Helplessness of a Drowning Man

Yesterday, we saw Apostle Paul mentioning how his spirit became dead due to the awareness of the law and how it was later redeemed through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice in Romans 7:7-13.
Today, we’ll meditate on the following verses.
Romans 7:14 -20 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
The law is spiritual, the law is holy, the law is good, the Law is Mr. Perfect whereas there’s no good thing in the flesh. It is due to sin living in us that we often do not do the good we want to do and instead keep on doing the evil which we do not want to do.
Romans 7:21-25 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 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! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Today, we’ll meditate on the following verses.
Romans 7:14 -20 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
The law is spiritual, the law is holy, the law is good, the Law is Mr. Perfect whereas there’s no good thing in the flesh. It is due to sin living in us that we often do not do the good we want to do and instead keep on doing the evil which we do not want to do.
Romans 7:21-25 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 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! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Though our inner being/ spirit delights in God’s Word and desires to please God, there’s a constant conflict/war between our mind that delights in God’s law and our body that serves the law of sin.
Here’s the question: Was Paul mentioning his pre-born again experience or post-born again experience in the above passage? Is he still a wretched man after asserting himself to be crucified with Christ, dead to sin and alive to God, etc.? This is very confusing and a controversial topic amongst theologians and Bible teachers.
But, to conclude, this is the experience of anyone who tries to please God by obeying the law, whether saved or unsaved.
Romans 6:6,7 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Even though our sin nature has been crucified with Christ and it’s been years that we’ve been in this walk of faith; if we are not led by the Holy Spirit but by the flesh, we’d find ourselves experiencing the same what Paul describes in Romans 7:14-25.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Only when we spiritually grow to the state where we abide in Christ and Christ, in turn, abide in us will we experience ‘inner rest’; and we’ll stop to please God by our own deeds.
If you know swimming, you’ll understand this better - A drowning person can be saved only after he/she gives up all efforts to save himself/ herself; if not, the person who tries to rescue and the one drowning will be immersed in water. When we try to minister, obey the Word and do good depending on our flesh; we’re equivalent to the drowning person. But when we reach a state of brokenness realising that it's not possible to please God, minister the Word/ heal the sick with our flesh, that’s when the Holy Spirit takes over and allows us to float in His transforming power giving us a great spiritual freedom! Hallelujah! Allow the Holy Spirit to steer your life!
Watch the full video here:
Here’s the question: Was Paul mentioning his pre-born again experience or post-born again experience in the above passage? Is he still a wretched man after asserting himself to be crucified with Christ, dead to sin and alive to God, etc.? This is very confusing and a controversial topic amongst theologians and Bible teachers.
But, to conclude, this is the experience of anyone who tries to please God by obeying the law, whether saved or unsaved.
Romans 6:6,7 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Even though our sin nature has been crucified with Christ and it’s been years that we’ve been in this walk of faith; if we are not led by the Holy Spirit but by the flesh, we’d find ourselves experiencing the same what Paul describes in Romans 7:14-25.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Only when we spiritually grow to the state where we abide in Christ and Christ, in turn, abide in us will we experience ‘inner rest’; and we’ll stop to please God by our own deeds.
If you know swimming, you’ll understand this better - A drowning person can be saved only after he/she gives up all efforts to save himself/ herself; if not, the person who tries to rescue and the one drowning will be immersed in water. When we try to minister, obey the Word and do good depending on our flesh; we’re equivalent to the drowning person. But when we reach a state of brokenness realising that it's not possible to please God, minister the Word/ heal the sick with our flesh, that’s when the Holy Spirit takes over and allows us to float in His transforming power giving us a great spiritual freedom! Hallelujah! Allow the Holy Spirit to steer your life!
Watch the full video here:
About the Author

Dr. Damien Antony
Born and brought up in a Christian family, Dr. Damien Antony possessed an unquenching quest for truth right from his boyhood days and eventually his relentless search led him to the Bible. He is a Revival Preacher, Bible Teacher, Leadership Trainer, Author and a Life Coach. He moves under the anointing for Prophetic, Healing, Deliverance, Inner Healing and Financial Breakthrough. God has also blessed him with an Apostolic Mandate to take the Universal Body of Christ to the next level of revelation and anointing.
Born and brought up in a Christian family, Dr. Damien Antony possessed an unquenching quest for truth right from his boyhood days and eventually his relentless search led him to the Bible. He is a Revival Preacher, Bible Teacher, Leadership Trainer, Author and a Life Coach. He moves under the anointing for Prophetic, Healing, Deliverance, Inner Healing and Financial Breakthrough. God has also blessed him with an Apostolic Mandate to take the Universal Body of Christ to the next level of revelation and anointing.
Posted in Devotional Message, Morning Glory
Tagged with Helplessness of a Drowning Man, Dr. Damien Antony
Tagged with Helplessness of a Drowning Man, Dr. Damien Antony
Recent
Archive
2023
January
Can A Believer Sin?Why Do I Sin?One Woman and Two HusbandsAbigail, Nabal and DavidOur Marriage To ChristChrist & The ChurchWhat Is Flesh In The Bible Language?Different Usages Of ‘Flesh’ In The BibleExplanation About FleshThe Acts of FleshAre You Struggling With Some Sins?Anyone can come back from backslidingOvercome The Passions Of The FleshThe Weakness Of The FleshThe Dangers of Trusting Your FleshDo not sow to your fleshThe Three EnemiesHow To Handle The World?Three Kinds Of PeaceThe Weakness Of The FleshHelplessness of a Drowning ManYou Can Live In Two RealmsThe Civil War And Cease FireFight From The Victory
February
Walk in the SpiritJesus Condemned Sin in FleshLive in the SpiritBlessed In The Heavenly PlacesInner Strength And Outer StrengthBe Filled With The Holy SpiritIndwelling and Outpoured Holy Spirit“Who is the Holy Spirit?”Value The Treasure In YouThe Chariots Of JosephThe Holy Spirit Is Waiting For YouThe Diversity Of The Holy SpiritLet the Spirit do it!Jesus’ Model lifeNo Trying, But TrustingNo Struggles but RestingThe Divine OrderThe Road To DeathHow to Produce Salvation?I no longer live but ChristRegeneration And ReproductionChrist Is All You NeedGod Will Not Condemn You AnymoreThe Devil Cannot Condemn You
March
The Secret of BlessingWhat is the Law of sin and deathWhat Is The Law Of Spirit Of Life?Incomparably Great Power is available for you.Come Out Of Your Limited ThinkingTake Responsibility of Your Own LifeAbundant Life From JesusLet The Life Flow Through YouNo Mental StrainDeep Healing - Part 1Deep Healing - Part 2Deep Healing - Part 3Deep Healing - Part 4Deep Healing - Part 5Deep Healing - Part 6Joy Centre
2022
January
Spanked By GodGod Wants To Strengthen You Hebrews Chapter 12: Part 3Welcome To The Mountain Of Joy Hebrews Chapter 12: Part 4Entertaining Angels Hebrews Chapter 13: Part 1God Will Never Leave You | Hebrews 13 (Part 2)A City Prepared For You Hebrews Chapter 13: Part 3Grace Be With You Hebrews 13 (Part 4)You Can Be FreeJesus Is Our JubileeFreedom In All AreasFreedom From FearJesus The Freedom GiverEverything Is Prepared For YouYou Can Live in the LightYou Can Settle In LifeYour Good Time Is ComingCall Out What You NeedThe Word TherapyGod Does Not Control EverythingCome Out Of The Control The Evil OneDo Not Limit God By Your UnbeliefDo Your PartResist The DevilRise Up
February
Is God Really Good?Forget Not God’s BenefitsWhy Does God Allow Evil?Taste the Goodness of GodRevelation of the Goodness of GodWhere Is God When I Suffer?God Is Specially Good To His ChildrenUse Your AuthorityNothing Will Harm YouPowerful PromisesAll Believers Can Do ThisSatan Has No Legal Right Over You
No Comments