“The Harsh Task Master”
C.S. Lewis once said, “No man knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good.” This is the essence of Paul’s message in Romans 7:14-25:
14. For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, that one who wants to do good. 22. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23. 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. 24. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 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."
When Paul says, “the Law is spiritual” (vs. 14) he means it has its origins with God and is in harmony with His character. Although redeemed (Ephesians 1:7), Paul says, “I am of flesh and sold into bondage to sin.” Jesus reminds us, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.” (John 6:63) and “…whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin (John 8:34).” A servant is in bondage to His Master – he cannot do what he wants. Paul says in verse 15, “For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” In the Bible there are two types of slaves and two types of Masters. There is the Good Master and the Harsh Task Master and there is the servant who serves because the Master reigns over him and the bondservant as Paul commonly describes himself who chooses of his own volition to serve but has power to stay or go.
Paul says, “For what I am doing, I do not understand.” Paul doesn’t understand why he is under a good Master (Christ) as a bond servant (Christian) and still “practicing” as if he were a slave to sin under the Harsh Task Master (Adam). Paul says, “….but I am doing the very thing I hate.” In other words, Paul desires to do good but cannot seem to do so. It is as if he’s still in bondage to his old Task Master (Adam).
In verse 16, Paul says, “But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.” Paul is a new creature in Christ. His origins or life is now with Christ and he desires (bond-servant) to live in harmony with God’s character. But his practice contradicts this truth and this desire in His heart. Why? Paul understands the Law, agrees with it and knows it is good. So it is not a lack of understanding, knowledge or even desire on Paul’s part. All these elements are present but he still fails. So what is the problem? Paul, then, comes to a very important recognition in verses 17-23: “So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, that one who wants to do good. 22. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23. 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.” Notice the pattern in Paul’s writing:
17. “…No longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.”
18. “…I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, my flesh..”
19. “…I practice the very evil that I do not want.”
20. “I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.”
21: “…evil is present in me, that one that wants to do good.”
What Paul is saying and re-emphasizes in verses 22-23 is that he realizes understanding, knowledge and desire to live in harmony with God’s character does not give you the power to do it. Paul 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. 23. 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.” Prayer partners, our flesh convinces us that if we desire to do something and work hard, we ought to be able to do it. That is the mentality of the Harsh Task Master (Adam) who wants to make you a servant to sin. How many people sadly think they can get to heaven by their own efforts or good works? That is the mentality of The Harsh Task Master. Further, “How sad that many Christians try to live the Christian life the same way.” But like Paul, they must come to the end of their rope and in total exhaustion exclaim, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” The very word “wretched’ means “through the exhaustion of hard labor.”
Prayer partners, if I were a member of Alcoholic Anonymous, the first step toward recovery and staying on the right track would be to confess, “My name is _________________ and I am a alcoholic.” In the Christian life the same principle applies. I must confess, “My name is _______________ and I live in the body of death.” If I want deliverance from the Harsh Task Master (Adam) and freedom from the slavery of sin (bondage), it starts with this confession.
When I make that confession, I am acknowledging, “the principle that evil is present in me.” But I am also expressing the desire that I want to do good (“that one who wants to do good.”) but have no power to do it. In other words, I need help beyond myself – beyond my flesh. Why? Because my own best efforts, my strongest desire and the knowledge of knowing what to do is not enough. I still have no power to accomplish the task. I believe it was Pastor Ray Stedman who once said, “Even the new life we have in Christ has no power if lived under the Law.”
But praise the Lord, prayer partners, Paul did not live a defeated and discouraged Christian life! Verse 25 contains the answer. Paul says, “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." Dear prayer partners, the power we need is not in ourselves but Christ. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6: “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
We must crucify the flesh so the resurrected life of Christ can live through us to give us victory. Galatians 5:24-25 says it best: “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Having learned this truth, Paul told the believers at Galatia, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” (Galatians 2:20-21).
Unless we are controlled by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and constrained by the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14), we are out of control and have no power to live the Christian life even if we know what is required and desire to do it. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).
Prayer partners, may your prayer and confidence be only in the Savior and His power to give us victory in the struggle we face in this life. Remember, walk so close to God that nothing can come between. Jesus paid it all, all to Him we owe,
Give Him the Glory!
