Paul tells us believers serve in the newness of spirit and not in the letter of the law. Starting in verse 14 he gets into the Spiritual a little more before really diving in in chapter 8.
For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. Romans 7:14-20
Is Paul crazy? What is he telling the Romans in this passage? Basically, our spirit is alive in Christ, but our flesh still gives in to sin. Have you experienced this? I know I have. Do something that I know I should not do, but I do it. The whole time hating that I am doing it, but somehow through my flesh enjoying it as well. It is a disturbing feeling, at least to me.
Paul tells the Romans those in Christ, through faith, you are no longer the one doing it, but the sin which dwells in you. Please understand this is not license to sin. No. While the obeying of the commandments does not allow us to step foot into His kingdom, we are to obey out of love. G-d is seeking a people who truly love him and are pure in heart.
Throughout Scripture we are told the doing of good is not within us. Yeshua himself stated in Mark 10:18 And Yeshua said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except G-d alone.”
So take heart when you do sin. Teshuva or return to the L-rd from the path you were out on. Seek Him with you all heart, with all your soul, and with all your might/resources. Sometimes we are humbled so that we can rise even higher in our relationship with G-d.
Baruch HaShem! Until next time…kadosh, kadosh, kadosh is HaShem!
Yochanan's Thoughts 