“For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.” – Romans 7:5
The book of Romans teaches us that salvation is not just a change of destination—it’s a total transformation of identity. Through justification, we are declared righteous; through sanctification, we are made holy in practice. Paul reminds us that before Christ, we bore fruit to death—our thoughts, words, and actions were rooted in sin. But now, we are called to bear fruit to God. Galatians 5:22-23 describes this fruit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” These are not just behaviors—they are the evidence of a heart changed by the Spirit. Philippians 1:11 says we are “filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Godly fruit is seen in both attitude and action, flowing from a heart that has been made new.
Paul then introduces a contrast in Romans 7:5, speaking of the “flesh.” This word can be confusing because Scripture uses it in different ways—sometimes referring to humanity, sometimes to the physical body, and other times to the sinful nature. In this context, Paul is not talking about our bodies or all mankind, but about our former standing before God. “In the flesh” means living apart from Christ, trying to earn God’s favor through our own efforts. Romans 8:8-9 makes it clear: “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Before salvation, the law exposed our sin and stirred up sinful passions. But now, the law no longer condemns us—it convicts us and points us to Christ. It has become a cleansing agent, not a crushing one.
Still, many believers struggle with spiritual immaturity, like the Corinthians who remained stuck in infancy. Paul had to feed them with milk because they couldn’t handle solid food (1 Corinthians 3:2-3). They were saved, but they hadn’t surrendered. Their relationship with Christ wasn’t growing—it was drifting. Hebrews 6:1 urges us to “go on to perfection,” not remain in the basics. Though the flesh can still manifest in a believer’s life, we are no longer in the flesh. We cannot return to being unsaved. But we can live as if we are, if we stop growing. We must move forward. Don’t settle for fruitless living. Walk in the Spirit daily. Let the law convict but not condemn. Let the Spirit produce fruit that glorifies God. Surrender your will, die to self, and bear fruit that lasts.
“When our dominant desires are bad, the whole life is bad as a consequence; when the desires are good the life comes up to the level of our desires, provided that we have within us the enabling Spirit.” – A.W. Tozer
surrendered devotions 