Romans 7

1 Or do you not know, brothers, (now I am speaking to those who know the law) that the law has dominion over a man only so long as he lives?2 For example, a woman who is subject to a husband is obligated by the law while her husband lives. But when her husband has died, she is released from the law of her husband.3 Therefore, while her husband lives, if she has been with another man, she should be called an adulteress. But when her husband has died, she is freed from the law of her husband, such that, if she has been with another man, she is not an adulteress.4 And so, my brothers, you also have become dead to the law, through the body of Christ, so that you may be another one who has risen from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.5 For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were under the law, operated within our bodies, so as to bear fruit unto death.6 But now we have been released from the law of death, by which we were being held, so that now we may serve with a renewed spirit, and not in the old way, by the letter.7 What should we say next? Is the law sin? Let it not be so! But I do not know sin, except through the law. For example, I would not have known about coveting, unless the law said: “You shall not covet.”8 But sin, receiving an opportunity through the commandment, wrought in me all manner of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.9 Now I lived for some time apart from the law. But when the commandment had arrived, sin was revived,10 and I died. And the commandment, which was unto life, was itself found to be unto death for me.11 For sin, receiving an opportunity through the commandment, seduced me, and, through the law, sin killed me.12 And so, the law itself is indeed holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.13 Then was what is good made into death for me? Let it not be so! But rather sin, in order that it might be known as sin by what is good, wrought death in me; so that sin, through the commandment, might become sinful beyond measure.14 For we know that the law is spiritual. But I am carnal, having been sold under sin.15 For I do things that I do not understand. For I do not do the good that I want to do. But the evil that I hate is what I do.16 So, when I do what I do not want to do, I am in agreement with the law, that the law is good.17 But I am then acting not according to the law, but according to the sin which lives within me.18 For I know that what is good does not live within me, that is, within my flesh. For the willingness to do good lies close to me, but the carrying out of that good, I cannot reach.19 For I do not do the good that I want to do. But instead, I do the evil that I do not want to do.20 Now if I do what I am not willing to do, it is no longer I who am doing it, but the sin which lives within me.21 And so, I discover the law, by wanting to do good within myself, though evil lies close beside me.22 For I am delighted with the law of God, according to the inner man.23 But I perceive another law within my body, fighting against the law of my mind, and captivating me with the law of sin which is in my body.24 Unhappy man that I am, who will free me from this body of death?25 The grace of God, by Jesus Christ our Lord! Therefore, I serve the law of God with my own mind; but with the flesh, the law of sin.

Romans 7

The Believer’s Relationship to the Law

1 Or do you not know, brothers and sisterst (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a persons as long as he lives?2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if hert husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage.ts3 So then,t if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if hert husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress.4 So, my brothers and sisters,t you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.t5 For when we were in the flesh,t the sinful desires,t aroused by the law, were active in the members of our bodyt to bear fruit for death.

6 But now we have been released from the law, because we have diedt to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.t
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Certainly, Is would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means to desire something belonging to someone elset if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”s8 But sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires.t For apart from the law, sin is dead.9 And I was once alive apart from the law, but with the coming of the commandment sin became alive10 and I died. Sot I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life brought death!t11 For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it I died.t

12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.14 For we know that the law is spiritual – but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.t15 For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want – instead, I do what I hate.t16 But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good.t17 But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me.18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.t19 For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want!

20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.
21 So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me.22 For I delight in the law of God in my inner being.23 But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members.24 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

25 Thanks bes to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then,t I myself serve the law of God with my mind, butt with my flesh I servet the law of sin.