Romans 7:20 – Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Welcome back to our study of Romans. In the latter part of chapter seven, Paul is discussing the relationship between man and the law. He is showing us that while the law is perfect and is not the cause of sin/death, neither can it make us justified or sanctified in the sight of God. 
The apostle is also showing us that every Christian has two natures existing within them. There is the spirit/new man which has been made new by the work of Christ. There is also the flesh/old man which continues to reside in our lives and constantly provokes us to sin. These two natures are in a constant battle for control of our hearts, minds and wills.
GENERAL SUMMARY: Verse 20 is another repetition of verses 16-17. Paul declares that the desire of his new man is to love the law and do what is righteous in God’s sight. He does not want to sin. However, it occasionally happens. When he does fall into sin, it is because he is coerced (manipulated or forced against his will) to do it by the sin which still lives in him through his flesh/old man.
DIGGING DEEPER: Now if I do what I do not want: As a Christian, Paul does not want to sin or do anything that brings shame to God.
It is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me: As we noted last week, Christians have two natures within them.
When we are born again (when we trust in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin) we have a new nature. This nature is referred to as the spirit or the new man. The overwhelming desire of the spirit/new man is to serve God in righteousness and in truth.
However, we still retain the sinful nature we inherited from our forefather Adam. This nature is referred to as the flesh or the old man. The desperate desire of our flesh/old man is to engage in all manner of sin, rebellion and depravity.
Clearly, sin does not originate in the law or in the spirit/new man. The flesh/old man is both the source and the driving force behind our sin (the things we do not want to do).
Romans 7:21 – So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
GENERAL SUMMARY: Paul has discovered a general principle within his own life that is true for all Christians – when he seeks to do the right thing, evil is instantly present to thwart or hinder him.
DIGGING DEEPER: So I find it to be a law: In this case, Paul is not talking about the written law of God. He uses the term ‘law’ in the sense of a principle – a fundamental truth; a universal, invariable statement of order that holds true under specific conditions.
For example, we are all familiar with the law of gravity. It is universally and invariably true that within the earth’s atmosphere, atoms exert force on one another in such a way that objects automatically fall to the ground.
In this case, Paul is telling us that he has discovered a law or principle which holds true in his life. We might say that this law controls or binds him, because (like gravity) he is subject to it automatically. It happens without his consent.
That when I want to do right: As a Christian, Paul consistently desires to obey God and do what pleases him.
Evil lies close at hand: This is a truth that all Christians have no doubt experienced - each and every time the apostle seeks to do what is good or righteous, his flesh/old man rises up and does everything within its power to stop or impede him. He describes this as a law or principle because it automatically occurs whenever he seeks to do good.
We might think of it this way: Whenever we walk in sunlight, we cast a shadow. Our shadow shows up automatically – we don’t do anything to produce it. In fact, it lies hidden or dormant most of the time, but the moment we walk back into the light, it automatically appears once again.
So it is with our flesh/old man. When we desire to walk in the light of God’s righteous ways, it shows up like a shadow that aggressively works to stop our progress.
Romans 7:22 – For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being…
GENERAL SUMMARY: The spirit/new man within every Christian delights in the ways of God.
DIGGING DEEPER: For I delight in the law of God: In this verse, the law of God refers to all the commands, precepts and communications of God to mankind. 
This is synonymous with the law of the mind, which Paul mentions in the next verse. It is called the law of the mind because it belongs to and resides in the mind; it is the law of God because it comes from him and is implanted in our minds by Holy Spirit.
The Greek word translated ‘delight’ properly means to rejoice. We might use the term ‘approbation’ which means approval, praise or official sanction. It describes the state of feeling favorable towards something, while expressing our satisfaction with it, or our endorsement of it.
Delight in the law indicates two things:
- An intellectual agreement – we affirm that the law of God is divine, holy, pure and good. It communicates the principles of God’s economy to us; it is a roadmap for living a full and blessed life. To fully conform to the law is the highest perfection of human nature and the highest honor we can hope for.
Once we accept Jesus as Lord, Holy Spirit writes the law of God upon our minds, and we are fully convinced of their truth and perfection.
Hebrews 8:10 – For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.
- An emotional pleasure in the contemplation of the law - to delight in the law of God is to love it for its purity and spirituality; to take genuine pleasure in the knowledge of it by meditating on it and putting its principles into practice.
Psalms 119:97 – Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
In other words, we delight in the law when we are glad to know it, excited to do it/live by it, cheerfully submit to the authority of it, and are pleased when our lives conform to it.
In my inner being: The expression ‘inner being’ or ‘inward man’ is typically used to denote the rational part of man (the mind) as opposed to the sensual part of man (the physical body).
II Corinthians 4:16 – So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
In this case, the phrase is used to distinguish the spirit/new nature of the Christian as opposed to the flesh/old nature that still dwells in us.
Romans 7:23 - …but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
GENERAL SUMMARY: Paul is again describing the war that wages within every Christian. His spirit/new man delights in the law of God, but at the same time his flesh/old man wars against that desire by tempting him to sin. If he surrenders to the urges of his flesh/old man, he will be the captive of sin.
DIGGING DEEPER: But I see: Paul perceived or experienced another law or principle (fundamental truth) at work in his life. This is the principle of the flesh/old man.
In my members another law: The word ‘law’ means the same as it did in verse 21 – an inward principle of action operating with the consistency of a natural law, like gravity.
By members, Paul means the corrupt and sinful propensities of his flesh. The human body is composed of many members (hands, feet, back, neck, etc.). Because our body/flesh is regarded as the source of sin, ‘the law in my members’ is the same as the law of sin a.k.a. the flesh/old man.
Waging war against the law of my mind: The law of the mind was defined in the prior verse. It refers to the law of God which is written on our minds by Holy Spirit when we are born again. It is found in our spirit/new man. It stands in opposition to the desires of our flesh/old man or corrupt nature.
These two natures do not peacefully co-exist. They are in a constant state of warfare. They wage war for control of our hearts, minds and actions.
Galatians 5:17 – For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Think of it like a civil war, but instead of the North against the South, it’s the spirit/new man against the flesh/old man. The spirit/new man desires 
to do what is righteous; he wants to take ground for the kingdom of heaven. But the flesh/old man viciously opposes him. He assaults the new man with arrows of temptation, spears of deception, and swords of covetousness/lust. The old man uses all of his knowledge, resources and experience to attack the new man, just as a literal army would attack its enemy.
If the new man loses the battle (or surrenders) he becomes the captive of his adversary – sin (or the law of sin).
I Peter 2:11 – Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
Thus, the state of the Christian is nothing less than continuous civil warfare within our own minds, hearts and wills. Flesh battles spirit, old man battles new man, sin battles grace.
And making me captive to the law of sin: A soldier taken captive in war is under the authority of his enemy. In the same way, when a Christian is overcome by (or surrenders to) the flesh/old man, he is made an unwilling captive to his enemy - the evil inclinations of his heart.
This sounds like a hopeless situation, but it is not. Let’s take a closer look.
When a war is waged and a soldier is taken captive against their will, they are often carried off to the conquering nation. They may be living in the conquering nation, but that does not make them a citizen of that country. They are still a citizen of their native land and at some point, they will no doubt return there.
In the same way, a Christian can fall into sin and when they do, it is equivalent to a soldier who is taken captive by his enemy. For a time, we are prisoners of our old man living in the realm of sin. However, that is not our permanent home/country. Very shortly we will be rescued by grace and returned to our native soil – the kingdom of God.
That dwells in my members: The headquarters or center of command for sin is the flesh/old man which is on high alert, ready to take full advantage of every opportunity to sin.
Romans 7:24 – Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
GENERAL SUMMARY: Paul is miserable because his struggle between the new man and the old man is painful and distressing. He asks an important question: Who can deliver him from this situation?
DIGGING DEEPER: Wretched man that I am: How or in what way was Paul a wretched man?
- He was not wretched in Christ, because as a Christian he had every reason to be happy – he was blessed with all spiritual blessings; he was safe from all condemnation and wrath.
- He was not wretched with respect to his inward man, which was being renewed day by day, and in which he enjoyed true spiritual peace.
- He was not wretched with regard to his future state; his name was listed in the Lamb’s book of life and the joys of heaven awaited him.
2 Corinthians 4:16 - For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
As a Christian, there is only one way that Paul could be wretched – he was at war with his flesh/old man. As with any war, the agonizing conflict between good and evil produces pain and distress.
Who will deliver me: Paul uses himself as an example (me), but his experience is typical of all believers. He represents any Christian who is in a state of captivity to sin and whose mind is in deep distress, being aware of its own weakness and failure. The Christian in this situation needs deliverance and relief. 
Consider your own Christian walk for a minute. How many times have we earnestly wished that we could have a ‘do over’ in life so we could avoid falling into the pitfall of temptation? Wouldn’t you agree that it is both humbling and degrading to a Christian to be taken captive by sin?
When this happens, our minds are in a state of remorse and humility. We are in need of deliverance from the captivity of sin and relief from our failure. Can the law provide it? No, it can only condemn. Can man provide it? Obviously not or we wouldn’t need God.
And so we reach the main point that Paul wants his readers to fully grasp: The only remedy is repentance and forgiveness through Jesus Christ as described in the gospel.
The picture Paul paints for us is that of a soul who is bound by chains of sin and corruption which were threatening him with the bitter pains of eternal death. Naturally, the soul looks for deliverance and relief (help in overcoming his flesh/old man which is dragging him down to eternal damnation in the fires of hell).
The soul soon discovers that the law cannot deliver him; it can only pronounce death. Neither does mankind have a means to rescue him (if that were so, he could rescue himself). Then he turns to the gospel message and is set free by the blood of Jesus Christ.
From this body of death: ‘Body of death’ is yet another euphemism for the flesh/old man and all his evil propensities. This is what the apostle was struggling against, and the thing from which he wants to be delivered.
It should also be noted that Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this process. It is Holy Spirit who brings us to a true understanding of our sin, which in turn leads to conviction/remorse and the desire for forgiveness:
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 - Now I [Paul] rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be regretted: but the sorrow of the world works death.
Once Holy Spirit leads us to repentance through the gospel of Jesus Christ, he then resides within our hearts, being our constant helper in life. He aids us in the struggle against our flesh/old man by opening up our understanding of the scriptures, by helping us to recall God’s word during times of temptation, by growing spiritual fruit within our lives and in many, many other ways.
In short, he not only leads us to salvation, he guides us in sanctification once we are forgiven. As we partner with Holy Spirit, he provides us with the strength, resources and power to defeat our flesh/old man.
Romans 7:25 – Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
GENERAL SUMMARY: First, Paul expresses heartfelt thankfulness to God for providing deliverance through Jesus Christ and the power of Holy Spirit.
He then reaches a conclusion: There are two natures within the life of every Christian. The spirit/new man willingly serves God, but the flesh/old man still remains within him attempting to make him an unwilling servant/captive of sin. 
DIGGING DEEPER: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord: Paul recognizes that God is the source of the ONLY means of deliverance and relief from sin. That which was impossible by the law or mankind was accomplished in Christ through the plan of the gospel. In him and him alone are deliverance and relief found.
I Corinthians 15:57 – But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So then: As the result of Paul’s whole discourse a conclusion can be reached.
I myself serve the law of God with my mind: I myself, the spirit/new man, serves the law of God with my heart and mind. This includes my understanding, conscience and will. I recognize and honor God’s law as a just and holy law; I take delight in it and strive to obey it.
But with my flesh I serve the law of sin: The flesh/old man refers to the corrupt sinful nature we all inherited from Adam. The flesh/old man has no tendency toward holiness; it eagerly desires and works to obtain all that is rebellious, corrupt and sinful. The flesh/old man and its corruption can only be overcome by the grace of God.
Thus we find:
- There is a painful inner conflict in the life of the Christian. Sin (the flesh) and righteousness (the spirit) are opposed at all times, in all things.
- The effects of the war against sin bring the Christian to a state of misery and humility.
- We realize that the law is utterly incapable of delivering us or offering us comfort in this situation. It merely produces more woe, because it sentences us to death.
- God has devised a perfect plan of complete deliverance. What could not be accomplished through the law was done through Jesus Christ. Only the gospel can overcome sin and deliver us.
- Salvation through Jesus Christ should be a cause of never-ending thankfulness in the life of every believer.
Let me offer you some encouragement:
Today’s post talks about a continuous war that happens within every Christian. The flesh battles the spirit, the old man battles the new man, sin battles grace.
If you are really feeling the struggle today, let me offer you this encouraging word: God NEVER sets you up for failure. I encourage you to memorize the following important verse:
1 Corinthians 10:13 - There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Think about that for a minute… God will never allow the enemy to exceed the threshold of your spiritual defenses. He will always provide a means of escape for you, if you will take it (the choice is yours).
- Sometimes escape comes in the form of quoting scripture, like Jesus did during his wilderness temptation (Matthew 4:4).
- Sometimes it comes in the form of an opportunity to remove yourself from a situation where temptation shows up unexpectedly (II Timothy 2:22).
- Other times, it comes by simply saying ‘no’ or standing firm and resisting sin (James 4:7).
When you partner with Holy Spirit in your daily Christian walk, you have more than enough resources and strength to be victorious in your situation.
So I encourage you: Be on the lookout for sin and ways to avoid or escape it!
Let me offer you some relief:
Today’s post talks about the two natures that reside in the life of a Christian. Some folks might argue that you can’t serve two masters. They are correct (Luke 16:13).
But don’t be discouraged or confused. Christians willingly serve only one master – the divine Trinity of God the Father, Jesus the Son and Holy Spirit. There are certainly times when our corrupt nature rears up and temporarily captures us, making us unwilling servants of sin. Nevertheless, sin is NOT our permanent master. As soon as we realize our mistake and turn to Christ, he will forgive us and release us from the captivity of sin, so we can continue to willingly serve him.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Let me offer you some strength:
Yes, all Christians struggle against their fallen nature. But the outcome of our struggle is already decided. In other words, the war is already won. Victory is possible through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Savior and King has already conquered our enemy and we will share in his victory (Romans 16:20). Satan may have bruised the heel of Jesus, but Jesus has crushed his head (Genesis 3:15). The indwelling presence of Jesus/Holy Spirit within us is far, far greater than the god of this world (I John 4:4). At the proper time, even death will be swallowed up in the victory of Christ Jesus (I Corinthians 15:54-57).
So do not allow yourself to be weary in the struggle of this life.
Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus; in due time we will be released from the bonds of our flesh, leaving that old man behind and entering into eternal life with Christ Jesus our Lord!