Paul continues discussing the law in Romans 7.14-16, emphasizing that it is spiritual and a gift from God to humanity.
However, there is a problem that lies with human flesh. “Flesh,” defined as a life lived apart from God, is vulnerable to the power of sin. Sin exploits this vulnerability, working within the human heart and causing us to do things we don’t want to do.
It’s similar to how a slave is compelled to obey a master, even against their own desires.
For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing,
I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me (Romans 7.14-16).
The comedian Flip Wilson was famously known for his contention that “The devil made me do it.” However, we can’t use sin as an excuse to avoid responsibility for our actions.
While sin is a powerful force that operates within our flesh, we are still responsible for our behavior.
Personal Conflict Within
I vividly remember the first time I read Paul’s words about the conflict within the human heart. I felt a sense of relief and thought, “Paul understands me. I’m not alone in my struggle with sin.”
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me (Romans 7.18-20).
In the videos Rudy Ross and I produce on Romans, I often emphasize that “flesh” doesn’t refer to our physical bodies, but rather to a life lived apart from God.
In this state, even if we desire to do what is right, we are unable to achieve it. Instead, we end up doing the very evil we wish to avoid. Sin dominates our lives, leading us to oppose God’s will.
Victory with Jesus
Paul was profoundly aware of the power of the law dominated by sin, which, coupled with the flesh, causes us to fail in doing the good we desire.
Like many of us, Paul cried out, “Wretched man that I am,” recognizing the power of sin in his life.
Yet, we too can praise God and say, “Thank you, Lord,” for through Jesus Christ, we can be set free from the power of sin.
I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin (Romans 7.21-25).
Paul’s insight into the struggle of wanting to do God’s will, yet being hindered by the flesh, can be compared to how people typically approach New Year’s resolutions.
New Year’s resolutions begin to abandon humans within a few weeks. Here’s a breakdown of how long they typically last:
— First Week: Around 75% of people are still committed to their resolutions.
— End of January: By the end of the first month, about 64% are still keeping their resolutions.
— Six Months: After six months, only around 46% are still maintaining their resolutions.
— One Year: Less than 10% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions by the end of the year.
The bleak outlook of trying to abide by God’s will shifts dramatically when we enter Chapter 8.
Here, we encounter the good news that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. By the end of the chapter, we are assured that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Throughout Chapter 8, we also discover the power of the Holy Spirit, which gives us victory over sin and the flesh. We begin a study of this chapter tomorrow.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 