Romans 7:13-25

The following chart relates to this passage and its conclusion in 8:1-4.

In Romans 7 Paul is explaining the role of the law.  It reveals our sin but cannot free us from sin.  He is using his own life to illustrate how the law arouses sin in our sinful lives.  The law not only cannot make the sinner right before God (v7-12); it cannot make the believer grow in righteousness (v13-25).

There has been much debate as to whether Paul is relating his experience before becoming a Christian or after.  My view is that 7:9-11 speaks of his pre-Christian experience while 7:14-24 speaks of life after his conversion.  The struggle he describes in the latter section seems more likely for a believer who, unlike the unsaved, has a deep desire to please God.  Regardless of one’s take on this question one thing seems certain: living under law (the oldness of the letter) is frustrating and destined for defeat.

To live under law is to “do the best you can” or “try your hardest” to obey the law.  It is to live by the flesh.  This is seen in Paul’s explanation.  In v14-20 Paul makes two logical arguments for his weakness when trying to live by the obligation of law.

·        He is weak.  In v14 he says he is carnal or fleshly, enslaved to sin.  The proof is in v15: he cannot get himself to do what he knows he should do.  The problem is not with the law (v16) but with the sin that is making its home in him.

·        Again, he is weak in the flesh (v18a).  The proof is again in the fact he cannot do what he wills to do (i.e. what the law says must be done, vs. 18b-19).  And again, the problem is sin that is at home in him.

When Paul says in v17 and v20 that his problem is the sin that dwells in him he is not making an excuse for his disobedience.  He is simply stating a fact.  The old man has died with Christ.  Yet we continue to carry the carcass, if you will, in our fleshly bodies.  It exerts influence when we yield our members to it (6:16).  Though dead, like John Kennedy, who still influences politics or Elvis Presley who still influences entertainment, the old man continues to hinder our spiritual growth.  We keep going back to the old way, the old habits, the old life.

In summarizing (v21-23) Paul sees four laws at work in his body:

v The law of God (v22): that which is right, always.

v The law of my mind (v23): our knowledge of and desire to do the law of God.

v The law of sin (v23): that which is wrong.

v “Another law” (v23): our desires to do the law of sin.  This law was against the law of my mind and is perhaps the sinful passions aroused by the law (7:5).  It might also be called the law of the flesh (note v25).

The result of these conflicting laws in Paul is expressed in v24.  It is utter frustration, spiritual defeat, and a cry for deliverance.  Such is the experience of the Christian who seeks to live out of his own strength.  Such is life under law.

What is the answer?  In a name it is Jesus Christ our Lord (v25a), the One to whom the believer is married (7:4), the One to whom believers are united in his death and resurrection (6:1-4).  The answer is to live under grace, which mercifully is explained in detail in Rom. 8.

Have you experienced Paul’s frustration?  Do you know the wretchedness of living under law?  Get ready for God’s deliverance!