Desires: To Do or Not To Do

There is a favorite portion of scripture found in Romans that Christians often use to excuse their sinful actions. However, one should be careful how he or she is thinking about this tension or war that resides within us – trying to do what is right, but end up doing what is evil. What is Paul truly saying, and what is he not saying? Unfortunately, people take this portion of scripture out of context and use these verses to excuse their sinful behavior. First and foremost, one must consider the preceding verses (4-13), as these verses are what Paul uses to set the stage in talking about his own personal experience before Christ.

Romans 7:4-13 {4} In the same way, brothers and sisters, you have died to the laws in Moses' Teachings through Christ's body. You belong to someone else, the one who was brought back to life. As a result, we can do what God wants. 5 While we were living under the influence of our corrupt nature, sinful passions were at work throughout our bodies. Stirred up by Moses' laws, our sinful passions did things that result in death. 6 But now we have died to those laws that bound us. God has broken their effect on us so that we are serving in a new spiritual way, not in an old way dictated by written words. 7 What should we say, then? Are Moses' laws sinful? That's unthinkable! In fact, I wouldn't have recognized sin if those laws hadn't shown it to me. For example, I wouldn't have known that some desires are sinful if Moses' Teachings hadn't said, "Never have wrong desires." 8 But sin took the opportunity provided by this commandment and made me have all kinds of wrong desires. Clearly, without laws sin is dead. 9 At one time I was alive without any laws. But when this commandment came, sin became alive 10 and I died. I found that the commandment which was intended to bring me life actually brought me death. 11 Sin, taking the opportunity provided by this commandment, deceived me and then killed me. 12 So Moses' Teachings are holy, and the commandment is holy, right, and good. 13 Now, did something good cause my death? That's unthinkable! Rather, my death was caused by sin so that sin would be recognized for what it is. Through a commandment sin became more sinful than ever. GW

As one is able to see the groundwork that Paul is laying out in verses 4-13 is talking about life under the Law and before Christ. In verse four Paul clearly states that we are now dead to the Law of Moses and now belong to someone else and as a result we can now do what God wants. Before Christ it was not possible to do what God required. The whole context is in regards to the Law of Moses and not the Law of Christ. Paul is contrasting the Law of Moses and being in Christ. The Law is only able to reveal or identify sin, whereas being in Christ actually empowers us to overcome this same sin.

In Christ we are now spiritual and can live in a new way, as the effect of the old way is no longer problematic for us.

The remaining verses in this chapter are not talking about some great cosmic struggle between evil and good within the Christian believer. It is absurd that Paul would be thinking this based on the previous eleven verses. The context of these verses 14-24, is Paul in a pre-Christ condition, rather than as a believer. When believers fall into this wrong thinking, they believe in error that they cannot help but sin. What an insult to the power of Christ that resides in us.

Romans 7:14-25 {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 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, 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: When 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 the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. NIV

The big issue here is verse 25. So, what is Paul talking about? Paul talks about the situation he finds himself in as a religious Jew trying to always keep the law of God. This would have to be the context of his discourse rather than him as a follower of Christ.

The logic in this conclusion is that since we are in Christ we are no longer trying to or obligated to keep the law. With that being the case, why would Paul be endeavoring to keep the Law?

It would seem that Paul a very religious and devout Pharisee was highly committed to keeping the Old Testament law requirements of God. In addition

Paul suffered greatly in proposing that those in Christ are no longer obligated to the Law of God, so why would he now say he was trying to keep the Law?

According to what he writes in Romans 7, he found God’s standards impossible to keep!

Yes, he could keep them in a manner that made him look perfect from a human perspective, but not in alignment with God’s requirements. He could not keep the law because of the sin nature that resided in him. No matter how hard he tried, he would fail. Desire was insufficient. Sincerity was inadequate. Commitment was not enough. Working to keep God’s requirements apart from the power of the living God is an exercise in futility.

Paul is explaining that working to keep the law was impossible without the power of a resurrected Lord living inside the individual. Verses 14-24 however should not be the testimony of a New Testament believer. So, while we are greatly bent toward evil due to our sin nature, we also have the power of the Holy Spirit residing in us. It is obvious as to what is the greater power, as sin and death could not hold down the risen Lord. Yes, it is true that we may struggle with sin, but we do not have to be subservient to the sin. We have been set free in Christ.

Being in Christ now allows me a true freedom of choice. It is a choice to sin or a choice to pursue righteousness. Slaves to sin do not have a choice.

Verse 14 – This verse is critical in order to really understand the context of what Paul is saying. This verse clearly states that Paul is not spiritual (not in Christ) and that he is sold as a slave to sin. This condition is not the spiritual condition of a believer in Christ. We who are in Christ are now a slave to righteousness.

• The Law is spiritual

• Paul is unspiritual – spiritually dead

• Paul is sold as a slave to sin

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. NIV

Verse 15 – There is confusion for those who are following the Law. All Jews believed that just possessing the Law as a nation would justify the nation and every person in the nation; but instead it created a war. It was a war meant to reveal the true nature and characteristics of fallen mankind.

This Law arouses the rebellious nature in man creating an enormous conflict. Paul is getting to explain this conflict within him apart from Christ. At least Paul realizes that sin is worthy of being hated...unlike many believers who take great joy in sinful behavior.

15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Verse 16 – When Paul sins, then he acknowledges indirectly that the Law is good or necessary. Since he violates the Law, then this action of violation reveals that the importance and necessity of the Law as a means to check his rebellion. (This becomes problematic as the Law has no power to help an individual overcome sin – the Law only exposes sin. In essence, this horrible scenario leaves a person feeling hopeless and helpless.)

16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

Verses 17 – Paul realizes that the power of sin living in him is the culprit; it is this original sin that drives him to actual sin. (Note: Paul is not sidestepping responsibility of wrong doing, but realizes that the Law has awakened in him the rebelliousness of sin, making his situation impossible.) Paul is sinful not because he commits sins, but because he was born sinful. Being born sinful is what causes us to commit sin.

17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

Verse 18 – The truth becomes Paul’s reality. There is nothing in Paul humanly speaking that can overcome the power of his sin nature. He is in fact bound to it. Even though he has a desire to do what is the right thing, he lacks the ability to carry this desire to fruition. He is too weak.

18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Verse 19 – He now reiterates the problem – the evil in me is what I end up doing, even though it is something that I do not want to do. This is because he is a slave to sin. (Paul is able to see that doing evil is an act of self-destruction and is the cause for his great consternation. Violating God’s Law is insanity to the utmost.)

19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.

Verse 20 – There is the realization that Paul is being driven by something much greater than himself, something that he cannot control. It is this realization that is also driving him to Christ.

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.

Verse 21 – So, then this Law which is a good thing, reveals that even though he sees the logic and understands that the Law is good; knowing this does absolutely no good as it does not deal with the evil in him.

21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

Verse 22 – Paul sees the benefit of keeping God’s Law and so desires to do so. It makes perfect sense to Paul to keep the Law of God, but...

22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law;

Verse 23 – All that the Law has done is create a conflict in him, of which he realizes is not winnable. Even though it makes perfect sense to keep the Law of God, an opposite effect has occurred. Rather than finding freedom through God’s Law, he understands that he is in actuality a prisoner of sin that lives in him. (This has always been the case – prisoners of sin; it is just that the Law shines the light and shows just how much of a prisoner we actually are.)

23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

Verse 24 – Paul, then cries out as he realizes the huge ramifications of living just under the Law. He is doomed along with the entire human race. This is a hopeless and bitter reality. How can one be saved through only the Law. It cannot be done!

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Verse 25 – Jesus Christ is the answer and not the Law. So, now in Christ, Paul realizes that he can truly be a slave to God’s Law and yet live, while at the same time realizing that his sinful nature is under the dominion of sin. Eventually, in physical death, he will be freed completely from this law of sin.

25 Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. NIV