Not Me But Sin

November 13th, 2024
by Dr. D. Lance Waldie

Nov 13, 2024

Dr. D. Lance Waldie

Romans 7:16-20 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. 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.

Paul agrees that the Law is “spiritual,” or supernatural. It was God who gave the Law; as such, it is “holy…righteous and good” (7:12). Although God also made Paul, as He made all humans, Paul was “fleshly” (v. 14)—born in the likeness of Adam, “sold into the bondage of sin” (v.14). In other words, when Paul was born, like all humans, his slave-master was sin. Now although reborn in Christ, a Christian’s fleshly ways continue to battle with the sin that so easily entangles all humans. Though having the power to say no to sin, we don’t always do so. Sin itself remains alive, persistently seeking to trip up God’s people—a raging battle for our souls.

Paul’s explanation as to what he meant in v. 14 was that he was dumbfounded by his behavior (v. 15), for it was not in accordance with what he truly wanted to do. To use his own previous example of coveting (7:7-8), Paul no doubt had a deep desire to not covet that which he did not possess. But like all Christians, good intentions are not always good enough. Certainly Paul continued to struggle with coveting the same way all Christians struggle with it. Notably, he speaks of his sin as ongoing: “I am doing the very thing I hate” (v. 15); “I practice the very evil that I do not want” (v. 19)—bemoaning the fact that he is not victorious over all personal sins.

Now there is a silver lining in Paul’s confession in v. 16 that all Christians must note, for it is only found in genuine believers. Whereas unbelievers scoff at God’s Law and inwardly burn against God for setting up such high standards, true believers in Christ readily admit that God’s Law is good when they disdain their own rebellious behavior. In other words, when sins are committed by God’s people, they hate their actions or thoughts in light of the fact that they love God’s Law so much. So their deep disappointment in themselves attests to their love for God.

As previously stated, hatred for doing evil is not common in unbelievers. Paul’s realization that “nothing good” lived in him (v. 18) reveals a humility before his audience and a contrite spirit before God that is only seen in true believers (cf. Isa. 66:2). The Greek text says, “I know that nothing dwells in me, that is in my flesh, good.” The qualifier “in my flesh” is Paul’s issue, for the Spirit of God indwelt his soul. But the two of them were at war within him. It was his flesh and all its wicked desires, like coveting, with which Paul struggled. The power of sin was still present, taunting his unredeemed flesh. The word for “dwell” means to “inhabit; reside in.” So, it is sin that inhabits all flesh, tempting even Christians to do that which they detest (v. 20). Paul therefore concluded: “I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.”

Of course this does not relieve Paul of any responsibility for his sinfulness, for in blaming sin within him, Paul recognized the Spirit within him and his old fleshly desires—his new inner self which did not approve of sin and his old self which was tempted to sin. His sin did not flow from his new redeemed life but from his corrupted old nature sold under sin (7:14).

Food for Thought

Ever see a ball player strike out then launch into an angry tirade? He’s angry about failing because he knew he could do better. We should feel the same way when we fail by giving into temptation. We should be repulsed by ourselves when we fail at that which we know we can conquer through God’s Spirit. Our extra batting practice, as it were, equates to more prayer.