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Sermon #3128

The Wretched Man Identity (1)

A Sermon on Romans 7:25

Originally preached Dec. 4, 1959

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Scripture

Romans 7:25 ESV KJV
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

Sermon Description

Is the apostle Paul’s exclamation of wretchedness in Romans 7:24-25 a description of the regenerate man at his very best in this life? Who exactly is speaking? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explores the exact meaning of this well-known and difficult passage in this sermon on Romans 7:25 titled “The Wretched Man Identity.” As the first sermon in a two-part sermon series, Dr. Lloyd-Jones walks us through seeming parallel passages of Scripture to shed light on the question of the identity of this man — is this a regenerate or unregenerate man? Or perhaps an immature Christian? At first glance, these passages seem to describe the same groaning and state of misery as the man in Romans 7:24-25. But after examining 1 Corinthians 9:27, Ephesians 6, and Galatians 5 closely, Dr. Lloyd-Jones shows that the these passages, while appearing similar on the surface, are different, indeed opposite, of the man we find in Romans 7. These texts are referring to a certainty of triumph and victory because of the role of the Holy Spirit. It is the success of a regenerate man who is sanctifying himself by the Spirit and is thereby able to crucify sin. By laying the hermeneutical foundation of examining other passages, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones prepares his listeners for the second part to this series by teaching that Romans 7:24-25, in spite of every resolution of the man, is a declaration of captivity. The law of sin in his members is too strong and he is sold under sin. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones carefully exegetes this passage, contrasts it with other New Testament passages, and lays the groundwork to discuss in-depth the identity of this man.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon begins by revisiting Romans 7:25 and examining the verse in two sections. The first section "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" is described as an ejaculation or outburst of praise.
  2. The second section "So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin" sums up what Paul has been arguing from verse 14 onwards regarding the duality within man.
  3. Paul is describing a man who is conscious of a duality within himself, delights in God's law but cannot keep it due to the law of sin in his members. This law of sin brings him into captivity.
  4. This cannot describe an unregenerate man due to the man's delight in God's law. The unregenerate man does not have this spiritual insight.
  5. The question is then asked whether this describes a regenerate man. To answer this, we look at other similar passages.
  6. Galatians 5:17 seems similar but differs in that it prescribes walking in the Spirit as the solution, mentions the Spirit and says Christians have crucified the flesh. It shows the possibility of victory, unlike Romans 7.
  7. 1 Corinthians 9:27 also seems similar but differs in that Paul says he keeps his body under subjection, unlike the man in Romans 7. It shows the possibility of victory.
  8. Ephesians 6:12 is about wrestling against spiritual forces, not indwelling sin. It also shows the possibility of victory.
  9. Other passages speak of groaning and mourning in the Christian life but refer to suffering in the world, not indwelling sin (e.g. Romans 8:23, 2 Corinthians 5:2-5). Even Jesus groaned for this reason.
  10. If Romans 7 described a regenerate man, it would contradict Paul's other teachings on the regenerate man's victory over sin.
  11. The question remains as to whether this describes an immature Christian. This will be addressed in the next sermon.

Sermon Q&A

Martin Lloyd-Jones on Romans 7:25 - Questions and Answers

What is the meaning of the first part of Romans 7:25: "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord"?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this expression is "a kind of ejaculation" or sudden outburst of gratitude from Paul. It's not an essential part of his argument but rather an interruption in his discourse. Lloyd-Jones describes it as a "strong and sudden emotion of gratitude" where Paul, as was his custom, momentarily breaks from his logical flow to express praise. This shows that Paul was "not overpunctilious in the matter of style" but rather enjoyed "the freedom of the spirit," being more concerned about what he said than how he said it.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones interpret the second part of Romans 7:25: "So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this is Paul's summation of what he has been saying from verse 14 onwards. The phrase "so then" indicates Paul is returning to his main argument after his brief outburst of thanksgiving. This statement perfectly summarizes the duality Paul has been describing throughout the passage - that with his mind he serves God's law, but with his flesh he serves sin's law. Lloyd-Jones notes that Paul uses the word "serve" (meaning "to be a slave to") in both instances, showing that Paul cannot claim to be only a slave to God's law, as he finds himself also enslaved to sin's law through his flesh.

What evidence does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give that Romans 7:14-25 is not describing a regenerate Christian?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones points to several pieces of evidence:

  1. The description contradicts Paul's teaching in Romans 6:17-18, where believers are described as "made free from sin" and having "become slaves of righteousness."

  2. When comparing with Galatians 5:16-17, there are crucial differences. In Galatians, Paul says "walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh," showing victory is possible, while Romans 7 shows constant defeat.

  3. Galatians 5:24 states that "those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires," but the man in Romans 7 cannot do this.

  4. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul says "I keep under my body and bring it into subjection," which is the opposite of Romans 7 where the person is brought into captivity to sin.

  5. The Holy Spirit, essential to Christian victory, is not mentioned at all in Romans 7.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones differentiate between the "groaning" in Romans 8 and the struggle described in Romans 7?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes a clear distinction between these passages. In Romans 7, the struggle is with sin within oneself - indwelling sin that leads to captivity and defeat. In Romans 8:18-23, the groaning is not about the internal struggle with sin but about suffering from external trials and the fallen state of the world. He notes that Romans 8 specifically mentions "the first fruits of the Spirit" (absent in Romans 7) and discusses how all creation groans under the curse - animals and nature that don't struggle with indwelling sin. The context shows Paul is addressing the suffering believers experience while living in a fallen world, not the internal battle with sin described in Romans 7.

According to Lloyd-Jones, why can't Christians use this passage to justify ongoing defeat to sin?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that using Romans 7 to justify ongoing defeat to sin misunderstands the passage and contradicts clear New Testament teaching about Christian victory. He points out that:

  1. The person in Romans 7 is "carnal, sold under sin" and consistently defeated by sin.

  2. This contradicts passages like Romans 6:14 ("sin shall not have dominion over you") and Galatians 5:16-18 which promise victory.

  3. The New Testament consistently teaches that Christians can have victory through the Holy Spirit (completely absent from Romans 7).

  4. While Christians do groan and face struggles (Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 5), these are not the same struggles as in Romans 7 but rather deal with external suffering in a sinful world.

Lloyd-Jones says interpreting Romans 7 as describing the normal Christian experience would make Paul's teaching inconsistent and would undermine the New Testament's clear teaching about sanctification and the believer's ability to overcome sin through the Holy Spirit.

The Book of Romans

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.