Romans 7:13-25

Thus far in his letter to the Roman Christians, Paul has mostly focused on providing his readers with a fuller understanding of their salvation through Jesus Christ. His written words in Romans 1:18-3:20 revealed that all men, regardless of nationality, are sinners who are void of righteousness and deserving of God’s condemnation (current and future). In Romans 3:21-5:21 Paul rejects human effort as a way of finding forgiveness and then presents faith in Jesus Christ as God’s provision for sinners to receive righteousness. Following faith in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul writes about the demonstration of that righteousness in the life of the Christian, which is called sanctification (Romans 6:1-8:39).

One of the major obstacles to Paul’s Jewish readers was that the law of God did not seem to be needed since it could not bring salvation; however, Paul was careful to point out that the law is necessary because it provides God’s standard of right and wrong (7:7). The purpose of the law was to bring the knowledge of sin, but seeking to obey it could never bring righteousness since no man could perfectly keep it (Romans 3:10-18, 23). Therefore, we can safely conclude that the value of the law is that it alerts our conscience to sin and forces us to seek righteousness outside of human effort.

Paul declared to his readers that “the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (7:12), which meant that the law itself is an accurate reflection of God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness. Some might mistake the law as the thing which brings death, but Paul wanted them to know that it is rather sin which brings death (7:13). Explaining Romans 7:13 the Bible Knowledge Commentary by John Walvoord and Roy Zuck says,

Paul simply declares, “the law is spiritual [comes from God], but I am carnal, sold under sin” (7:14). It is here that Paul begins to explain life following repentance and justification. The law brings the knowledge of sin and so a person seeks forgiveness and mercy from God. God willingly forgives those who ask, but does this mean that they will never sin again? No. A struggle between the new inner self (desires to obey God) and the old selfish flesh (desires to follow sin) rages in the heart of a believer. Paul details his own struggle after having faith in Jesus Christ:

“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not
practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to
do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who
do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my
flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform
what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do;
but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will
not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me” (Romans
7:15-20)

Paul was certainly not making excuses for his own sin, but he was declaring the reality of his own struggle between the flesh and the spirit. There is a war going on inside of each one of us. The law of sin wants to pull us back into a lifestyle contrary to our new life in Christ (7:21-23); however, through Jesus Christ we can fight against these evil desires (7:24-25). This fight can be frustrating at times, but we must consistently submit ourselves to the ways of God and ask for His help in the struggle.

Dear God, the war between good and evil inside of me is sometimes very discouraging. I try to do what is right, but it seems like I’m always being pulled back into sin. I know that this battle is not an easy one so I pray that You would provide the strength I need to endure temptations and trials.