Rom.7.1
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Rom.7.1
You shouldn't have any trouble understanding this, friends, for you know all the ins and outs of the law--how it works and how its power touches only the living.
Rom.7.1
Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to men who know the law--that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?
Rom.7.1
Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
Rom.7.1
Now, dear brothers and sisters--you who are familiar with the law--don't you know that the law applies only to a person who is still living?
Rom.7.2
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Rom.7.2
For instance, a wife is legally tied to her husband while he lives, but if he dies, she's free.
Rom.7.2
For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.
Rom.7.2
For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.
Rom.7.2
Let me illustrate. When a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her.
Rom.7.3
So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Rom.7.3
If she lives with another man while her husband is living, she's obviously an adulteress. But if he dies, she is quite free to marry another man in good conscience, with no one's disapproval.
Rom.7.3
So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.
Rom.7.3
So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
Rom.7.3
So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.
Rom.7.4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Rom.7.4
So, my friends, this is something like what has taken place with you. When Christ died he took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with him and left it in the tomb, leaving you free to "marry" a resurrection life and bear "offspring" of faith for God.
Rom.7.4
So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
Rom.7.4
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
Rom.7.4
So this is the point: The law no longer holds you in its power, because you died to its power when you died with Christ on the cross. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, you can produce good fruit, that is, good deeds for God.
Rom.7.5
For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Rom.7.5
For as long as we lived that old way of life, doing whatever we felt we could get away with, sin was calling most of the shots as the old law code hemmed us in. And this made us all the more rebellious. In the end, all we had to show for it was miscarriages and stillbirths.
Rom.7.5
For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.
Rom.7.5
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
Rom.7.5
When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced sinful deeds, resulting in death.
Rom.7.6
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Rom.7.6
But now that we're no longer shackled to that domineering mate of sin, and out from under all those oppressive regulations and fine print, we're free to live a new life in the freedom of God.
Rom.7.6
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
Rom.7.6
But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Rom.7.6
But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit.
Rom.7.7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Rom.7.7
But I can hear you say, "If the law code was as bad as all that, it's no better than sin itself." That's certainly not true. The law code had a perfectly legitimate function. Without its clear guidelines for right and wrong, moral behavior would be mostly guesswork. Apart from the succinct, surgical command, "You shall not covet," I could have dressed covetousness up to look like a virtue and ruined my life with it.
Rom.7.7
What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."
Rom.7.7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
Rom.7.7
Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is evil? Of course not! The law is not sinful, but it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, "Do not covet."
Rom.7.8
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Rom.7.8
Don't you remember how it was? I do, perfectly well. The law code started out as an excellent piece of work. What happened, though, was that sin found a way to pervert the command into a temptation, making a piece of "forbidden fruit" out of it. The law code, instead of being used to guide me, was used to seduce me. Without all the paraphernalia of the law code, sin looked pretty dull and lifeless,
Rom.7.8
But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead.
Rom.7.8
But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.
Rom.7.8
But sin took advantage of this law and aroused all kinds of forbidden desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.
Rom.7.9
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Rom.7.9
and I went along without paying much attention to it. But once sin got its hands on the law code and decked itself out in all that finery, I was fooled, and fell for it.
Rom.7.9
Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
Rom.7.9
I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.
Rom.7.9
I felt fine when I did not understand what the law demanded. But when I learned the truth, I realized I had broken the law and was a sinner, doomed to die.
Rom.7.10
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
Rom.7.10
The very command that was supposed to guide me into life was cleverly used to trip me up, throwing me headlong.
Rom.7.10
I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.
Rom.7.10
And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.
Rom.7.10
So the good law, which was supposed to show me the way of life, instead gave me the death penalty.
Rom.7.11
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
Rom.7.11
So sin was plenty alive, and I was stone dead.
Rom.7.11
For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.
Rom.7.11
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.
Rom.7.11
Sin took advantage of the law and fooled me; it took the good law and used it to make me guilty of death.
Rom.7.12
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Rom.7.12
But the law code itself is God's good and common sense, each command sane and holy counsel.
Rom.7.12
So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
Rom.7.12
Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
Rom.7.12
But still, the law itself is holy and right and good.
Rom.7.13
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Rom.7.13
I can already hear your next question: "Does that mean I can't even trust what is good [that is, the law]? Is good just as dangerous as evil?" No again! Sin simply did what sin is so famous for doing: using the good as a cover to tempt me to do what would finally destroy me. By hiding within God's good commandment, sin did far more mischief than it could ever have accomplished on its own.
Rom.7.13
Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
Rom.7.13
Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.
Rom.7.13
But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my doom? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God's good commandment for its own evil purposes.
Rom.7.14
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom.7.14
I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself--after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison.
Rom.7.14
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
Rom.7.14
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom.7.14
The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master.
Rom.7.15
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom.7.15
What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.
Rom.7.15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Rom.7.15
For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
Rom.7.15
I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.
Rom.7.16
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom.7.16
So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
Rom.7.16
And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
Rom.7.16
If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
Rom.7.16
I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good.
Rom.7.17
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom.7.17
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help!
Rom.7.17
As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
Rom.7.17
But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
Rom.7.17
But I can't help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.
Rom.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.
Rom.7.18
I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it.
Rom.7.18
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Rom.7.18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
Rom.7.18
I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't.
Rom.7.19
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom.7.19
I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.
Rom.7.19
For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.
Rom.7.19
For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
Rom.7.19
When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.
Rom.7.20
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom.7.20
My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
Rom.7.20
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Rom.7.20
Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
Rom.7.20
But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it.
Rom.7.21
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom.7.21
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.
Rom.7.21
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
Rom.7.21
I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
Rom.7.21
It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
Rom.7.22
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom.7.22
I truly delight in God's commands,
Rom.7.22
For in my inner being I delight in God's law;
Rom.7.22
For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
Rom.7.22
I love God's law with all my heart.
Rom.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.
Rom.7.23
but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
Rom.7.23
but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
Rom.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.
Rom.7.23
But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
Rom.7.24
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom.7.24
I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
Rom.7.24
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Rom.7.24
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Rom.7.24
Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?
Rom.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.
Rom.7.25
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.
Rom.7.25
Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Rom.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.
Rom.7.25
Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
