The Struggle is Real

Having you ever struggled with do the right thing before?

Several years ago, I was working at an Alltel kiosk in a Walmart. I was thirsty so I went to the vending machines that were in the entryways of this particular Walmart. I put my 50 cents in the machine and to my amazement 2 sodas fell down. Some of you are thinking right now. Jackpot! However, I knew I didn’t pay for two sodas, I only paid for one. What was I going to do? There wasn’t much debate there. I took the extra soda and took it to customer service and gave it to the person there. I gave them the soda and said I put my money in the machine and it gave me two sodas. She was very surprised that I brought the extra soda to her.

What would you have done?

In our text today, Paul talks about experiencing this same type of tension. He is speaking about the struggle that each of us face on a daily basis.

Paul gives us a glimpse into his inner life and shows us that the struggle is real. However, he finishes this chapter by showing us that Grace is real as well.

If you have your Bibles turn with me to Romans chapter 7. I want to begin reading at verse 7.

Romans 7:7–25 NIV

7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 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. 19 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. 20 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. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 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. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 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.

The Law Reveals Sin, Not Righteousness

During Moses time the Law was created by God for His people. The Law was what the Jews used to base their standard of living for the next 2,000 years. The Law was established by God for His people, giving them a moral code to live by according to God’s plans.

When Jesus came, He fulfilled the law, meaning Jesus was the answer for what the law once was. It was through Jesus that we can be saved. Righteousness now only comes through Jesus.

Paul says in verse 7…

Romans 7:7 NIV

7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

It is through the law that we understand sin. The Law doesn’t save us, only Jesus saves us. However, it is through the Law that we are able to understand what sin is.

For example, if you were to break your leg. You would go to the emergency room and get an X-ray. This X-ray would reveal to the doctor’s which bone is broke and how it is broken. This would allow the doctor’s to know what kind of procedure they can now do to fix your broken bone. The X-ray only reveals the problem, it can’t heal the broken bone.

The Law is a set of rules to follow. We can’t rely on rule-keeping to become righteous. I have seen many people that were great at keeping rules, but they were lousy Christians. Because they were some of the meanest people I have ever met.

The Pharisees during Jesus’ day knew how to keep the laws, but they treated outsiders like garbage.

The law is here to drive us to Grace. It is only through the Grace of God that we are saved.

The Flesh Resists the Spirit

There’s an old story told about a Cherokee grandfather who was teaching his grandson about life. He said:

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.

One is evil—he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”

The grandfather continued:

“The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:

“Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied:

“The one you feed.”

Paul is describing this exact internal war in Romans 7. There’s a part of him—the “inward man”—that delights in God’s law. But there’s another power—his flesh—that keeps dragging him into sin. He says,

Romans 7:19 NIV

19 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.

The battle between the two wolves—the flesh and the Spirit—is real. Paul is not making excuses; he’s describing a reality that every honest Christian knows all too well.

I believe that if we are honest with ourselves we would agree that our hearts truly wants Christ and all the good things that He has for us, but the habits that our sinful nature has resist Christ.

This is proof that the Spirit is at work, true believers feel this battle.

There is a constant war that is raging in our soul between our fleshly man and our spirit man.

The War Within Wears Us Down

Pauls asks in Romans 7:24

Romans 7:24 NIV

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Paul expresses the fatigue of spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

There is a battle that is raging for our soul.

This is not defeat, but desperation. It’s the cry of a heart longing for deliverance.

As you are growing in your faith, you are wanting God to do more in you, but that old life keeps trying to drag you down.

Struggle doesn’t mean failure—it means you haven’t given up.

If you are struggling in your faith, there is hope. There is victory.

The Grace of Christ Secures Our Victory

Verse 25 says…

Romans 7:25 NIV

25 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.

The ultimate victory doesn’t come from us feeding the right wolf harder—it comes from Christ, who gives us the power to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

Notice Paul ends this chapter in worship.

Grace is not just the starting point; it’s the sustaining power and the ultimate victory.

You’re not saved by how well you fight, but by who fought for you—Jesus Christ.

Each and everyday Christ is fighting for you. You take each step one day at a time, one moment at a time, one victory at a time.

The law exposes, the flesh fights, the soul groans—but grace wins.

The struggle is real, right?

But so is our Savior.

Instead of pretending we have it all together, let’s rest in the grace that holds us together.

Even when we struggle, grace sustains us—and it’s that same grace that leads us from daily battle to eternal freedom in Christ.

Christ has set us free. You are set free through the Grace of Christ.

(Have musician come to the piano)

Altar Call

I wonder—have you ever found yourself stuck in that cycle Paul describes?

You know what’s right…

You want what’s right…

But somehow, you still fall short.

You still snap in anger.

You still click what you shouldn’t.

You still gossip, judge, hide, pretend.

You say, “Tomorrow I’ll do better,” but tomorrow just looks like yesterday.

That’s the war Paul’s talking about.

That’s the war some of you are losing right now—and it’s wearing you down.

You’re tired.

Tired of failing.

Tired of pretending.

Tired of feeling like you’re not enough.

But hear me—struggle doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It means you’re still in the fight.

And the good news is: you’re not fighting alone.

Paul cried out, “Who will rescue me?”

And then he answered his own question:

“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Jesus is the rescuer.

Not the rules.

Not religion.

Not your own strength.

Only Jesus can step into your war and speak peace.

So today, if you’re in the middle of the struggle…

If you feel like you’re losing more than you’re winning…

If you feel like the “wrong wolf” has been fed more than the right one…

If your soul is groaning for help…

Then I want to invite you to come.

Don’t wait.

Don’t polish yourself up first.

This altar is not for the perfect—it’s for the desperate.

It’s for the honest.

It’s for the real.

It’s for those who say like Paul,

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me?”

And then hear the answer in their spirit:

“Thanks be to God—it’s Jesus. He is enough.”

Come.

Lay the burden down.

Let grace fight for you today.

If you’ve never surrendered your life to Christ, now is the time.

You don’t need to fight this battle on your own anymore.

He already won it on the cross—and He wants to live that victory in you.

And if you are a believer, but you’ve been struggling silently—come.

Bring the battle to the feet of Jesus.

Let Him renew your strength.

Let Him remind you that grace still wins.

These altars are open.

This is your moment of rescue.

Don’t wait.

Come now.