A Morning Devotion by Rev. Joseph Holmes HC Ministries International November 26, 2025

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ!

I want to talk with you this morning about something that every single one of us faces, whether we've been walking with Jesus for fifty years or fifty days. It's that gut-wrenching struggle that keeps us up at night, that makes us question our salvation, that leaves us wondering if we're really saved at all. I'm talking about the war that rages inside each one of us—the battle between wanting to do what's right and finding ourselves doing exactly what we know we shouldn't.

Maybe you woke up this morning carrying guilt from yesterday. Maybe you're tired of fighting the same battle over and over again. Maybe you're new to faith and thinking, "I thought becoming a Christian would make this easier, not harder!" Perhaps you've been in church your whole life, but you've never really understood why you keep struggling with the same issues year after year. Well, I've got good news for you today. You're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're definitely not disqualified from God's love.

This morning, we're going to dig deep into Romans chapter 7, verses 15 through 25. We're going to take our time with this passage because it's one of the most misunderstood and yet most liberating portions of Scripture you'll ever encounter. So grab your Bible, get comfortable, and let's learn together what God wants to teach us today.

Today's Scripture: Romans 7:15-25 (NKJV)

"For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin."

The Teaching

Understanding the Context: Where Does This Fit?

Before we dive into the heart of this passage, we need to understand where we are in Paul's letter to the Romans. This isn't just a random outburst from Paul—it's a carefully constructed theological argument that's been building since chapter 1.

In Romans chapters 1-3, Paul establishes that all humanity is under sin. Jew and Gentile alike—we're all guilty before a holy God. Then in chapters 3-5, he reveals the glorious truth of justification by faith. We're made right with God not by our works but by faith in Jesus Christ. Chapter 6 addresses a critical question: "Should we keep sinning so that grace can increase?" Paul's answer is a resounding "No!" We've died to sin through our union with Christ.

Now here in chapter 7, Paul tackles another crucial question that every believer wrestles with: "If I'm dead to sin and alive in Christ, why do I still struggle? Why does it feel like I'm constantly failing?" This is where our passage comes in, and let me tell you, it's absolutely essential for healthy Christian living.

The Apostle's Confession: Paul's Brutal Honesty

Let's start with verse 15: "For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do."

Now, I want you to really hear what's happening here. Paul the Apostle—this giant of the faith who wrote half the New Testament, who had a direct encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road, who planted churches across the known world, who performed miracles, who was caught up to the third heaven—this man is being brutally, painfully honest about his struggle with sin.

He's saying, "I don't even understand my own actions! I want to do what's right, but I don't do it. Instead, I end up doing the very things I hate!" Does that sound familiar to anyone this morning? It should, because this is the universal Christian experience!

Here's what so many people miss: Paul is writing this in the present tense. Some scholars have debated whether he's talking about his life before Christ or after Christ, but the grammar clearly indicates he's describing his current experience as a believer. This isn't Paul reminiscing about his old life as Saul the persecutor. This is Paul the missionary, Paul the apostle, Paul the mature believer, describing his ongoing struggle with sin.

Why is this so important? Because religion tells you that if you're struggling, you're doing it wrong. Religion says that mature Christians don't have these battles anymore. Religion whispers in your ear, "If you were really saved, if you really knew God, if you really had enough faith, you wouldn't be dealing with this." But Paul himself contradicts that lie!

The Root of the Problem: Understanding Sin's Nature

Look at verse 17: "But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me."

Now, be careful here. Paul is NOT making excuses for sin. He's not saying, "Well, it's not really my fault because sin made me do it." That would be like Adam blaming Eve and Eve blaming the serpent. No, Paul is making a theological distinction that we desperately need to understand.

When you become a Christian, your identity fundamentally changes. You become a new creation in Christ. Your spirit is regenerated, made alive, united with Christ. But—and this is crucial—you still live in a fallen body in a fallen world. You still have what the Bible calls "the flesh," that residual pull toward sin and self.

Paul is saying, "The real me, the new me in Christ, wants to obey God. But there's this remaining principle of sin in my mortal body that wars against what I truly desire." This is why he can say in verse 22, "For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man." The real you, if you're in Christ, loves God's law. You want to obey Him. You hate it when you sin. That's the evidence of new birth!

Let me illustrate it this way. Imagine you're driving a car, and you're heading in the right direction toward your destination. But there's a strong crosswind constantly pushing against your vehicle, trying to force you off the road. You have to keep steering, keep correcting, keep fighting against that wind. The wind doesn't change your destination, and it doesn't change the fact that you're a driver heading where you intend to go. But it makes the journey a constant battle.

That's the Christian life. You're headed toward Christlikeness. Your destination is secure. But you're constantly battling against the crosswind of indwelling sin, living in a fallen world, dealing with the remnants of old patterns and habits. The battle doesn't mean you're not a real Christian. It means you ARE a real Christian!

The Great Distinction: Religion vs. Relationship

Now, here's where we need to understand the massive difference between following Jesus and being religious, because this is where so many people get tripped up and end up in bondage instead of freedom.

Religion says: "Clean yourself up, then come to God."Jesus says: "Come as you are, and I'll do the cleaning."

Religion says: "If you're still struggling, you're probably not really saved."Jesus says: "Your struggle proves you're alive in Me."

Religion says: "Try harder, do better, be good enough."Jesus says: "Apart from Me, you can do nothing, but in Me, all things are possible."

Religion produces: Guilt, shame, hiding, pretending, exhaustion, and eventually either pride (if you think you're succeeding) or despair (when you realize you're not).

Relationship produces: Conviction that leads to repentance, honesty before God, dependence on His grace, transformation from the inside out, and a deep, abiding joy even in the struggle.

Look at how Paul describes the religious approach in verse 18: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find."

Do you hear the frustration? "I want to do good! The desire is there! But I can't seem to pull it off!" That's what happens when we try to live the Christian life in our own strength. We have good intentions, we make resolutions, we promise God we'll do better, and then we fail. Again. And again. And again.

Religion keeps you on that hamster wheel forever, running and running but never getting anywhere. You're exhausted, discouraged, and starting to wonder if maybe this whole Christianity thing doesn't really work.

But following Jesus—having a real relationship with Him—that's completely different! Look at verse 25: "I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

There it is! The answer isn't trying harder. The answer isn't making better promises or having more willpower. The answer is a PERSON. Jesus Christ. Not a system, not a set of rules, not a religious routine—but a living, breathing, active relationship with the Son of God who lives in you by His Spirit!

The War Within: Two Natures in Conflict

Paul describes this as a war in verses 22-23: "For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."

Notice the military language here. This isn't a minor disagreement or a little tension. This is full-scale warfare! There are two laws, two principles, two forces at work, and they're in direct conflict with each other.

On one side, you have your regenerated spirit, your new nature in Christ, which delights in God's law. This part of you loves righteousness, treasures God's Word, wants to pray, desires to obey, and hates sin. This is the real you if you're born again.

On the other side, you have the remnants of the flesh, the old patterns, the indwelling sin that hasn't been completely eradicated yet. This principle is constantly trying to take you captive, to drag you back into old habits, to convince you to give in just one more time.

And here's the thing that many Christians don't realize: this war gets MORE intense the closer you walk with Jesus, not less! Why? Because before you were saved, there was no war. The flesh ruled unopposed. But now that you're alive in Christ, now that the Holy Spirit dwells in you, there's conflict. And the more you grow in Christ, the more sensitive you become to sin, the more you hate it, and the more you feel the battle.

I've had people tell me, "Pastor, I think I'm backsliding because I'm more aware of my sin now than I was five years ago." And I tell them, "No, friend, you're growing! Five years ago, you were blind to half the sin in your life. Now the Holy Spirit is shining His light into corners you didn't even know existed. That's sanctification at work!"

Think about it this way. When you first start learning to play an instrument, you think you sound pretty good. But as you develop your ear and your skill, you become more aware of every wrong note, every timing issue, every imperfection. Does that mean you're getting worse? No! It means you're getting better! Your standard is higher, your ear is more refined, your sensitivity is greater.

The same is true spiritually. The more you grow in Christ, the more you'll feel the war, because you're becoming more like Jesus, and Jesus is at complete odds with sin.

The Cry of Desperation and the Shout of Victory

This brings us to the climax of our passage in verses 24-25: "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

I love Paul's honesty here. He doesn't spiritualize his struggle or pretend it's not that bad. He cries out, "O wretched man that I am!" He feels the weight of it. He's frustrated, exhausted, desperate even.

But notice the question he asks: "Who will deliver me?" Not "what will deliver me" or "how can I deliver myself," but WHO. Paul knows that deliverance isn't found in a method or a technique or a self-help strategy. Deliverance is found in a person—Jesus Christ!

And look at the immediate shift from desperation to victory. "I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" This isn't wishful thinking or positive self-talk. This is Paul remembering the Gospel. He's reminding himself that Jesus has already won the victory over sin, death, and the devil. He's already declared you righteous. He's already broken the power of sin. He's already sent His Spirit to dwell in you and empower you.

The battle is real, but the war is already won! You're not fighting FOR victory; you're fighting FROM victory! Jesus already defeated sin and death on the cross. Now you're learning to walk in that victory day by day, moment by moment, through dependence on Him.

This is the heart of what it means to follow Jesus rather than just being religious. Religion says, "Fight harder to win." Following Jesus says, "Jesus already won; now fight from that position of victory, depending on His strength, not your own."

Practical Theology: Living in the Reality of Two Natures

So how do we live with this reality? How do we navigate life knowing that we have both a new nature in Christ and the remaining influence of the flesh?

First, we acknowledge the struggle without being surprised by it. Too many Christians are shocked and dismayed every time they're tempted or every time they fail. But the Bible tells us to expect this! First Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age."

You're in a war, friend. Stop being surprised when the enemy attacks!

Second, we learn to distinguish between conviction and condemnation. The Holy Spirit convicts believers of specific sins to bring us to repentance and restoration. Conviction is precise: "You spoke harshly to your spouse this morning. That wasn't loving. Go apologize and ask forgiveness." Conviction always points you toward Jesus and restoration.

Condemnation, on the other hand, is vague and crushing: "You're such a terrible Christian. You'll never change. You might as well give up. God must be so disappointed in you." Condemnation comes from the enemy and is designed to drive you away from God.

Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." If what you're hearing sounds like condemnation, it's not from God! Reject it and run to Jesus!

Third, we cultivate daily dependence on Christ. This is the key that unlocks everything. Jesus said in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

Notice He didn't say, "Without Me you can't do much." He said you can do NOTHING! Zero. Zilch. Nada. Apart from Christ, you have no power to overcome sin, no ability to produce lasting fruit, no capacity for genuine spiritual growth.

But IN Christ, connected to Christ, depending on Christ moment by moment, you have access to infinite power! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you through the Holy Spirit!

This is where so many Christians go wrong. We pray in the morning, "Lord, help me to be patient today," and then we go out and try to manufacture patience in our own strength. When someone cuts us off in traffic or a coworker irritates us, we grit our teeth and try really hard not to lose our temper. And usually, we fail.

But that's not abiding in Christ! That's religious self-effort! Abiding means moment-by-moment dependence. It means when you feel your patience wearing thin, you immediately turn to Jesus: "Lord, I need Your patience right now. I can't do this on my own. Fill me with Your Spirit. Love this person through me."

That's the difference between religion and relationship. Religion is you trying to be good enough for God. Relationship is Jesus living His life through you as you depend on Him.

Application: How to Apply This to Your Life

Alright, so we've unpacked this passage, we've dug into the theology, we understand the difference between religion and relationship. Now the question is: what do we DO with this? How does this change the way you live today, November 26, 2025?

1. Be Brutally Honest About Your Struggle

First, follow Paul's example and get honest—really honest—about your struggle with sin. Stop pretending you've got it all together. Stop putting on the church mask where everything is "blessed" and you're "too blessed to be stressed."

That's not authentic Christianity; that's religious pretending. And it's exhausting, and it's lonely, and it keeps you from experiencing the freedom and community that God intends for you.

Now, I'm not saying you should broadcast every sin and struggle to everyone you meet. There's wisdom in discernment about who you confide in. But you need at least one or two trusted believers—a small group, an accountability partner, a mentor—with whom you can be completely honest.

James 5:16 says, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed." There's power in bringing your struggles into the light with safe, trusted brothers and sisters in Christ.

And certainly, be completely honest with God. He already knows anyway! You're not telling Him anything He doesn't know. But there's something powerful that happens in your heart when you verbalize your struggle, when you say out loud, "God, I'm battling with lust," or "Father, I can't seem to control my anger," or "Lord, I'm struggling with anxiety and fear."

That honesty is the first step toward freedom. You can't address what you won't acknowledge.

2. Learn to Recognize and Respond to Conviction vs. Condemnation

This one is huge, and it will change your life if you get it. When you sin—and you will sin—you need to be able to distinguish between the Holy Spirit's conviction and the enemy's condemnation.

Here's how to tell the difference:

Conviction:

• Is specific about the sin

• Points you toward Jesus

• Comes with hope and a way forward

• Produces godly sorrow that leads to repentance

• Reminds you of your identity in Christ

• Motivates you to change

Condemnation:

• Is vague and all-encompassing

• Drives you away from God

• Feels hopeless and crushing

• Produces shame that paralyzes you

• Attacks your identity

• Tells you there's no point in trying

When you sin, and the Holy Spirit convicts you, the proper response is immediate repentance. First John 1:9 promises, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Don't wallow in guilt. Don't beat yourself up for hours or days. Don't try to punish yourself or earn your way back into God's good graces. Just confess it, receive His forgiveness, thank Him for His grace, and move forward!

But when you hear condemnation—those vague, crushing accusations—you need to recognize that as the enemy's voice and reject it. Quote Romans 8:1 out loud: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!" Tell the devil he's a liar and tell him to leave in Jesus' name!

3. Run TO God When You Sin, Not Away From Him

This is perhaps the most counter-intuitive but most important application of this teaching. When you mess up, when you fail, when you sin—your immediate instinct should be to run TO God, not away from Him.

Religion teaches us to run away. Religion says, "You sinned, so now you need to clean yourself up before you can approach God. You need to feel bad enough, wait long enough, do enough good things to make up for it." So we hide from God like Adam and Eve in the garden.

But that's not what the Gospel teaches! Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Did you catch that? BOLDLY! Not timidly, not shamefully, not reluctantly. We come boldly because our access to God isn't based on our performance—it's based on Jesus' finished work on the cross!

When you sin, that's exactly when you need God most! That's when you need His grace, His forgiveness, His cleansing, His strength to overcome. So run to Him! Tell Him what you did, receive His forgiveness, and ask for His power to walk in victory.

I love the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. When that boy came to his senses in the pigpen, he didn't say, "I need to clean myself up first, get a job, earn some money, and then maybe I'll be worthy to go home." No! He got up and went home immediately, covered in pig filth and all. And what did the father do? He ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and threw a party!

That's your Heavenly Father, friend! He's not waiting for you to get yourself together. He's watching for you, ready to run to you the moment you turn toward home.

4. Stop Comparing Your Struggle to Someone Else's Victory

Social media has made this worse than ever. We see everyone's highlight reels and compare them to our behind-the-scenes struggles. We see Pastor So-and-So who seems to have perfect faith, or Sister Such-and-Such who seems to never have a bad day, and we think, "What's wrong with me? Why am I the only one struggling?"

But here's the truth: you're NOT the only one struggling. Everyone is fighting battles you know nothing about. That person you think has it all together? They're fighting their own war with sin, trust me. They might be struggling with different things than you, but they're struggling nonetheless.

Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That includes every single person in your church, every pastor, every worship leader, every small group leader. We're all works in progress.

So stop comparing. Stop measuring your chapter 3 against someone else's chapter 20. Focus on your walk with Jesus. Are you further along today than you were last year? Are you growing, even if slowly? Are you more dependent on Christ now than you were before? That's what matters.

5. Cultivate Moment-by-Moment Dependence on Christ

This is the practical outworking of everything we've learned today. You overcome sin not by trying harder but by depending more fully on Jesus.

What does this look like practically? It means developing the habit of turning to Jesus throughout your day. Not just in your morning quiet time (though that's important), but all day long.

When you feel temptation rising, you immediately pray, "Jesus, I need You right now. Give me Your strength to resist."

When you feel anxiety creeping in, you turn to Him: "Lord, You said to cast all my cares on You because You care for me. I give this worry to You right now."

When you're about to have a difficult conversation, you pray, "Father, give me Your words. Love this person through me."

This is what it means to abide in Christ. This is what it means to walk in the Spirit. It's not some mystical, complicated thing. It's simply learning to depend on Jesus moment by moment throughout your day.

And here's the beautiful thing: the more you practice this, the more natural it becomes. It's like building a muscle. At first, you have to consciously remind yourself to turn to Him. But over time, it becomes your first instinct rather than your last resort.

6. Use Your Struggle as a Reminder to Extend Grace to Others

Finally, let your own struggle with sin make you more compassionate toward others who are struggling. When you see a brother or sister fall into sin, don't be quick to judge or condemn. Remember Romans 7. Remember your own battles. Remember how much grace you've received.

Galatians 6:1 says, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."

The person who is most judgmental and harsh toward others is usually the person who is most in denial about their own sin. But the person who is honest about their struggles and dependent on God's grace—that person naturally extends grace to others.

Let your struggles make you more merciful, more patient, more understanding. Let them drive you to pray for others who are fighting their own battles. Let them motivate you to create environments of honesty and grace where people can be real about their struggles without fear of condemnation.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, as we close this morning, I want you to hear this loud and clear: You are loved. Right now, in your struggle, with all your failures and weaknesses and ongoing battles—you are deeply, completely, unconditionally loved by God.

You are forgiven. Every sin—past, present, and future—was paid for by Jesus Christ on the cross. His blood covers it all. There is no sin you can commit that His grace cannot reach.

You are not defined by your struggle. You're defined by Jesus Christ and His finished work on your behalf. You are who God says you are: His beloved child, righteous in Christ, being transformed into His image day by day.

The battle is real. Paul felt it, I feel it, you feel it, every genuine believer feels it. But the battle doesn't mean you're failing—it means you're alive in Christ. A dead person doesn't fight. The very fact that you hate sin and want to obey God proves that His Spirit is at work in you.

Don't let religion beat you down with guilt and shame. Don't let the enemy convince you that you're disqualified or that God is disappointed in you. Don't let your struggles drive you away from the very source of your strength.

Instead, let your struggles drive you deeper into dependence on Jesus. Let them remind you daily that apart from Him you can do nothing, but in Him you can do all things. Let them keep you humble, keep you desperate for grace, keep you running to the cross again and again and again.

Remember: religion says "try harder," but Jesus says "trust Me." Religion says "you're on your own," but Jesus says "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Religion says "earn it," but Jesus says "it is finished."

Today, choose relationship over religion. Choose dependence over self-effort. Choose Jesus over everything else. And watch Him do what only He can do—transform you from the inside out, not because you're good enough, but because He is faithful.

The struggle is real, but so is the Savior. The battle is intense, but the victory is already won. The war within you is fierce, but the God within you is greater.

Walk forward today in confidence—not in yourself, but in Christ. Live in freedom—not because you've stopped struggling, but because Jesus has already set you free. Fight the good fight of faith—not in your own strength, but in the power of His might.

You've got this, not because you're strong, but because He is. And that, my friends, makes all the difference in the world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You this morning with hearts full of gratitude and mouths full of thanksgiving. Thank You for Your Word that speaks truth into our lives, that doesn't sugarcoat the struggle but also doesn't leave us without hope.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being our deliverer. Thank You that the answer to our struggle isn't found in trying harder or doing better, but in You—in Your finished work, in Your ongoing presence, in Your unfailing grace.

Holy Spirit, we invite You to do what only You can do. Convict us when we sin, but don't let us live under condemnation. Empower us to walk in victory, not in our own strength but in Yours. Teach us to depend on You moment by moment throughout this day.

Father, for those listening who are tired, who are discouraged, who feel like they've been fighting the same battle for too long—would You speak hope into their hearts right now? Remind them that You're not finished with them yet, that Your grace is sufficient, that Your power is made perfect in weakness.

For those who are new to faith and are just discovering this struggle within, help them understand that it's normal, it's part of the Christian journey, and it's actually evidence that You're at work in them. Don't let them give up when the battle gets hard.

For those who have been trying to live the Christian life in their own strength, exhausted from religious self-effort, would You open their eyes to the freedom found in simple dependence on You? Teach us all what it means to abide in Christ, to walk in the Spirit, to live from Your victory rather than fighting for it.

Lord, we confess our sins to You—the known ones and the unknown ones, the big ones and the "small" ones, the ones we do and the ones we fail to do. Thank You that Your blood covers it all, that when we confess You are faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse us.

Give us grace for today. Not for tomorrow, not for next week, but for this day. Give us eyes to see where we're being tempted. Give us wisdom to know when to flee and when to fight. Give us strength in the moment we need it. Give us Your presence that sustains and transforms.

We love You, Lord. We need You. Apart from You we can do nothing, but with You all things are possible. Be glorified in our struggles. Be magnified in our weaknesses. Be praised for Your faithfulness.

In the mighty, matchless, all-sufficient name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Motivational Quote

"Your struggle doesn't disqualify you from God's presence—it positions you to experience His power. The battle within you is proof that you're alive in Christ. Stop fighting in your own strength and start resting in His victory. Stop running from God when you fail and start running to Him. The war within is real, but the God within is greater. You're not defined by your struggle; you're defined by the Savior who already won the war. So fight today, not to earn His love but because you already have it. Fight not to become righteous but because you already are in Christ. And fight not in your own power but in the strength of the One who cannot fail."— Rev. Joseph Holmes