Body of Death

Romans 7:24-25...."O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this 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.

During the time of ancient Persia, the punishment for murder wasn't stoning, hanging, or even crucifixion.....it was far worse. The man who committed the crime was forced to have the dead body bound to his back for 4 days. If anyone was to help him or unbound the dead body, he was to have the body tied to his back. So his friends were no longer his friends and his family was no longer his family. He was alone and no one would take this body of death. During this 4 day time period, the body be begins to rot and maggots start to eat away at the body. Because the body is tied to his back, the maggots begin to eat the man alive, and he dies a slow, painful death. When Paul refers to this body of death, he isn't referring to a literal body. He is talking about his past. His guilt eats away at him and the pain is unbearable. But there is hope......."I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Paul knew that only God could take away this body of death and he praised God for that! We all have done things in the past that we regret...actions, words, choices.....and the list goes on. But God sent His Son to die for us and He so willingly takes our bodies of death and remembers them no more. This is all a part of God's will. So, if you're still dealing with past sin and guilt, remember that only God can deliver you from that and He wants to. His blood covers your sin...past, present and future.