7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. 13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Megenoito
not have known sin-the law is not sin, but shows how one does not measure up to Gods standard.
For I would not have known- did not know it was sin, didn’t know I should not be doing that actions.
taking opportunity- Now that I know, I lust even the more
dead- not as potent, Active
alive once without the law- Did not truly know that he was dead. (not speeding until you see the sign)
which was to bring life, I found to bring death-Obedience brings life, disobedience death
deceived me– Always looks good but never is
Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not!-Megenoito
The law showed me my sin, and showed me how far I am from righteousness.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
law is spiritual- As it is from God and God is spirit, so the law is spiritual and not only that but the demands are spiritual .
I am carnal- I am not spiritual but fleshly
sold under sin- this is an interesting thought. We are sinners by birth sin is master, but we who are saved are no longer slaves to sin and when we die we will be free from our sinful selves but right now we live in a state of “saints who are sinners” (vs 22-25)
I am doing-His actions
I do not understand- I obey the sinful nature when I do not want to nor have to while I am free under grace.
what I will to do- What I want to do
but what I hate, that I do- I do not want to sin, I want to serve God but I sin
I do what I will not to do-That is, sin.
the law that it is good-Paul being saved, knows that God created the law for man to strive to be holy, and the law shows us that we are not, but being saved Paul knows we should, and the law is a guide a good thing, not some condemning harsh master, but a guide to Christ.
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
But-everything before the but you can cut!
Now-He is now saved, living under Grace and mercy
no longer I who do it-not his new self but his flesh that did the sin. It is this “person” that makes it hard for Paul to do that which he wants to do!
in my flesh- His sinful self
that I will to do-What I desire to do
that I practice-Paul desires to do the acts of righteousness but because of his sinful flesh he ends up sinning.
Vs 20
This is the battle, the desire to do good but the fact that we many times don’t and sin instead. It is a battle between sinful desire and a striving for righteousness.
First Baptist Church Delmar 