The Conflict of Natural Man

“I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God, in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”

(Romans 7:21-23)

This passage will be viewed in the light of Romans 6:6; ‘Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.’ This part of Romans 7 is referring to Paul before he was saved, as he is describing someone who is a prisoner of the law “sold into bondage of sin” v.14.

This does not mean, however, that as an unredeemed man he is blind to the wonders of God’s law. He joyfully concurs with the truths of God’s word. But this is in his mind only, not in his body. A believer who rejoices in God’s word should not do so only in his mind, but in his body as well, and that would mean obedience.

Heather Jean Torosyan