Romans 7:19: For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
Paul was saying that of himself he could not obey God’s Law; and that even when he did, evil was still present with him. No matter what he did, his deeds were tainted by sin. Even after he had done his best, he had to admit that he was “an unprofitable servant” (Luke 17:10). “How can I stop doing bad things?” while the problem here is, “How can I ever do anything good?” The legalist says, “Obey the Law and you will do good and live a good life.” But the Law only reveals and arouses sin, showing how sinful it is! It is impossible for me to obey the Law because I have a sinful nature that rebels against the Law. Even if I think I have done good, I know that evil is present. The Law is good, but by nature, I am bad! So, the legalist is wrong: the Law cannot enable us to do good. 1
Application
- The law is a mirror to your soul. What image do you see when the law reflects your soul?
- The law in chapter 7 should make you very hungry for the Spirit in chapter 8.
Prayer
Lord, please fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit right now.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.