A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 46 Chapter 7:14 – 17

Verse 14 “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” We will find from verse 14 thru the end of chapter 7 Paul speaks between the past and present state of himself. The old fleshly and the new spiritual nature.

“For we know that the law is spiritual…” Paul had just (in the last several verses described how the law was not unjust, how it did not cause sin, or that it, itself was not sin. Here Paul says “…the law is spiritual…” The word “spiritual” means - non-carnal – Which means it is not of man but of God.

a. The law was (as the entire scripture was) breathed of God, which means it is not the law of man but of God. It is not for lost men but for saved men. How can the fleshly man (the lost man) understand or follow spiritual things?

b. Since the law is spiritual and only spiritual man can understand and follow the law of God, then wouldn’t it be logical that grace does not eliminate the law but rather makes it a rule in the Christians life.

c. Since the law is spiritual that makes it no longer a judgment for us but rather a guide for the Christian.

d. The law as a judgment means that is condemns the fleshly man or the lost man.

e. The law as spiritual makes it a guide for the saved man because it is Gods law and just because we are under grace does not eliminate the law; it just works differently to us.

f. The word of God and so is it with His law is never made void especially to the believer. All of Gods word was written to the believers as a guide. 2 Timothy 3:16 - 17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:(17.) That the man of God may be perfect (or completly), throughly furnished unto all good works.

“…but I am carnal, sold under sin.” This is where Paul begins to speak from a fleshly point of view, and this will continue to the end of chapter 7.

a. The word “sold” means - to traffic, that is, dispose of as merchandise or into slavery – So what Paul had just said is in the flesh he given over to slavery, the slavery of sin. The law done him no good, living the law done him no good, he was not spiritual but rather sinful in every part of his body, or sold under sin or a slave to sin.

b. To the lost person the law is a judgment and only a judgment, the last man has no desire to live it nor can he live it. The lost man cannot understand the true meaning of spiritual things therefore that are worthless to him. This is why churches that are not spiritual worship worthlessly.

c. In the flesh what man thinks about the law, i.e. it is part or even to some a whole in salvation. However to the Christian he focuses on Christ Jesus the real Saviour.

d. To the saved man the law is a guide, that does not mean we will live every letter of the law, we are still going to break the law, and however it is what we should live by.

Verses 15 - 16 “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16.) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.”

“For that which I do I allow not…” Paul’s conflict here is every believer’s conflict in this flesh.

a. I believe here Paul uses two “I’s” to show a conflict between the old nature and the new nature. No Christian is perfect and we all do things as Christians that are sinful. We have a conflict between our new spiritual nature and the old fleshly nature, only after death will the old nature be gone.

b. I think Paul defined this scripture in Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

c. I believe this conflict is between the fleshly mind and the spiritual heart, before salvation we only had a fleshly mind, the spirit was dead. The mind tells you maybe fishing would be better than church but the heart says church is better than fishing, what are you going to do?

d. Matthew 12:35 “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” Heart means – the thoughts or feelings – so we must ask where does the lost and saved get their thoughts and feelings.

e. So Paul says “for that which I do (fleshly) I would not do spiritually. Or the coveting I just done, I would not spiritually do it.

“…for what I would, that do I not…” For what my heart tells me to do (go to church) I find myself not doing.
“but what I hate, that do I.” I acted contrary to Gods law and my heart and went fishing and now I hate my act because it is not what God wanted me to do.
Verse 16 “If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.” Since I did go fishing instead of church and since I feel horrible for not going to church, I confess obeying Gods law is the best thing. Therefore the conclusion is to go to church instead of fishing and keep a good conscience with God.

Verse 17 “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”

Since I went fishing instead of going to church I know what I did was against Gods will for me and I hate my choice and myself (or my fleshly nature) for going fishing.
1 John 3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” This does not mean we will never sin but rather we have a desire not to sin, so when the battle of the two “I’s” come always choose the spiritual I.
Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Romans 8:4 “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”