15 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15
I was asked to develop a study about this particular verse and what it really means. It’s a challenging verse to understand, but I think the whole passage below and the following questions can help to clarify its meaning. Please talk to me about it in the comments!
1. Read the passage (below). a) What do you understand? b)What doesn’t make sense?
2. An understanding of Sin. What do you know about the nature of sin? Adam and Eve. Cain and Abel. That which goes against the commands of God
3. An understanding of the Law. What do you know about Mosaic Law?
4. What did Jesus say about the Law? Why would Jesus say this? Why was the Law good? Why was the Law bad?
5. Nature of the Spirit Romans 8:9 Galatians 5:22
6. Nature of the Flesh Ephesians 2:3 1 Cor 3:3
Galatians 5:19
7. Background of the Letter to the Romans. Tensions between Jews and Gentiles Paul is writing out his theology. gospel and law eternal plan of God for the salvation of sinners Righteousness that God both demands in obedience and offers as a free gift in Christ, received by faith.
8. What are your next steps?
Romans 7:7-25 (NIV)
The Law and Sin
7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[b] 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin.
Radha Vyas 