Romans 7:14-25

The Law and Sin

¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, _w sold under sin. ¹⁵ For I do not understand my own actions. For _x I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with _y the law, that it is good. ¹⁷ So now _z it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells _a in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹ _b For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, _c it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. ²² For _d I delight in the law of God, _e in my inner being, ²³ but I see in my members _f another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from _g this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

1. Cross References
   1 Kings 21:20
   Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord.
   1 Kings 21:25
   ( There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.
   2 Kings 17:17
   And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
   Isaiah 50:1
   Thus says the Lord : "Where is your mother's certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
   Isaiah 52:3
   For thus says the Lord : "You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.
   
2. Cross References
   Romans 7:18 - 19
   For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
   Galatians 5:17
   For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
   
3. Cross References
   1 Timothy 1:8
   Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully.
   Romans 7:12
   So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
   
4. Cross References
   Romans 7:20
   Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
   
5. Cross References
   Genesis 6:5
   The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
   Genesis 8:21
   And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
   Job 14:4
   Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.
   Job 15:14
   What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?
   Psalms 51:5
   Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
   
6. Cross References
   Romans 7:15
   For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
   
7. Cross References
   Romans 7:17
   So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
   
8. Cross References
   Psalms 1:2
   But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
   Psalms 112:1
   Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!
   Psalms 119:35
   Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
   
9. Cross References
   2 Corinthians 4:16
   So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
   Ephesians 3:16
   That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
   1 Peter 3:4
   But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
   
10. Cross References
    Galatians 5:17
    For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
    James 4:1
    What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
    
11. Cross References
    Romans 6:6
    We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
    Romans 8:23
    And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.