Thursday, November 12, 2009

82) The desire but not the ability

Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

Paul concludes that he has the desire to do what is right but not the ability to carry it out. He describes this condition as being in the flesh and he is talking about someone who is a slave to sin. This is not the condition of someone under grace that he described in Romans 6:22 “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” Therefore, he is still talking about a time before he had been set free from the power of sin and was trying to be a law keeper. Paul is driving home the point that attempting to be a law keeper is impossible because of the sinful nature.

Focus on Christ #82

2 comments:

mark pierson said...

"Paul is driving home the point that attempting to be a law keeper is impossible because of the sinful nature."

...and it would not have saved him anyways. IMHO, the law was to prove to us that we are unrighteous, and in utter need of The Savior.

jazzycat said...

Mark,
Yes, through the fall of Adam we all became sinners and the law proves this beyond any doubt.