Epistle to the Romans

Gospel Light Christian Church
Thru-The-Bible Series (9.2)

The Epistle to the Romans

Romans 7:14-25 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

The Conflict of Two Natures

v.14 There is nothing wrong with the Law - it is spiritual (ie, divine, heavenly), but we are carnal (ie, fleshly and sinful) sold under sin (ie, under the power of sin – in the same way as slaves who are sold to a master are under his power). Paul is dealing here with deliverance from sin or the victory we have in Christ, not pardon (forgiveness). The whole question is concerning indwelling sin which has no rule or reign over us but still exists in our flesh, not committed sins, as a danger. As a carnal man, sin has such a strong “grip” over us that we cannot, with our own strength, be freed from its grip. This is why religions that command us to overcome our sins, without the Holy Spirit to enable us to overcome our sins, produce hypocrites who appear to overcome sin but in reality only do so outwardly.

v.15 From this verse until the end of the chapter we learn about the continuing struggle between the two opposing natures in Christians – namely, a “new will” given by the Holy Spirit, and the sinful tendency in our members (ie, organs of our body). It is our constant frustration that many things that we hate (because of our new hatred against sin) and therefore allow not (ie, do not consent to) “slip out” in our thoughts and actions. This situation exists until we leave this world. It is the evidence of genuine salvation. An unsaved man will not feel the intensity of such a struggle because he does not have a mind that wants to obey God. His mind desires to please self (as long as he does not get caught and shamed).

v.16    The fact that I agree in my (newly regenerated) mind that committing sin is not good, affirms (ie, consents) that I agree that the Law is good. Before salvation a man views the Law as unreasonable, unattainable, and unprofitable.

v.17    The Holy Spirit works in the mind (ie, our higher faculties) and regenerates it so that it has new purposes and aims. The Holy Spirit also works in the heart so that it has new desires. This new mind and heart result in the new "I", ie, the new man. However, the sinful nature still exists in our lower faculties or organs, eg. eye, tongue, stomach.

v.18 The new man, the new "I" wills to do good, but does not have the strength to do it (ie, how to perform that which is good I find not) because the lower faculties do not cooperate. For example, a Christian may desire to study the Word of God, but finds that his lazy body prefers to sleep instead.

v.19 The lower faculties not only do not cooperate with the "will" but often do the opposite (ie, the evil which I would not, that I do).

v.20 In other words, it is no more I that do it (ie, it is no more my "will" that does it) but rather surrender to the desires of the flesh (ie, sin that dwelleth in me - in my members).

v.21    The power of sin in our members is so consistent that it is called a law (- it is as consistent as the law of gravity).

v.22 The new man delights in the law of God unlike the unsaved man who thinks that God’s law is unreasonable and obedience to it makes us miserable.

v.23 In this struggle between the new “I” and the members of the body – the members win (unless we depend on the Holy Spirit to enable us). Unless we understand this vital truth, we will live defeated lives instead of in victory which is already provided!

v.24 Paul feels so wretched because of his consistent tendency to sin. He feels so helpless to deliver himself from the law of sin which is in his members. He calls his ever-sinning body the body of this death (ie, this body of death).

v.25 We will be fully delivered from these sinful tendencies in our members when we are resurrected and God gives us a new body. However, by God's grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, and by His Spirit, we don’t have to wait for victory and we depend upon Him to cause us to live in that which has already been provided for through the cross – day to day victory over sin as we appropriate (make our own) the promises of God. As Christ conforms us to his likeness we are also delivered from the tendency to sin which abides in our members.