Testament. It’s not the word itself that I want you to see. It’s how Paul put this sentence together. Let’s take a look.

APPLICATION

Paul starts out by saying, “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh,…” He is not saying the Law was fleshly. He is saying those who were supposed to fulfill the requirements of the Law were fleshly men who were not able to keep it. Benson says this about this phrase, “The law was not weak or defective in itself. Its moral precepts were a perfect rule of duty, and its sanctions were sufficiently powerful to enforce obedience in those who were able to obey. But it was weak through the depravity of men’s nature, which it had neither power to remedy nor to pardon; and so could not destroy sin in men’s flesh.”

Then Paul says, “sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…” What?! That’s a crazy idea, right? God, You know men’s flesh is weak, so You decide to send Your Own Son in the flesh? Surely, You just made Your first mistake. Wait just a minute. Look at those words carefully. Paul said, “in the likeness of sinful flesh.” He didn’t say “in the flesh.” Christ was truly fully human, but He was also fully divine. His flesh was just like ours. He had to eat, sleep and drink. But His fleshly body did not contain the corrupt nature of mankind. He was without sin!

And then Paul wraps up this verse by saying, “He condemned sin in the flesh,…” How did God do that? Isaiah 53:6 tells us. “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” God took our fleshly, corrupt, bodily sins and laid them all on the sinless, perfect, holy body of Christ. He paid the ultimate price for our sins, for our corrupt flesh. Praise be to God. Hallelujah!

Words will never be adequate to express our gratitude for the sending of Jesus to earth to die for our fleshly sins. Thank You, Lord.

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Bible, Freedom, Holy Spirit, Life, Romans, Scripture

THE SPIRIT OF LIFE

ROMANS 8:2

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

I bet if you have been driving a vehicle for any length of time, you have probably run out of gas at least once. It’s a problem that is easily solved – put gas in the tank, lol. Do you understand how that gas engine works? I am no mechanic, but I do know the carburetor controls the flow of gas which is ignited by small sparks which then produce small “explosions” that make the pistons move. Okay, that is far as I will go with that description. I don’t want to show my ignorance of the subject. Bottom line – gas in required to give the engine life.

The same is true for us as humans. We need our “tanks” filled with the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus to get our “pistons” firing for Jesus. I love how one commentary I read describes this law of the Spirit of life. “A phrase defining more fully the mode in which the union with Christ becomes operative in the believer. It begins by imparting to him the Spirit of Christ; this Spirit creates within him a law; and the result of that law is life—that perfect spiritual vitality which includes within itself the pledge of immortality. (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers) This law of life is only operational through the life-giving Spirit.

APPLICATION

This “law of the Spirit of life”is contrasted with “the law of sin and of death.” The Divine law, as some scholars have referred to it as, supersedes and fulfills the Mosaic law which condemns us because of sin. The Gospel of grace that is present in our lives as followers of Christ sets us free from any and all requirements set forth in the Mosaic law. Praise be to God.

When I became a Christian, my life changed drastically. Before Christ I was not known for my study habits in school. I made decent grades but not like I did after I got saved. My grades went up so much the first semester that my teachers thought I was cheating and vowed to catch me. After a semester of proving myself, they finally understood that I had changed. I was the same person on the outside, but inwardly I had a whole new nature.

As followers of Christ, we have to show that transformation. If it is real, we can’t help ourselves. The light of Christ that indwells us now has to be shone. “Hide it under a bushel, no!” The world needs to see the change in us. We cannot remain a part of all that we were doing before. The law of the Spirit of life in us has changed us at a spiritually molecular level. We are a new creation in Christ. Show the world!

Father God, shine through me and let the Spirit of life be seen.

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Bible, Christ, Condemnation, Eternal Life, Freedom, Romans, Scripture

NO CONDEMNATION

ROMANS 8:1

“Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Picture yourself standing before a judge in a courtroom where you are standing trial for a crime you committed. There is no doubt you did it. Everyone knows you did it. You even pleaded guilty to the charge. All that’s left is for the judge to render judgment. But unbeknownst to you, someone came forward to receive your sentence and take your guilt upon themselves. Therefore, when the judge swings his gavel, he exclaims to you, “You are not condemned to serve your sentence. It has been paid.”

Paul has spent the last 11 verses stating our guilt under the law in regard to our sinful behavior. He also explains how the gospel has set us free once we turn to Jesus and accept Him as Savior and Lord. He begins chapter 8 with the Greek word ara which is a conjunction connecting verse 7:25 with 8:1. It’s not just a conjunction, though. It is a decisive conjunction leaving no doubt. Paul writes, “Therefore…” Because of the gospel we are not condemned. Because of the gospel we are set free.

APPLICATION

The word used by Paul for “condemnation” is used here and only two other times, both earlier in this letter to Rome. In verses 5:16 and 18, Paul wrote, “16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one offense, resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many offenses, resulting in justification. 18 So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind.”

This is a strong word. Strong’s says it is a “damnatory sentence.” In other words, it is not a condemnation from which you can escape. You have sealed your own death sentence. But…the Law had not met our Savior. Jesus came to fulfill all the requirements of the Law. He was perfectly able to live a life here on earth and defeated the curses of the Law.

Don’t walk around in defeat, if you are a follower of Christ. You will not face condemnation from Him. That does not excuse us to sin as we please. No way! But it does give us the promise of a future with Him without the worry of losing it. There is now no condemnation if you are in Christ. That means He is in you too. Live like that. Live boldy and freely without the fear of reprisal.

I give You all praise for releasing me from the condemnation that was before me.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Gratitude, Jesus, Romans, Scripture, Thanksgiving

THANKS

ROMANS 7:25

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”

Coming to the end of a long fought battle would cause anyone to exclaim, “Thank God that’s over.” Have you ever been there? I can recall a few times like that in my life. Some of those battles were physical and others were emotional while still others were spiritual. Each time the end came I was thankful for having survived and in some cases thrived. I wish I could say I always gave God thanks, but that would not be true. I think I could learn a thing or two from Pauls’ verse today.

In the conclusive verse of this long passage we just looked at (verses 14-25), Paul gives God thanks for it all. Barnes sums it up this way, “There is a way of rescue, and I trace it altogether to his mercy in the Lord Jesus Christ. What conscience could not do, what the Law could not do, what unaided human strength could not do, has been accomplished by the plan of the gospel; and complete deliverance can be expected there, and there alone. This is the point to which all his reasoning had tended;” What can you add to that?

APPLICATION

I want to encourage you today to do exactly what Paul has done. Through all the struggles he has expressed in these verses, he gives God thanks. But look carefully. He says, “through Jesus Christ our Lord.” That is where all praise belongs. Jesus is the One Who gets us through every battle we face. It does not matter if it’s spiritual (like the one Paul has been describing between the flesh and the spirit) or physical. Jesus deserves all the praise.

The word used by Paul for “thanks” is the Greek word charis. It’s the same word that is translated as “grace.” Isn’t it because of God’s grace that we can give thanks? Paul knew that. It was grace that he experienced all those years previously on the Damascus road? The Lord Jesus chose to show Paul grace when He stopped him cold on that road and struck him blind so that He could open his eyes.

Take a minute right now to give God thanks for all He has done for you. Name them. Lift your hands in praise. Sing a song of praise to Him. Thank Him for His grace in your life. Thank Him for your health. Thank Him for the promise of eternal life with Him in glory. Thank Him for… Aren’t your grateful? I know I sure am.

Thank You, thank You, thank You! I give You praise for delivering me from the bondage of sin.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Romans, Scripture, Sin, Struggles

CALLOUSES

ROMANS 7:24

“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?”

Have you ever developed a callous on your hands from excessive use of them without protection? There have been times in my life when I was working more with my hands that I developed some. I am sure you’ve seen pictures or you may know someone with tough calloused hands or even feet. The initial pain of those callouses lessens the tougher they get, but damage has been done to the skin that will take months, if not years, to heal.

Paul uses a word in today’s verse that is translated as “wretched” that has the idea of callouses. It’s the word talaipóros which comes from two Greek words, talaō, “to bear, undergo” and pōros, “a callous.” HELPS Word-studies says this word is “describing a person with severe side-effects from great, ongoing strain (significant hardships).” Paul has been describing this in the past several verses as he strains between feeding the flesh (sin) and feeding the spirit (righteousness). He exclaims, “Oh how calloused I have become! Who will help me?” Can you relate?

APPLICATION

We are told in the Topical Lexicon, “The term serves as Scripture’s searching spotlight, revealing the misery of sin and the futility of self-reliance. Whether voiced by an apostle wrestling with the flesh or by the risen Christ confronting a complacent church, it presses every hearer to embrace the only effective remedy—grace through the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The only other time it used in the New Testament is in Revelation 3:17 describing the church at Laodicea. “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,’ and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked,…” The church had become calloused to its condition, just as we can become. Without the tender Spirit of God working in our lives, we can become numb to the sting of sin.

Is there a sin right now in your life that you no longer feel guilty of? Maybe you have battled with this for so long you can’t feel the sting of the sin in your life. The damage has been done, and you no longer feel the need to confess it. I read about a famous Christian leader who just confessed to an eight year affair he had been having. I have to believe that that sin had become calloused. Praise God he finally was moved to confession. Sadly, damage has already been done in multiple relationships because of it. Don’t let your callousness to sin cause damage in your relationship to our Lord.

Keep me tender, Lord, to the sting of sin in my life so I can confess it quickly and receive healing.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Captivity, Escape, Romans, Scripture, Sin, War, Warnings

TUG OF WAR

ROMANS 7:23

“but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts.”

I have always liked the game of tug of war. It is especially fun when each side is divided by water or, better yet, a mud pit. You pull and pull to keep from being pulled into that water or mud. Of course, you have teammates. Depending on the size of the teammates you may have an advantage or disadvantage. However, you never want to go solo in a game of tug of war against another team. That would spell disaster.

When I read today’s verse, that image of tug of war came to mind. It’s as if Paul sees his spirit and his flesh in this spiritual tug of war. Whichever side is stronger wins. I have never quoted from the following source, but I found the comments worthy of a read. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary says this about verse 23, “here the apostle describes himself, when drawn under the power of his sinful nature, as forcibly seized and reluctantly dragged to his enemy’s camp, from which he would gladly make his escape.” That’s pretty good.

APPLICATION

The word translated as “making…a prisoner” is aichmalótizó. I wouldn’t even begin to try to pronounce that, lol. But the word means to “lead away captive, bring into captivity.” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) Do you get what Paul is saying and what we feel regarding sin? Sin tries to drag us down and keep us captive. This word is only used three other times in the New Testament.

In Luke 21:24 Jesus says, “‘and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.’” He prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem and the enslavement of the people.

In 2 Corinthian 10:5 Paul uses the word again to say how we are to take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ. We have that power to control our thoughts and behaviors through the Holy Spirit. There is no excuse for allowing them to control us. But you can’t take captive what you haven’t already defeated. You have to put down those thoughts first.

The last time aichmalótizó is used is in 2 Timothy 3:6 where Paul issues a warning to Timothy that in the last days people will cause a lot of trouble including this: “For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,” But we are more than conquerors. We have power over sin, if we choose to exercise it. Do you want to be the captor or the captive of sin?

Father, I claim Your power over every sin that seeks to drag me away.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Contentment, Delight, God's Will, Joy, Romans, Scripture

TRUE DELIGHT

ROMANS 7:22

“For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person,”

What does it mean to delight in something? For me, it means to find pleasure and contentment. For example, I delight in pleasing my wife, of serving her and living in harmony with her. Do I do that all the time? Not by a long shot, but I do delight in those things. I also find true delight in my grandchildren. Knowing I have a part in their lives brings me such joy and delight.

The word Paul uses here for “joyfully agree” can also be translated as “delight.” The word is only used here in the whole New Testament. It’s the Greek word sunédomai which means to feel satisfaction concerning something. The Topical Lexicon writes, “Romans 7:22 records the lone New Testament occurrence: ‘For in my inner being I delight in God’s law’ (Berean Standard Bible). Here Paul sets the verb in deliberate contrast to the warring ‘law of sin’ in his members (Romans 7:23). The word paints an intimate portrait of the regenerate conscience: despite the tug of indwelling sin, the true self of the believer resounds with joy at the goodness of God’s revealed will.”

APPLICATION

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Who doesn’t want that? But in order to receive those “desires of your heart” you must first delight yourself in Him. How do you do that? By spending time with Him so that you will know what your desires should be, not what you want them to be.

I was talking to someone recently about a relationship they are in with someone. This other person has “cast lots” before God to get an answer about the future of their relationship. I explained to my friend that when we do that, we must be prepared to accept the answer He gives and not be disappointed when the answer is not what we wanted. We have to delight in Him first to understand that.

What do you delight in? Family? Friends? Work? Your home? None of those things are bad. We need them all to live a fulfilled and contented life. But we must first delight ourselves in the Lord. Then we will understand true delight. Psalm 35:9 tells it plainly. “Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.” That should be our ultimate delight!

Father, I do delight in You and Your precepts.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Desires, Law, Romans, Sanctification, Scripture, Sin

WHAT DO YOU DESIRE?

ROMANS 7:16

“However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, that the Law is good.”

You have probably heard the expression “No Pain, No Gain.” That applies if you are lifting weights or working out. A little sweat never hurt anyone. But that expression does not apply to other areas of life too well. If you are like me, I try to avoid pain if I can. I have neuropathy in my feet which can be very painful at times. So, I am careful to avoid stepping on things that cause the pain. That also applies to spiritual pain, as you will see in today’s verse.

Paul further explains his dilemma in verse 16. He doesn’t want to do the things that bring pain spiritually, but the flesh is strong. He knows these things are not good for him just as the Law tells him. Therefore, the Law is good in this sense. It shows him and us where we are off course. As I heard described last week in our Pastor’s message, a train is good as long as it stays on the track. But when it gets off track, a wreck is unavoidable.

APPLICATION

Barnes describes this struggle with sin in his commentary on this verse. “Perhaps nothing can be a more decisive test of piety than a long-continued and painful struggle against evil passions and desires in every form, and a panting of the soul to be delivered from the power and dominion of sin.” The struggle we have with sin shows our desire to live holy. If we didn’t feel that pain from sin, we would stay in it and not pursue the Lord.

In Matthew 16:25, Jesus uses the same word for “want” Paul uses when He says, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” The Greek word is theló. It means to “desire, be disposed toward, intend.” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance). We have a choice to make. Do we desire the things of the world or the things of God? Do we wish to please Him or the flesh? Will sin reign or the Spirit?

So many people struggle with determining what God’s will is for their life. It really isn’t hard to find out what He desires for us. One example of that is in 1 Thessalonians 4:3. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification;…” You can’t live a sanctified life, if you live in sin. That’s why God’s Law is so important and why Paul says, “that the Law is good.” Don’t fight the Law (God’s Word). It is not meant to make you feel guilty. It was given to us by the Lord to point out those areas of danger which keep us from living sanctified lives. Choose to avoid those pitfalls. That struggle is real, but it is one you should embrace.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me Your Word which is good.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Doing, Habits, Romans, Scripture

I’M SO CONFUSED

ROMANS 7:15

“For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate.”

There’s an old hymn written by Charles Wesley back in 1738 entitled, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” which I believe has a line that fits perfectly with today’s verse. In comparing our sinful self to God, Wesley writes in the last two phrases of stanza 3:

Just and holy is thy name,

I am all unrighteousness;

False and full of sin I am,

Thou are full of truth and grace.

Do you know what the term “befuddled” means? It means you are unable to think clearly, you are confused or perplexed. I think Paul was befuddled when he wrote the next several verses. Just kidding. Every word he penned was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Who is never befuddled. Quite the contrary, He always says exactly what the Father instructs. In today’s verse, Paul confesses his struggle in this human flesh. What is Paul trying to tell us in this verse?

APPLICATION

Paul uses three different Greek words in this verse to translate “do.” Interesting, huh? The first is katergazomai and means to work fully or accomplish.  HELPS Word-studies says this about the word. “Katergázomai (from katá, ‘down, exactly according to,’ intensifying ergázomai, ‘work, accomplish’) – literally, ‘work down to the end-point,’ i.e. to an exact, definite conclusion.” So, this “doing” is a working until the end.

The second word used is prassó. It refers performing repeatedly or habitually. Paul says he is not practicing what he wants to do. For me, that’s Scripture memory. I try to work at it daily, but I do not always get it done. I really want to do better at it in 2026. Maybe that’s my first resolution. No, let’s make it my first new habit.

The third “do” is poieó which is the common verb used (over 600 times) in the New Testament for doing something. This normally refers to a single act rather than a habit as prassó implies. But all three of these words are in the Present tense which means it’s ongoing. Ask yourself today these three questions: 1. Are you fully accomplishing your purpose? 2. Are you repeating good habits that lead you towards Jesus? 3. Are you continually doing things that lead you away?

Father, I thank You that You have given me the wisdom to seek You first above all things.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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