Before I start going over the remainder of Romans chapter 7, let’s look at another scripture that will explain this a lot better than I can.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
The rest of Romans 7 deals with the war that goes on between the godly side of man and the sinful side of man. It’s like the old cartoon that showed an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other: each one trying to convince you to follow their advice. The sinful nature we are all born with will always try and get us to follow our desires. This battle rages on in the life of every Christian believer, and usually the side that gets fed the most, is the strongest and the one that will win out.
Let’s say you have a problem with pornography. You’re alone at home and turn on the TV, and you immediately feel a desire to find a channel that shows things you know you shouldn’t watch. The battle is on. Your inward sinful nature doesn’t want you to turn to a Christian station, because it knows that will kill your desire. Your godly spirit wants you to feed it with good teaching or worship that will drive out any bad desire your feeling. It doesn’t matter if your weakness is pornography, adultery, fornication, lying, stealing, coveting or whatever. The battle is the same. The sinful nature loves the darkness, and light always drives out dark.
Romans 7: 14-20 14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal (fleshly), sold under sin. 15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
In the next few verses, Paul mentions the word “law” and “law of sin”. These terms for law do not represent the Ten Commandments or the Jewish law. A better term for law here would be to insert “a fact of life.” As in verse 21 Paul states “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” He is actually stating, “I find it a fact of life that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” Consider this when reading the remaining few verses.
Romans 7: 21-25 21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23) 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. 24) O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25) 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.
Verse 24 makes it clear, that without the work of the cross, there would be no salvation attainable for us. Verse 25 leads us into chapter 8 which will bring out the Holy Spirit. In ourselves, there would be no hope of salvation, but by allowing the Holy Spirit to rule over us, salvation is our gift from God. Through the Holy Spirit, we can overcome our sinful desires and not give in to them or let those desires rule over us.
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