Romans 7:14-17 (WEL) Indeed, we understand that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly sold as a servant to sin. 15 I don’t understand what I do because what I want to do, I don’t, and what I hate, I do. 16 If then I do what I don’t want to, I agree with the law that [it is] good. 17 So then, it is no longer I am doing it but sin that lives in me.
V14 Indeed, we understand that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly sold as a servant to sin.
Paul continues to reference Mosaic law. He states that it is spiritual. The law is spiritual because it originates from God and is holy, just, and true. On the other hand, humans, believers even, are under the power of sin. This law is of the flesh. The sinful desires of the flesh demand satisfaction. We Christ-followers are a new creation, spiritual, redeemed from slavery to sin, yet we still have our fleshly body with its sinful desires demanding satisfaction. This is the dilemma for all believers.
As believers, we still struggle with temptation (enticement) to sin, even though there is freedom to resist. We all know the enticement of sin and experience it. There will be no complete freedom from temptation to sin until either the Rapture or death.
Vincent adds: “‘As a slave.’ The preposition ὑπό under, with the accusative, implies direction; so as to be under the power of.”
V15 I don’t understand what I do because what I want to do, I don’t, and what I hate, I do.
Compare: Galatians 5:17-18 (WEL) “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you don’t do the things that you want to. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
Paul thinks it strange how he does not want to commit sin but still does. He explains the dilemma.
Paul had the struggle just like the rest of us.
The Corinthians were truly saved, but they had many problems and sins which Paul addresses in those letters. Compare 2 Corinthians 10:1-6.
V16 If then I do what I don’t want to, I agree with the law that [it is] good.
From Precept Austin on this verse: “Haldane agrees, writing that “When a regenerate man does what he hates, his own mind testifies his approval of the law that prohibits the sin which he has practiced. (Haldane, R. An Exposition of Romans).”
A. T. Robertson: “My wanting to do the opposite of what I do proves my acceptance of God’s law as good.
“The Law reveals Sin and does not desire what I do. The Law will frustrate an unsaved person until they cry out for salvation. It will frustrate a saved person who is trying to live a holy life by keeping a list of “do’s” and “don’ts”. The Law will show a believer, even though it is good, it can never make him good because the flesh can never sanctify. Sanctification comes only by the work of the Spirit, in the atmosphere of grace.”
V17 So then, it is no longer I am doing it but sin that lives in me.
From Precept Austin:
OUR DAILY BREAD – “This verse is illustrated by the story of a little lizard known as a skink – The smooth, shiny lizard known as a skink doesn’t ordinarily draw crowds at the zoo. But the little critter discovered by a homeowner in Jacksonville, Florida, created quite a stir because it had two heads, one at each end of its body. What an unusual spectacle! And what an illustration of absolute frustration! When it tried to run, its legs actually moved in opposite directions.
“As I studied its picture in a newspaper, I thought, How incredible! Yet how typical of many believers in Christ! We all have an innate tendency to sin; but when we are born again by faith in the Lord Jesus, we receive a wonderful new nature. This often creates an intense struggle. We experience a continual conflict between the mind of Christ and our old ways of thinking.
“If we do not submit ourselves completely to the Savior but try to serve ourselves as well, we resemble the two-headed skink who attempts to go in opposite directions at the same time. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other” (Mt 6:24- note).
“Let’s yield completely to Christ. It’s the only way to avoid the frustration of the double-minded skink. M R De Haan II (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
“Two laws compete within my breast,
The one is bad, the other blest,
The new I love, the old I hate;
The one I serve will dominate~HGB
Two heads may be better than one,
but a double-minded person is no good at all.
We learn:
- Why we have an intense struggle with sin after we become Christians.
- Paul, the Apostle, had the same struggles we do.
Questions:
- Have you experienced this struggle?
- How are you handling your struggle with sin?