Romans 7:21 - Evil Lurking Close at Hand

Romans 7:21 - I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.

Message: Evil is present in me, though my desire is not for it.

Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.

What the Lord is Saying:

Verse 21 begins with the word “Then” so it seems important to summarize what has come before this verse.       

• Verse 7 – The Law opened by eyes to sins I previously had not named.
• Verse 8 – Once I knew these sins, I pursued them completely.
• Verse 9 – The Law confirmed my death.
• Verse 10 – The Law’s intent though was life not death.
• Verse 11 – Sin corrupted the Law, deceiving me, no longer seeing life.
• Verse 12 – The Law, by itself, is holy.
• Verse 13 – It is important that I see sin for what it is and I see that I am utterly sinful.
• Verse 14 – The Law is spiritual. I am not.
• Verse 15 – But I don’t do what is good, but rather what I hate.
• Verse 16 – My wrong doing then confirms the Law is good.
• Verse 17 – But, my wrong doing is not of me, but of sin.
• Verse 18 – In my flesh, I know, nothing is good.
• Verse 19 – I practice what is evil, not what is good, which is what I want to do.
• Verse 20 – So, remember, I am not doing the sin, but the sin is.

The bottom line in these verses is the Law is good. Before I became a new man in Christ, the Law helped to expose my sin. But, now that I am a new man in Christ, I must remember, that when I sin, it is the sin in me producing the sin. For, now, I am made for good.

Evil is present in me.
I must remember then this principle and not let the sin in me destroy me. I am made for good. I am new in Christ.

Paul uses a phrase, “the principle that is evil.” This is different. This is not the Mosaic Law. This is coming off of verse 15 and beginning to speak of the tennis match that takes place in the believer’s life. Man has every intention to do good, in Christ. It is man’s desire. It is man’s intention. It is what man seeks out to do. But, along the way man can get distracted. Not all the time, but man can be distracted.

Sin takes over, if given the opportunity.
It is something I need to recognize and be aware of. The principle of evil is present in me. Evil does not live in me for Christ lives in me, but the temptation to move towards evil, to sin, is there in me.

CS Lewis, “No one knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good.”  

Promise: I am not evil, nor does evil live in me, but the principle of evil does live in me and I discover this as a try to be good.

Romans 7:18-20 - Our True Identity

Romans 7:18-20 - 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

Message: The Tennis Match of Good and Evil in my life

Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.

What the Lord is Saying:

This has been a fascinating study. The focus has been on the Law actually being good. If there is a culprit in our life it is sin. True, the Law cannot save a person though that may have been its original intention. Sin becomes more aware through the Law, but so does then grace. But, in Christ, we still have sinful tendencies and still struggle with going over to the dark side. We are free in Christ and free from sin per God's perspective.

In Adam is nothing good
Paul paints a stark reminder of every man. There is nothing good in me (verse 18). The unregenerate person knows this because it was talked about in Romans 3. "There is no good in me. There is no one who does good. There is not one." But, the regenerate person also understands this. The good that I have in me is because of Christ. Sure, their is grief that occurs in Adam, in sinful man, that produces a sorrow and thus good works. But, could we say that all good has its source with God? And the difference in man is whether he acknowledges this or not.

I am willing
In Christ I am a new creature, and so in Christ I am willing to do good. All people are willing to do good. Each person with a conscience sees the right way, but doing good is not so evident. I know what I want to do, but I just don't do it (verse 19).

Man's nature is playing a tennis match with himself. Back and forth, doing right, not doing right.

Sin still is in me
And here it is. The reality. Sin is still in. The sinful tendencies occur because sin still lives in me. What must I do? Choose a different path. Surrender to the Lord and accept His provision in my life. Sin may be in me, but sin does not rule me. And its power over me has been broken in my conversion to Christ. The Holy Spirit is working in me.

In Christ, when I sin, it is not really who I am. That is the conundrum. That is why I have such a tension because I know I'm not doing that which now is natural and the natural tendency of me, now in Christ, is to do the good works God prepared me to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Martin Luther said, "We are at the same time righteous (in Christ) and sinners (in practice)."

Promise: Christians are not to expect perfection in this life, but neither are we on the losing side of the battle with sin. By the Spirit, we do progress in holiness as we aim for conformity to Christ. -- Talbetalk, May 16, 2014

Romans 7:14-17 - The Believer's Struggle

Romans 7:14-17 - 14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what 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. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

Message: Sinful tendencies remain in Christ

Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.

What the Lord is Saying:

Leading up
Paul continues to remind his reader that the Law is a good thing. We need it. Yes, the law exposes the sinner. The fascinating thing is people who don't know Christ live their life, trying to keep laws, thinking that good works will bring them to heaven and earn God's acceptance, but they never really would admit that their life is about keeping the Law. Internally they have a conscious, and they simply think and believe they are doing their best, according to their own standard of right and wrong.

Verses 7-14 are interesting because they really are from the perspective of the unregenerate person seeing and understanding the Law for the first time in their life. They are seeing that they are accountable to the Law. It is really an amazing thing for one to understand and comprehend and begin to be convicted about the Law. I remember when it happened me, when I was told there was nothing I could to merit God's acceptance. There were no amount of good works I could do. And suddenly, for the first time in my life, the law had meaning. Sin had meaning. I understood it. People without Christ and without conversion don't understand sin. They don't see the seriousness of it.

So this is where Paul has been in these verses. Leading up to verse 14 we see that through the commandment of God sin was made sinful. The Law exposes sin. But the Law has a purpose of Life. And recognizing that Jesus paid for my sin and fulfilled the Law then can move me to live the Law in my life.

The Law is spiritual
Paul here begins to contrast our two natures. I think it is here to not forget what has been read thus far. And remember that we are born in Adam, and then realize that we can't be free in Adam and can only be free in Christ for eternity. But, although, we are seen now in Christ by God we are still an "in Adam" creature while we walk and talk on this earth.

Paul has told me the Law is Good and states now in verse 14 that the Law is spiritual, meaning its origin is God. We can never think the Law is bad. Yes, it ignites sin in my life, that then yields to my view of Grace, and the need for it because sin is great in my life. But, the bottom line is that the Law if from God and very good. 

I remain in the flesh, doing things I don't want to do because of sin
Verse 14 continues to contrast then my own self with the the goodness of God and the Law. Once sin came into the world through Adam, man has sinful tendencies. The power of God can move a person beyond this.

2 Corinthians 7:10, a verse I have been memorizing says, "For Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, where as worldly grief produces death." What's important to see in this verse is the Godly person and worldly person both experience grief in their lives. Both individuals experience sorrow for wrongdoing. The difference is the worldly person simply has a sorrow against self while the godly person has a sorrow against God, realizing their violation to the Law and their desire to never violate God again. The worldly person does have motivation to not do things that are improper, but for different reasons of outcomes. The worldly person is focused on man's opinion.

The problem is that man's standards constantly change. And when can man ever feel like they have arrived. This is why so many religions are set up to set the standard of what it means to arrive.

Verse 15 clarifies the sinful tendencies the person, in Christ, has still in his life. Sin still rears its ugly head in my life and I catch myself doing what I don't understand and even doing in a repeated fashion things I don't want to do anymore. The challenge remains in life to live the way God sees us. To love others and ourselves this way. And to view sin they way he views it: paid for and finished, so nothing good in it. And there is tension here.

The Law remains good and clearly different from me

Guzik explains that...

Paul’s problem isn’t desire - he wants to do what is right (what I will to do, that I do not practice). His problem isn’t knowledge - he knows what the right thing is. His problem is a lack of power: how to perform what is good I do not find. He lacks power because the law gives no power.

The law says: “Here are the rules and you had better keep them.” But it gives us no power for keeping the law. 

Paul admits that he agrees the Law is spiritual and thus agrees that the Law is something of God and not of flesh. Just like God is good, the Law is good. On my own, though, I can't keep it. What man will have to do, is what he has done, and that is redefine it so that he can, at the end of the day, see himself worthy. Man must feel like he has at some point done what is right so man goes about changing the Law and changing God so that he can see himself worthy. And here in the 21st Century, this is where we are at. Sin is no longer sin, but it is acceptable behavior. Lying is necessary so we don't hurt people. Stealing is the norm because it is so easy. Blasphemy is just what people do now. Adultery is what everyone is doing and frankly, if I don't get what I want in a relationship, then it is fine. We work 24/7 so there is no Sabbath. Murder of babies, abortion, is the norm. Murder can even be justified in others if we think a person has wronged us enough. Idolatry is so rampant and in abundance we struggle even defining it because it is everywhere. Our phones, TV, status, wealth, power, movies, entertainment, jobs, relationships -- all have become idols. And since children are now so intertwined with the culture and the parents are so focused on their children and their safety and well-being, parents are really about honoring their children than the other way around. The laws of the land have removed the need to get parents permission for an abortion, a tattoo, most everything. If you want it and have money, then get it. And the normal person doesn't even comprehend coveting because it is so prevalent that we don't even realize we are doing it.

In Conclusion, sin has taken over our lives and is living our lives.

Promise: The Law is Good because the law is of God. From Tabletalk, "The more i grow in conformity to Christ, the more I see how unlike Him I am."

Romans 7:13 - Sinful Beyond Measure

Romans 7:13 - Therefore 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, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

Message: A better understanding of sin in my life

Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.

What the Lord is Saying:

I was reading yesterday in Tabletalk and it mentioned the point of reference for these verses in Romans, specifically verses 7 to 14. It stated the idea that these verses are not written to the believer in Christ but rather the person who is close to conversion. The person is beginning to recognize, through the Law, that they are a sinner. In verse 8, the person realizes that through the Law sin of every kind was produced or made more aware by the sinner. And then in verse 9 and 10 the person realizes that though they thought they were alive, without the Law, when they were confronted with it and its truth, they realized they were dead. And so there is a progression in these verses of a person understanding that they are in fact sinners.

Again, what is interesting in these verses is the condition of the person and the fact that people live most of their lives without a law in their life. And therefore, without a standard and without a need for a Savior.

Yesterday, during lunch, I was memorizing a couple of scriptures and I realized that I really have a sort of obligation or rather I have a desire to have conversations with the people at my work place outside of work. I would like to talk to my co-workers, if they are willing, about their faith and really see if I can understand where they are at in their walk. I could even talk to other family members. Could I do that? Sure I could. I need to do. God, give me boldness. As I read these passages of scripture it just moves me for people to understand Truth. It's not enough to make flippant comments here and there. Sure, God is at work and can work in people's lives. But, I am missionary and have been sent to these people. So, am I really doing everything I can to help people understand truth. I started to have a burden for this in the budget office, but said very little to people. I said something, but not much. I could say more and talk to people if they are willing to talk.

That said, I struggle understanding where people are at spiritually sometimes. I struggle being a detective of sorts and trying to figure it out. Because most people think they have the truth in their life. They think they are set. But, do they really understand it? Am I doing my best to help them? 

Today's Reading
Verse 13 continues the understanding of possibly this unregenerate person. Paul once again is realizing or showing us that the Law is Good. He says, "Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me?" If the Law is in fact good, then is it what caused me to see that I am dead in Adam? No, the Law exposes our sin, and then our sin is what moves us to this understanding, not the Law. Again, the Law is good. I am not to look at the Law as being something bad.

The Law exposes the sin in my life. A regenerate person want to see this.

Promise: The Law helps to expose sin in my life.

Romans 7:12 - The Law in the Life of an Unbeliever

Romans 7:12 - So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Message: The Law is a Good thing.

Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.

What the Lord is Saying: 

In Review
When I die the Law will no longer have a hold on me. The theory is that I have died to the Law and I can now walk in newness of life. The outcome of the Law was death and it no longer has a hold on me. 

The Law told me that I had sinned. Because of the Law, sin seizes the day and the sinner begins sinning in ways he never previously thought possible. Without the Law, sin feels dead. Without the mirror, I can't see how dirty my face has become. And without the Law or standard in my life, I tend to think I'm A-OK. I feel healthy. If a person keeps the Law perfectly, it brings life. But, now i see it results in death. I feel like I have been deceived.

The Law is Holy
Don't miss this. "So then." The Law is holy. The Law is perfect and separate from the ways of the world. The commandment is holy and righteous and good. Righteousness can be pictured in the Law. Paul wants us to make sure that we realize that the Law is something good.

It is not like the sin that was crucified in our life and we have been freed from that sin and its ways and we are to embrace righteous living. Law is good. It is holy. It is a reminder that we need in life. We need the mirror in our life to see how dirty we are. I need to be reminded that I am indeed a sinner for I can never be dull of hearing of God's grace and what He has done for me. And the Law constantly reminds me of my need for a Savior.

Promise: It is good for us to have a Law.

Romans 7:8-11 - Sin's Perversion of the Law

Romans 7:8-11 - 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

Message: Sin's relationship with the Law

Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.

What the Lord is Saying:

Setting It Up
Is Law Sin? That was the next question found in verse 7. I would not have known sin if the Law had not said, "Don't ______." The law was more specific. Whether it is the Law or it is sin, the Believer has died to both of them. Justification took care of this. And now I am sanctified in Christ until I will be glorified for all eternity with Christ.

The law produced in me coveting of every kind. Sin is far reaching. And sin is comprehensive. Sin is multifaceted.  When I ask people questions about sin and whether they have broken a commandment, there are many ways a person can break one individual commandment.

These verses are a little tough and challenging. And I must admit, they do begin to confuse me a little. The phrase "apart from the law" previously was used by Paul to describe that the Law and God's declaring us righteous are not connected. So, doing the Law or doing what God commands is not connected to God declaring us righteous. Works don't have a bearing on receiving God's righteousness. That is an important separation.

Sin takes its opportunity
Sin here in verse 8 are not acts of sin, but our sin nature. Without the Law, the sin nature is relatively dormant. It is not dead for Paul has already shown us in Romans 2 that the conscious accuses man alternately. And this was before the Law. But, with the Law now, sin seizes the day. And so the nature of man and his sin nature sees the Law clearly now and has the opportune moment now to be a rebel from it.

The opportunity for more sin is taken and now sin is produced in every kind. This is what sin does. We open the door and suddenly we are sinning in ways that, at the onset, we weren't even considering.

But, the Law here isn't the problem. The problem is man and his selfish will.

Apart from the Law, sin is dead 
Romans 3:21
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 

Romans 3:28 

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

 

Yet now in Romans 7, as we talk about the sanctified life, the use of the phrase "apart from the Law" appears to be different. Verse 8 speaks to the fact that sin is dead apart from the law and verse 9 says I am alive apart from the Law. 

 

Romans 7:8 

But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.

Romans 4:15 states, "where there is no law, there also is no violation."

What happened here in this progression is, earlier in verse 8, sin took the opportunity and suddenly sin of every kind was being committed. So, therefore, apart from the law sin is dead. But, really it feels dead, which is what the commentators state. It is not literally dead and not breathing, but it is dormant and feels dead.

Without the mirror I don't think I have a dirty face, but that doesn't mean my face isn't dirty. The mirror just exposes me. Without the mirror, I may feel the dirt, but looking into the mirror now makes me realize just how dirty I am.

Previously, I felt healthy
Romans 7:9 

I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;

Without the Law, I feel fine. A-ha! See, this is why sin in the life of the non-believer is so dormant. They have no law in their life. They have no mirror. They feel alive and free from sin. It is not until they see the law, are exposed to it, that they understand the 10 commandments and then realize, "O, wow. I am a sinner." Without the Law, I feel like I am spiritual healthy. And people even with the Law nearby will do everything possible to make it seem like they don't really have anything bad in their life. This is the problem with the Christian. They don't want to be accountable. No one wants to be accountable. No one wants someone else to tell them to change or really anything to tell them to change. The cry of every person is "don't judge me." What each person is saying is, "Leave me alone. I decide what is sin in my life. No one else."

But sin makes me realize I'm dead
We are all about living and living life to the fullest. We are entertainment and recreation oriented in life. Everyone is working for the weekend, to borrow a Loverboy song from the 80's. Life is about having fun. We are become more and more better at improving life and lengthening life. Don't talk about death. And yet that is the result of sin and the gospel, the realization that I can't do it and I need Christ. That, without Christ I am dead. No one wants death and so they do everything to avoid it.

Thought to be life, really death
Romans 7:10

and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;

Most people think the laws are there, so that, if we keep them we are safe. The keeping of the commandment brings life, but only if the commandment is kept perfectly and completely.

What is the response of people confronted with the 10 commandments

1. I formerly did that, but not any more so I'm okay
2. Everyone does it so you can't condemn me as well

People talk about having a perfect driving record with no accidents and no tickets. But, have they been perfect in their driving? Not a chance. They have sped and may have even hit someone, but its just not on their record. The problem is without anything on their record or a ticket they think they are fine.

Deception is the Key
Romans 7:11 states, "sin...deceived me." This is it. This is the key to all of life without Christ. And the key to so many religions. People have been deceived. People have been made to think they are alright and getting them to come out that state of deception is a work of God in their life.

This is an utterly sad state of mankind: deception. Something sounds like truth so it becomes truth. It is truly and completely unfortunate.

For Paul here, he felt deceived because the Law he thought would bring life, but in the end, it brought death. 

Promise: The secret to life is death.

Romans 7:7 - Knowing Sin

Romans 7:7 - What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

Message: Knowing sin

Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.

What the Lord is Saying:

Not again
Part of me wishes Paul would not have transitioned to this verse next. In the last several verses I have studied we are free from sin, free from the standards of the Law, even though we, through Christ, fulfill the Law and we are walking in newness of Life that the Spirit lives in us. I am on my way to live the new life in Christ.

Verse 7 states, "What shall we say then? Is the Law sin?" What? Is the Law sin? Haven't we covered this enough? I realize that I don't sin because sin is dead or sin has been crucified. In Adam I am a sinner and my life as a sinner results in death. Sin is breaking the Law. And the Law has no hold on me because Christ has conquered it by dying on the cross for me and this means something because, as a man, He lived a perfect life. 

Yet he circles back to sin and defining it and I really should be thankful for this for he is really setting up man to have no excuse. And the Jew has no excuse. No wonder Martin Luther read and studied this and was changed. The Catholic church was really, at times, speaking and preaching a different message and Luther read this and was amazed by it. It s a reminder of the importance of reading God's word.

Knowing Sin
Verse 7 emphasizes something big, "I would not have known sin if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet." Thank goodness for the Law. I have preached on this verse a few times. In fact, it was the first message that I ever preached. And the illustration I used for this verse was to say that when I was in college, I was driving to Baylor, going down the highway. I was driving southeast on highway 84, just past Lubbock. I can't remember if I got to Snyder yet. I'm driving in my Monte Carlo, sensitive to the speed limit. Recently, they had changed the speed limit to 65 on highways. All of a sudden a police officer's lights flash and I am pulled over to the side of the road. The officer stops me and says, "Do you know how fast you were going?" Yes Sir. "65." He said, "What is the speed limit?" I said it is 65. That new law is now in effect and I'm going the speed limit. He said that that Law is only for interstates, highway 84 is not an interstate. Say what? I didn't know the law. I thought I knew it, but then I realized I didn't.

That was my illustration for not knowing sin. I thought I was fine, but then the Law came around and "Blamm!!" I am broke it. I wouldn't have known anything if the law had not said something.

Covet
I don't think Paul randomly chose a Law here. Paul just isn't the random sort of person. He could have cited any of the major 10 commandments. The first deal with our relationship with God. And the next 5 deal with our relationship with man. Coveting I think is somewhat unique. To this point, the commandments have primarily been external things we can see, like not keeping the sabbath, worshiping idols, murder, lying. But, here is the reminder of coveting or wanting something on the inside. Law of society are always in place for catching people in improper actions. But, this is a thought action. This is a desire.

1. Coveting is a desire. People can't be convicted in society for what they think. 
2. Coveting is a strong desire. It makes us do thing that we will regret. It pushes us to do evil. 
3. Coveting wants more. It isn't satisfied with what I have and it wants more or even it thinks I don't have enough of what I do have. 
4. Coveting wants what I can't have. The object is really forbidden. I can't have my neighbors wife. I have a wife. 
5. Coveting makes me responsible. Only I know what I want. I have personal responsibility to stay true to what I have. 
6. Coveting is specific. Lust is a general desire. Greed is wanting more money. Coveting is wanting the Corvette. Coveting is wanting that woman. Coveting is wanting that house. 
7. Coveting doesn't care about others. Coveting doesn't care about hurting others. 
8. Coveting is hidden. I will conceal what I want. I will hide this from everyone else. It is dark and secret. 
9. Coveting will destroy me. 

The Bible tells me to be giving. Coveting is getting. The Bible tells me to think of others. Coveting is thinking of me. I am to worship God. Coveting wants people to worship me and what I have.

It's not bad to want. I want to be holy. Can i be truly and completely holy? Nope. But it is good to want this.

Promise: God shows us the wrong way, not just the right way.