No Longer Me, but Sin Within Me – EGP Blog post from November 6, 2012

Romans 7:15–20 ()

[15] For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. [16] But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. [17] So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. [19] For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. [20] But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

Twice in this passage, Paul said, “I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.” This seems like a cop-out statement, but we must remember what he said in the previous chapter.

Romans 6:1–2 ()

[1] What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? [2] May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

While we certainly don’t want to purposely continue to live in sin simply because of God’s grace (as that is a sign of an unchanged heart), we will continue to sin until we are “set free from this body of death.”

Romans 7:22–25 ()

[22] For I joyfully concur with the law of God in§ the inner man, [23] but I see a different law in the§ members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of§ the law of sin which is in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the§ body of this death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Romans 7:22 Or concerning
Romans 7:23a Lit my members
Romans 7:23b Lit in
Romans 7:24 Or this body of death

Once again, remember that this doesn’t excuse our sinful thoughts and actions, it simply explains why we don’t win every battle on this side of Glory. In the end, God is faithful and provides a way out each time we face temptation, so pray that He will show that to you and that you’ll have His strength and the willingness to take that route.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ()

[13] No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Key verses

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