Why Trying Harder Isn’t Working // Romans 7:1-13 - Be Free

Why Trying Harder Isn’t Working // Romans 7:1-13 - Be Free

From Two Cities Church by Two Cities Church

April 26, 2026 · 44 min

About this episode

This episode explores the limitations of self-improvement and the transformative power of being united to Jesus as revealed in Romans 7:1-13.

The problem isn’t that we don’t know what to do; it’s that we don’t have the power to do it. In Romans 7:1-13, we see that God’s law is good. It reveals what’s wrong in us, names our sin, and exposes how deep it really goes. But it was never meant to fix us. In this message, we explore: - Why self-improvement always falls short - How sin twists even good things, like God’s law, into something that traps us - And why real change doesn’t come from trying harder, but from being united to Jesus The law can diagnose, but only the gospel can heal.

Topics covered

  • self-improvement
  • God's law
  • sin
  • real change
  • gospel

Keywords

  • self-improvement
  • God's law
  • sin
  • real change
  • gospel
  • Romans
  • spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Romans 7:1-13

More episodes of Two Cities Church

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Two Cities Church podcast page.