Romans 7:12-25 “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 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. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 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.”
So…. I know what I have written previously on this ….with that said … the more I study and the more I contemplate what it is Paul is going through…. the more this particular scripture moves within me…
Let’s look at the verses line by … filter this with the life of Paul … he IS Sha’ul the man raised from birth to know the Torah by memory from beginning to end…. lived as a Pharisee reading the Torah weekly aloud in public…
Paul/ Sha’ul was required, as a Pharisee, to administrate punishment for those convicted of heresy by the priesthood…
“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Know the Torah is set apart, (reiterating) the Instructions teach the set apart, righteous and blessed.
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid.
Was the Torah which is blessed made to kill me? Not according to God!
But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
It’s lawlessness, that shows itself to be opposed to God, giving me the notion of autonomous governing, seeking to live arrogantly in opposition to the instructions saying they are extreme in their observance.
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
It is obvious the Torah/ instructions are aimed at the eternal perfect existence of the Kingdom of Heaven, and I am created from the cursed earth which enslaves me to this contradictory mindset.
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
There are things in life I do as a result of that curse, that, if I thought about it first I wouldn’t do. The perfect example is what I want to do, yet I still do the fleshly.
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
So when I behave in ways contrary to God, I am affirming the need and benefit of the Torah.
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
It’s not that I want to do contrary to God, it’s the fact that I was created in the corrupted flesh and not perfected spirit.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
The flesh with its curse has me in a place where I want to do the instructions of God, it is how to live that out that is confusing .
ANYONE ELSE IN THAT CAMP?
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
So those things that are worthy to God I want to do them and I fail. Those things that I wouldn’t want done to me I do to others without thinking.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Left to my own devices, letting the flesh have control, it will naturally go for self gratification and ignore the instructions.
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
I have discovered this general rule, every time I want to follow the instructions, Satan pops his opinion into my situation via the cursed flesh.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 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.
Internally My spirit yearns for the blessing the Torah brings. My flesh on the other hand, it wants to rule my actions because of the curse.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I am a complete disaster and I need help! How will I make it to the day of judgement without totally failing?
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.
Here is the EPIC statement for all of Christianity…
Paul/Sha’ul says clearly…
I praise YHVH/God that through the perfect life of Yeshua/Jesus I can be witness to a fleshly person living out the instructions in this wretched world.
Yeshua/Jesus – yes he was our propitious savior – he was also our gracious schoolmaster. Jehovah Nissi = God is my Banner. He covers it all!
Berean Breadcrumbs 