The Pilgrim's Progress is a Christian allegory that follows the journey of Christian, a man burdened by his sin, as he travels from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Along the way, he encounters various characters and obstacles that symbolize spiritual realities. The book is presented as a dream sequence and is divided into two parts, the second part following Christian's wife, Christiana, and her children on a similar journey. The narrative is rich in biblical references and explores themes of redemption, faith, and perseverance.
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🎙️ Welcome to The Bible Project Daily Podcast
Episode Title: The Law and Sin
Text: Romans 7:13–25
👋 Welcome
In today’s episode, we enter one of the most personal passages in the entire letter to the Romans—Paul’s raw and honest confession of his struggle with sin. Even as a committed believer, he lays bare the inner battle between his desire to obey God and the reality of his ongoing struggle with sin. If you've ever found yourself asking, "Why do I keep doing the things I don't want to do?"—you’re in good company.
Together, we’ll explore what Paul means when he says, “The law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.” Is this a pre-Christian experience or the daily reality of a believer in Christ? And how can we live in the tension of being made new in Christ while still battling with the flesh?
📖 Episode Summary
This episode dives deep into Paul’s confession about the Christian struggle with sin. Though the law is good and spiritual, sin uses the law as an opportunity to bring about death. Paul makes it clear—the law isn’t the problem. The real issue is the sin that dwells within us, even after salvation.
We break the passage into three cycles of confession, where Paul reveals:
- The nature of sin – not merely a behavior, but a power within.
- The ongoing war between the mind that delights in God’s law and the flesh that resists it.
- The cry of frustration – “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me?”
This isn’t just Paul's story—it’s our story too. And while Romans 7 ends in tension, it sets the stage for the glorious hope of Romans 8.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Sin hijacks what is good (the law) to bring death—but the law itself is not to blame.
- The Christian life includes real inner conflict, even after salvation.
- Paul is describing the sanctification journey—not a pre-Christian life, but the ongoing battle for believers.
- Victory is not found in self-effort, but in Christ: the One who sets us free from the law of sin and death.
🛤️ Coming Up Next
Don’t miss the next episode as we turn the page into Romans 8, where Paul joyfully declares:
“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
(Romans 8:2)
Stay with us—hope is on the horizon.
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