Romans 7:10-17

 

Rom 7:10 (KJV)
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

The law of God would grant eternal life to anyone who would be able to obey it perfectly and Paul being a Pharisee thought that he would be able to keep the law perfectly. (Phil 3:5-6 KJV) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; {6} Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. In these verses from Philippians, Paul believed that he was righteous in the law, which means that he would have had to obey the law perfectly in every detail. Then when he became saved, he realized that the law did not provide eternal life, rather it was unto death since no one could keep the law perfectly, including himself. (1 Tim 1:15 KJV) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Paul came to the conclusion that being a Pharisee did not exempt him from the righteous demands of God’s law and realized that the law did not ordain anyone to life but it did ordain to eternal death because of its holy nature. Holiness and sin are in total opposition.

Rom 7:11 (KJV)
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

Those who believe they can keep the law of God are really deceived by sin, which is exactly what the law of God shows us, that it is impossible to keep the law perfectly. Sin is intensified by the law not mollified. Sin deceives us into believing that we are not sinners and that deception is described by Paul as “slaying him.” What he means by that is what he believed was his righteousness was really his condemnation unto eternal damnation, and therein lies the deception.

Rom 7:12 (KJV)
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

The law reflects the lawgiver and that means that the law is holy, just, and good because it objectively sits in judgment of every human being on earth regardless of any religious, political, or social status. The law is holy writ therefore the words are holy coming from Holy God Himself. The words are just because it properly judges the actions and motives of every human being who has ever lived on earth. The law is good because it drives us to the Savior because it teaches us that we are unable to keep it. The law is good in another aspect too, that if kept perfectly it will bring someone into eternal life.

Rom 7:13 (KJV)
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

The law, which is good, did not create death in Paul but it was sin that was working in him unto death. The law showed us the exceeding sinfulness of every human being on earth. The law showed us what sin was and how it permeates every person who has ever lived. When looking at the law of God, we do not blame it for the fact that humans are sinful. It is like blaming the law of the land against thievery when we get caught stealing. The law did not make us steal but sin which indwells us is what made us steal. The law just showed us that stealing was wrong and that there are penalties for disobeying the law. God’s law shows us that there are penalties for breaking His law and that penalty is eternal damnation unless we become saved. One thing the law definitely shows us is that it is absolutely impossible for anyone to obey the Law of God perfectly all their life.

Rom 7:14 (KJV)
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

The law of God is spiritual and those who are truly saved understand that it is not the law which leads someone into sinning but it is the sin nature which lives in us that causes us to break God’s law. Paul contrasts the fact that the law is spiritual and that he is carnal, sold out to sin. Here Paul begins a section on the struggle between the purity of the redeemed soul and the sinfulness of the unregenerate flesh which every believer still lives in until the Lord takes them home. Paul is speaking here as a redeemed man because only when a person becomes saved do they realize that there is a tremendous struggle between holiness and sin, and that struggle exists in every true believer.

(Rom 7:15 KJV)
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

In verse 15 we see Paul surfacing the spirit-flesh struggle. As long as we remain in these earthly tabernacles we will always have this struggle. We want to do good but yet we will do the very things we hate. It is a spiritual war to fight against the flesh. The flesh is always seeking to have its own way because the flesh has not been redeemed and is still in sin. Every true believer will continue this good-bad struggle until the day of their home going.

(Rom 7:16 KJV)
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

The Bible is teaching us that we are unable to keep the law and the law of God has a good handle on human beings. We may have a desire to do good but because of sin, the working out of that desire may result in some sinful acts. In other words, God is correct when he says we cannot keep the law. When we sin we are agreeing with the fact that the law is good in that it brings to light our fleshly weakness and the sin which results.

(Rom 7:17 KJV)
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

A major principle unfolds for us in understanding the sin problem in the Christian’s life. Paul states that when he sins it is no longer he that does it but sin that dwells in him. How could that be when he performs the sin, how could it not be him? The sin nature remains in the believer after salvation and the next verse tells us how.