7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good."
If I go 65 in a 55mph zone and say I don't really want to speed, I acknowledge that the law is a good one and do not want to do
away with it.
Mike: if the Holy Spirit empowers me to recognize and resist the unholy clamorings of my fallen flesh nature, then I am led to conclude that whatever the law condemns is for my best good.
7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
So even though I don't want to sin (I see it is wrong) I still do it because my mind is under the control of my flesh.
Mike: now that I am born again it is no longer I who clamors for sin, but rather they originate with my fallen nature.
7:18 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."
Even though I want to obey God, I do not know how. I keep sinning. I lie, I steal, I cheat, I break the seventh commandment. I
can not keep the law of God, BUT I want to Keep the law of God.
Mike: my flesh is full of sinful desires, but in the mind of new man I am willing and able to obey the law, however the power to perform in harmony with the law is not found within me but in Jesus Christ.
7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."
I want to keep the commandments, but I continually break the commandments.
Mike: the good things I enjoy doing in the Spirit and mind of the new man, and the evil things I hate doing, are the very things my flesh craves to experience.
7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
Since I do that which I do not want to do, it is not me, but my flesh that is sinful. I really want to do good, but my flesh just
keeps sinning.
Mike: it's not me craving unholy thoughts and feelings, when I'm walking in the Spirit and mind of the new man I am dead to sin and awake to righteousness, thus it is my flesh that generates and communicates sinful suggestions.
7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
I see a principle that even though I profess to be an Israelite, I am not, I am evil. I do want to be a son of Abraham, but I am not
faithful as he was. I live as did Solomon when he fell.
Mike: my fallen flesh nature always craves to express and experience sin.
7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:"
I love the law of God!!!
Mike: so long as I am walking in the Spirit and mind of the new man I love the law of God.
7:23 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."
But, I see another principle in my flesh warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to sin. I cannot resist sin. I cannot gain the victory over even "little" sins.
Mike: I am born in captivity to a sinful, fallen nature which is at war with my born again new man mind.
7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
O wretched sinner that I am! Israel's One Great God cannot keep me from sinning! I cannot keep myself from sinning! WHO, WHO,
WHO..... can deliver me from myself? Is there not anyone that can save me? I am condemned and lost.......
Mike: "this death" is a referrence to the sinful clamorings of fallen nature.
7:25 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."
I have found the answer to my question! I now know "Who". I have found a Saviour who I thought was an imposter and whos disciples I persecuted. I did not understand that Jesus was the Lamb of God. I now see why Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, for God did sacrifice His Son to pay the price for my sins. He has come and delivered me from the law of sin and death. I now can keep the law of God, I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. If I cease to look unto Jesus for grace, I then have no power to do good and I then, in my flesh serve the
law of sin.
Mike: Jesus is the One who empowers us to live in harmony with His law, and to reject and resist the unholy suggestions generated by our fallen flesh natures. In the Spirit and mind of the new man we serve the law of God, while at the same time our flesh generates and communicates tempting unholy thoughts and feelings.