(12) Jekyll & Hyde

There is nothing within our human nature to help us in winning the battle over spiritual failure and sin. In our fallen human nature there is only sin. So we will never find victory over our spiritual failure, sin, and discouragement as long as we look for this victory in ourselves as human beings.

So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. (18)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. (19)For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. (20)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 7:17-20 NAU)

Translated literally, verse seventeen would be, “No longer am I myself producing it but the dwelling-in-me sin.” In the Critical and Explanatory Commentary, David Brown explains it this way, “In me dwelleth no good; but this corrupt self is not my true self; it is but sin dwelling in my real self, as a renewed man.

Paul is pointing out that there are two sets of desires at work in him, pulling him in two radically different directions. The flesh pulls us away from God and holiness. James Dunn and William McDonald helps us understand this struggle:

In early Christian literature the phrase “sin which dwells in me” occurs only in verse seventeen and in verse twenty-one. The reason for choosing this less than common verb is to stress the difficulty of doing good, not that it is impossible. The contrast between the willing and the doing is the contrast between on the one hand the renewed heart and enlightened mind, and on the other the yet unredeemed mortal body. (James Dunn)

The flesh here means the evil, corrupt nature which is inherited from Adam and which is still in every believer. It is the source of every evil action which a person performs. There is nothing good in it. When we learn this, it delivers us from ever looking for any good in the old nature. It delivers us from being disappointed when we don’t find any good there. To confirm the hopelessness of the flesh, the apostle mourns that although he has the desire to do what is right, he doesn’t have the resources in himself to translate his desire into action. (William McDonald)

In Christ, empowered by the Spirit of God, I have the desire to stop sinning, but I will never find the ability to stop sinning in myself. I will never find victory over sin and spiritual discouragement as long as I keep looking to myself alone for that victory.

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. (22)For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, (23)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 NAU)

Here Paul identifies with who he is in Christ and says that the sin he commits is not coming from him, in Christ. Sin is a freak of his old nature that still rears its ugly head at times. He makes the choice to act in keeping with the old man rather than living according to his new identity and ability in Christ.

There are remainders of indwelling corruption, even where there is a living principle of grace. This corruption is daily breaking forth in sins. True grace strives against these sins and corruptions, does not allow of them, hates them, mourns over them, groans under them as a burden. (Matthew Henry)

Victory over sin and spiritual discouragement can be found, but never in ourselves. We must look elsewhere. All this is leading us to realize how desperately we need help from outside ourselves . . . every moment of every day. We will only find victory in Jesus.

Next: (13) Victory in Jesus