Romans 7

An Example From Marriage

1 Brothers and sisters, I am speaking to you who know the law. Don't you know that the law has authority over us only as long as we are alive?2 For example, by law a married woman is joined to her husband as long as he is living. But suppose her husband dies. Then the marriage law no longer applies to her.3 But suppose that married woman gets married again while her husband is still alive. Then she is called a woman who commits adultery. But suppose her husband dies. Then she is free from that law. She is not guilty of adultery even if she marries another man.
4 My brothers and sisters, when Christ died you also died as far as the law is concerned. Then it became possible for you to belong to him. He was raised from the dead. Now our lives can be useful to God.5 Our sinful nature used to control us. The law stirred up sinful longings in our bodies. So the things we did resulted in death.
6 But now we have died to what used to control us. We have been set free from the law. Now we serve in the new way of the Holy Spirit. We no longer serve in the old way of the written law.

Struggling With Sin

7 What should we say then? That the law is sin? Not at all! I wouldn't have known what sin was unless the law had told me. The law said, "Do not want what belongs to other people." (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21) If the law hadn't said that, I would not have known what it was like to want what belonged to others.8 But the commandment gave sin an opportunity. Sin caused me to want all kinds of things that belonged to others. No one can break a law that doesn't exist.
9 Before I knew about the law, I was alive. But then the commandment came. Sin came to life, and I died.10 I found that the commandment that was supposed to bring life actually brought death.11 When the commandment gave sin the opportunity, sin tricked me. It used the commandment to put me to death.12 So the law is holy. The commandment also is holy and right and good.
13 Did what is good cause me to die? Not at all! Sin had to be recognized for what it really is. So it produced death in me through what was good. Because of the commandment, sin became totally sinful.
14 We know that the law is holy. But I am not. I have been sold to be a slave of sin.15 I don't understand what I do. I don't do what I want to do. Instead, I do what I hate to do.16 I do what I don't want to do. So I agree that the law is good.17 As it is, I am no longer the one who does these things. It is sin living in me that does them.
18 I know there is nothing good in my sinful nature. I want to do what is good, but I can't.19 I don't do the good things I want to do. I keep on doing the evil things I don't want to do.20 I do what I don't want to do. But I am not really the one who is doing it. It is sin living in me.
21 Here is the law I find working in me. When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.22 Deep inside me I find joy in God's law.23 But I see another law working in the parts of my body. It fights against the law of my mind. It makes me a prisoner of the law of sin. That law controls the parts of my body.
24 What a terrible failure I am! Who will save me from this sin that brings death to my body?25 I give thanks to God. He will do it through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So in my mind I am a slave to God's law. But in my sinful nature I am a slave to the law of sin.

Romans 7

1 Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth?2 For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:8 but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin is dead.9 And I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died;10 and the commandment, which was unto life, this I found to be unto death:11 for sin, finding occasion, through the commandment beguiled me, and through it slew me.12 So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.13 Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; --that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.15 For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do.16 But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good.17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good is not.19 For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise.20 But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.21 I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present.22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.24 Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.