Romans 7:14-8:4

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.

Romans 8

Life in the Spirit

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 1 2 For the law of h the Spirit of life i has set you 2 free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For j God has done what the law, k weakened by the flesh, l could not do. m By sending his own Son n in the likeness of sinful flesh and o for sin, 3 he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that p the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, q who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

  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.
  12. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 15:45
    Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
    2 Corinthians 3:6
    Who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
  13. Cross References
    Romans 8:12
    So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
    Romans 6:14
    For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
    Romans 6:18
    And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
    Romans 7:4
    Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
  14. Cross References
    Hebrews 10:1 - 2
    For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
    Hebrews 10:10
    And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
    Hebrews 10:14
    For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
    Acts 13:39
    And by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
  15. Cross References
    Galatians 4:9
    But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
    Hebrews 7:18
    For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
  16. Cross References
    Hebrews 10:6
    In burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
    Hebrews 10:8
    When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law).
  17. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:21
    For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  18. Cross References
    Philippians 2:7
    But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
    John 1:14
    And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
  19. Cross References
    Leviticus 16:5
    And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
    Hebrews 10:6
    In burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
    Hebrews 10:8
    When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law).
    Hebrews 13:11
    For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
  20. Cross References
    Romans 1:32
    Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
    Romans 2:26
    So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
  21. Cross References
    Galatians 5:16
    But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
    Galatians 5:25
    If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.