21I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
21—Paul loves he law and wants to follow it but at the same time has evil in him wanted to sin.
For I delight- This is not just a want it is a strong desire
according to the inward man- The regenerate man .
another law- Sin nature there is a war and the sin nature is trying to be victorious
O wretched man that I am!- here Paul recognizes his state, he is a sinner.
Who will deliver me from this body of death? Is there any help for us
Jesus Christ- he is the savior and he gives us victory
But here is the reality
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
1There is therefore- what do we say? This is continuing the idea of the war that is going on inside of us
now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus- We need to understand the legal issues here.
Christ was made sin- 2 cor 5:21
Christ paid for our sins
Christ gave us his righteousness
We are in a union with Christ. We are one with Christ, as he is not condemned we are not, even though we struggle with sin.
according to the flesh- Living in sin
according to the Spirit- Living for Christ
Spirit of life- The Holy Spirit,
made me free- This happened at the point of salvation
could not do- Free us from sin, give us salvation
through the flesh,-we cannot control our sin by commands (good ideas and intentions)
God did- Because we could not, the Law could not conquer sin, God did what needed to be done.
likeness of sinful flesh- He was not sin, he was fully man, fully God, but no sin nature.
condemned sin- Jesus came do condemn sin, that is deal a death blow to sin, so that man can be free.
in the flesh– this is referring to human nature, our sinful nature. We are set free from it, look back to the end of chapter 7
righteous requirement of the law- Its demands of perfection
fulfilled in us- we are made that perfection that the law demands
according to the Spirit– Those who are saved.
First Baptist Church Delmar 