Why did I do that? Knowing it was wrong I did it anyway. Knowing it will hurt me and others I did it anyway. Why would you do that knowing the damage it causes? Maybe you have asked yourself these questions. Maybe others have asked you these questions. Paul provides the answer in Roman’s chapter 7. We did it because we wanted to!
Romans 7:13-25 ESV
[13] Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. [14] For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. [15] For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. [16] Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. [17] So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. [19] For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. [21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, [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. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [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.
The first thing we notice here is that we wouldn’t have known it was wrong, or even care, were it not for God’s law. God’s laws are revealed though the written word of God and by his very creation. God gave us a conscience that reveals wrong to us. Unfortunately, sin is bound in our hearts from birth. We have a sin nature. There aren’t any innocent humans. I remember hearing it said that a baby can get so angry that if it were physically capable it would commit murder. We are sinners by birth. We are also sinners by choice. We sin because we want to. This passage deals with that. His frustration is on full display. His excuses are eliminated. He can’t blame his past, his parents, his problems, or anything else. He owns the responsibility. He recognizes that nothing good dwells in him. His desperation is felt by the reader as he described how this defeats him. How his sinful nature leaves him feeling like a war is raging inside. Infact, he cries out “oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?” It is known that one of the punishments for murder in Rome was to bind the corps of the victim to the murderer. We believe that this is what Paul was describing as he cries out. But, we must be grateful that we are enlisted in this war. That we have a new nature that wrestles with our flesh.
BUT GLORY BE TO GOD HE DOESN’T LEAVE US HERE! Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Jesus is our deliver. He delivers us from the penalty of sin when we recieve him as savior and he delivers us from the power of sin as we submit to him as Lord. The holy spirit has moved in to help us. Also, the lord has put us in his church. He gave us each other to help. We are to confess our faults one to another and pray for one another. Accountability is required. Secret sin is the most damaging. Tell on yourself!
And then he writes this! Romans 8:1-2 ESV [1] There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
If you are like me you do sinful things. As long as we remain in this sinful flesh we need our deliver, Jesus. We can live free. We can and should sin less. The real question is will I submit? He is conforming us to his image. So, as we submit to him the process is less painful.