Chapter 7:13-25

COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

By Dr. John R. Stone

Romans 7:13-25

7 13Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good.
17So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. 20But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good. 22For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (Rom. 7:13-25 NASB)

Part 21 Overview:

In the book of Romans Paul explains the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith so that these new believers will be well-grounded and not led astray with other religious systems. This passage in chapter seven is part of the section of this letter where Paul is explaining about the doctrine of sanctification and how a believer becomes increasingly like Christ. Here in 7:13-25 Paul declares that believers can be victorious over sin.

In this passage Paul explains that becoming a Christian does not mean that the struggle with sin has ended. To the contrary, he says that even believers have an ongoing battle with sin, but that God has made provision through Christ for the believer to be victorious in this struggle. Even Paul experienced the struggle within whenever he tried to do the work of the Holy Spirit in the power of human effort alone.

Vss. 13-17: The Law Evaluated

In verse 14 Paul says, “We know that the Law is spiritual,” therefore the struggle he experiences as a believer cannot be caused by Law of God. Paul says that when he has to struggle against sin it is because of the “sin which dwells in me” (7:17, 20, 23). This is the secret to understanding why even believers must struggle against sin to have lives that honor God. Trusting Christ for salvation, getting born again, and becoming a Christian does not remove the sin nature from the inner being of the believer. Something in the believer is still sinful, and that something is called “the flesh” or “the law of sin” (7:25). Paul’s experience with this struggle is not just an isolated case but the universal experience of all believers.

Vss. 18-20: The Self Examined

In verse 18 Paul says “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.” By this he means that the immaterial part of him that is called “the flesh” has nothing good about it, and that the believer will have to struggle against it until he dies. It is not just difficult to win this battle with sin, it is impossible unless the Holy Spirit gives the victory over it. Just trying harder to keep the Ten Commandments will never transform the believer’s life. The secret of sanctification is to walk in daily, moment by moment dependence on the Holy Spirit so that He produces the life of Christ in the believer.

Vss. 21-23: The Conflict Identified

In verse 21 Paul says, “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good.” This is true, not just for Paul but for all believers; this reality is a principle of the spiritual life for any follower of Jesus Christ. This explains why believers sin, even when they know better and hate the fact that they are so often defeated by the same sin.

Vss. 24-25: The Victory Guaranteed

Paul cries out, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ.” Victory is secure for the believer who depends on the Holy Spirit whenever sin tempts him, and ultimate deliverance is guaranteed when Jesus Christ gives the believer a new resurrection body without indwelling sin.

—to be continued

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