Romans 7:13-25

Romans 7:13-25

[13] Was then  that which is good  made  death  God forbid.  But  sin,  that  it might appear  sin,  working  death  by  that which is good;  that  sin  by  the commandment  might become  exceeding  sinful.  [14] For  we know  that  the law  spiritual:  but  am  sold  under  sin.  [15] For  that which  I do  I allow  not:  for  what  I would,  do I  not;  but  what  I hate,  do I.  [16] If  then  I do  which  I would  not,  I consent  unto the law  that  it is good.  [17] Now  then  it is no more  that do  it,  but  sin  that dwelleth  in  [18] For  I know  that  in  flesh,)  dwelleth  no  good thing:  for  to will  is present  but  how to perform  that which is good  not.  [19] For  the good  that I would  I do  not:  but  the evil  which  I would  not,  I do.  [20] Now  if  I do  would  not,  that do  it,  but  sin  that dwelleth  in  [21] I find  then  a law,  that,  would  do  good,  evil  is present  [22] For  I delight  in the law  of God  after  the inward  man:  [23] But  I see  another  law  in  members,  warring against  the law  mind,  and  into captivity  to the law  of sin  which  in  members.  [24] O wretched  man  that I am!  who  shall deliver  from  the body  death?  [25] God  through  Jesus  Christ  Lord.  So then  with the mind  myself  serve  the law  of God;  but  with the flesh  the law  of sin. 

What does Romans 7:13-25 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

In Romans 7:13-25 Paul continued to describe his personal struggle with sin but with mounting intensity. The forces of external law and internal sin (i.e, his sinful nature) conflicted. He found no deliverance from this conflict except through the Lord Jesus Christ ( Romans 7:25). Many students of this passage, including myself, believe what Paul was describing here was his own personal struggle as a Christian to obey the law and so overcome the promptings of his sinful nature (flesh) to disobey it. The present tenses in his testimony support this view. Without God"s help he could not succeed. I will say more in defense of this view later. However what he wrote here is not normal or necessary Christian experience. What is normal and necessary for a Christian is to obey God since the Holy Spirit leads, motivates, and enables us; disobedience Isaiah , in this sense, abnormal Christian conduct.