“15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. 19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me.”
In reading these verses, it would be easy to think that Paul is saying, “It’s not my fault, sin made me do it!” When read out of context it could certainly give you that idea. However, when properly considered in the larger context of the whole of Paul’s letter to the Romans, it is clear that Paul could never be considered one who would shift the responsibility for his sin. He spent chapters 1-3 building the case that every single human being is guilty of sin, culminating in 3:23.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” — Romans 3:23
It would be inconsistent for Paul now to argue that mankind has no responsibility for their sin. The end of chapter 7 will conclude with a statement that every Christian can resonate with.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.” — Romans 7:24-25
Paul makes it clear that he is not happy with his fleshly desires. His, and our, ultimate desire is to serve God and live righteously, yet sinful flesh remains and from time to time will win a battle over our hearts. Paul longs to be rescued from his sinful tendencies and temptations. When we feel that we are being overcome by sinful temptation, or have given into temptation and transgressed God’s law, what can we do? We must call out to Jesus Christ who saves us, just as Paul does. Thanks be to God that when we fail to do what we want, when we give into our sinful flesh, we will still have forgiveness through faith in Jesus and His life, death, and resurrection! Paul will continue these thoughts in the following verses through the end of the chapter.