Romans 7:18
Verse
Context
Struggling with Sin
17In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.
Sermons
Alan RedpathAlan Redpath
Leonard RavenhillLeonard Ravenhill
David Wilkerson
J. Vernon McGee
Fred ZaspelSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
For I know that in me, etc. - I have learned by experience that in an unregenerate man there is no good. There is no principle by which the soul can be brought into the light; no principle by which it can be restored to purity: fleshly appetites alone prevail; and the brute runs away with the man. For to will is present with me - Though the whole soul has suffered indescribably by the Fall, yet there are some faculties that appear to have suffered less than others; or rather have received larger measures of the supernatural light, because their concurrence with the Divine principle is so necessary to the salvation of the soul. Even the most unconcerned about spiritual things have understanding, judgment, reason, and will. And by means of these we have seen even scoffers at Divine revelation become very eminent in arts and sciences; some of our best metaphysicians, physicians, mathematicians, astronomers, chemists, etc., have been known - to their reproach be it spoken and published - to be without religion; nay, some of them have blasphemed it, by leaving God out of his own work, and ascribing to an idol of their own, whom they call nature, the operations of the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Most High. It is true that many of the most eminent in all the above branches of knowledge have been conscientious believers in Divine revelation; but the case of the others proves that, fallen as man is, he yet possesses extra-ordinary powers, which are capable of very high cultivation and improvement. In short, the soul seems capable of any thing but knowing, fearing, loving, and serving God. And it is not only incapable, of itself, for any truly religious acts; but what shows its fall in the most indisputable manner is its enmity to sacred things. Let an unregenerate man pretend what he pleases, his conscience knows that he hates religion; his soul revolts against it; his carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be. There is no reducing this fell principle to subjection; it is Sin, and sin is rebellion against God; therefore sin must be destroyed, not subjected; if subjected, it would cease to be sin, because sin is in opposition to God: hence the apostle says, most conclusively, it cannot be subjected, i.e. it must be destroyed, or it will destroy the soul for ever. When the apostle says, to will is present with me, he shows that the will is on the side of God and truth, so far that it consents to the propriety and necessity of obedience. There has been a strange clamor raised up against this faculty of the soul, as if the very essence of evil dwelt in it; whereas the apostle shows, throughout this chapter, that the will was regularly on God's side, while every other faculty appears to have been in hostility to him. The truth is, men have confounded the will with the passions, and laid to the charge of the former what properly belongs to the latter. The will is right, but the passions are wrong. It discerns and approves, but is without ability to perform: it has no power over sensual appetites; in these the principle of rebellion dwells: it nills evil, it wills good, but can only command through the power of Divine grace: but this the person in question, the unregenerate man, has not received.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
For, &c.--better, "For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is in my flesh, any good." for to will--"desire." is present with me; but how to perform that which is good--the supplement "how," in our version, weakens the statement. I find not--Here, again, we have the double self of the renewed man; "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."
John Gill Bible Commentary
For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh,.... The apostle goes on to give some further account of himself, what he knew, and was fully assured of by long experience; as that dwelleth no good thing in him, that is, in his flesh, or carnal self; for otherwise there were many good things dwelt in him; there was the good work of grace, and the good word of God in him, and even Father, Son, and Spirit, dwelt in him; but his meaning is, that there was no good thing naturally in him; no good thing of his own putting there; nothing but what God had put there; no good thing, but what was owing to Christ, to the grace of God, and influence of the Spirit; or as he himself explains it, there was no good thing in his "flesh"; in the old man that was in him, which has nothing in his nature good; no good thing comes out of him, nor is any good thing done by him: and this explanative and limiting clause, "that is, in my flesh", clearly proves, that the apostle speaks of himself, and as regenerate; for had he spoke in the person of an unregenerate man, there would have been no room nor reason for such a restriction, seeing an unregenerate man is nothing else but flesh, and has nothing but flesh, or corrupt nature in him; and who does not know, that no good thing dwells in such persons? whereas the apostle intimates by this explication, that he had something else in him beside flesh, and which is opposed to it; and that is spirit, or the new man, which is of a spiritual nature, and is seated in the spirit, or soul, and comes from the Spirit of God; and in this spiritual man dwell good things, for "the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth"; so that though there was no good thing dwelling in his flesh, in the old than, yet there were good things dwelling in his spirit, in the new and spiritual man, the hidden man of the heart: and he adds, to will is present with me; which must be understood, not of the power and faculty of the will, with respect to things natural and civil, which is common to all men; nor of a will to that which is evil, which is in wicked men; but of a will to that which was good, which he had not of himself, but from God, and is only to be found in regenerate persons; and denotes the readiness of his mind and will to that which is spiritually good, like that which Christ observes of his disciples, when he says, "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak", Mat 26:41, which may serve much to illustrate the passage before us: since it follows, but how to perform that which is good, I find not; he found he had no strength of himself to do what he willed; and that he could do nothing without Christ; and that what he did by the strength and grace of Christ, he did not do perfectly. To will to live without sin, not to have a lustful or a revengeful thought in his breast, was present with him, but how to perform, how to live in this manner, which was so desirable to him, being born again, he found not. It may be asked, how does this agree with what the apostle says, "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure?" Phi 2:13. To this it may be replied, that when God does work in his people both to will and to do, he does not work both equally alike, or to the same degree, so that the work answers to the will; God never works in them so to do, as to will, for when they are wrought in, acted upon, and influenced to do the most, and that in the best manner, they never do all that they would; and sometimes God works in them to will, when he does not work in them to do; as in the case of the disciples of Christ, in whom he worked to will to watch with Christ an hour, but did not work in them to do, Mat 26:40; and whenever he works in the saints, whether to will or to do, or both, it is always of his own good pleasure.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
7:18 my sinful nature: See study note on 6:19. This phrase could refer to Paul’s former state as an unredeemed person or to a part of Paul that remains tied to the world and resists the will of God.
Romans 7:18
Struggling with Sin
17In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Are You a Vital Christian
By Alan Redpath5.7K55:50Reality In Christian LifeISA 19:4ISA 19:17MAT 6:33ACT 17:1ROM 7:181TH 1:6In this sermon, Dr. Helen Redpath focuses on the importance of being a vital Christian. She begins by emphasizing the need to give all glory to God and to exalt Him above our own plans and desires. She highlights the presence of self in all of us, which seeks recognition and resents criticism. Dr. Redpath shares a personal testimony about her experience in Somali and the influence of communism there. She concludes by challenging the audience to examine their own commitment to serving the living and true God.
Challenge of Every Christian - Part 1
By Alan Redpath5.4K44:42PSA 30:2PSA 51:10ISA 44:3JER 2:19MAT 28:19ROM 7:18REV 2:4In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of revival in the church. He highlights the need for the Holy Spirit to bring life and vitality to the church and its ministries. The preacher encourages the audience to not be complacent or smug, but to have a hunger for God and His presence. He references Isaiah 44:3, where God promises to pour water on the thirsty and floods on the dry ground, symbolizing His promise of revival. The preacher concludes by urging the audience to seek revival now, rather than waiting for it to happen in their own churches.
Ye Are Yet Carnal
By Leonard Ravenhill5.0K1:03:21CarnalityMAT 6:33ACT 18:5ACT 18:9ROM 7:18ROM 8:1ROM 8:9ROM 8:17In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of humility and surrendering to God. He emphasizes the need to let go of pride and worldly possessions in order to fully submit to God's will. The preacher shares the story of a man who experienced a dramatic transformation after confessing his sins and surrendering his life to God. He also mentions the importance of studying the Bible and being cautious of false teachings. Overall, the sermon encourages listeners to humble themselves before God and fully commit their lives to Him.
Crucified With Christ
By Leonard Ravenhill4.2K1:23:21Crucified With ChristROM 7:18ROM 8:1ROM 8:5ROM 8:9ROM 8:13ROM 8:18ROM 8:26ROM 8:28ROM 8:31ROM 8:35ROM 8:371CO 3:1In this sermon, the speaker describes a gruesome scene of a man being crucified and then disemboweled, emphasizing the horror and brutality of the cross. The speaker then transitions to discussing the importance of having a vision for the lost souls in the world and the lack of vision in the church. He highlights the presence of envy, strife, and divisions among believers, suggesting that immaturity is hindering the church from receiving the revelations God wants to show them. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need for believers to die to themselves and be filled with the Spirit in order to experience true life and fulfillment.
Beware of Dogs - Part 2
By David Wilkerson3.6K15:04ROM 7:18
This sermon emphasizes the futility of trying to please God through human effort and self-righteousness, highlighting the need to surrender our fleshly desires and trust in Christ's righteousness. It addresses the struggles people face in battling sin, condemnation, and guilt, urging them to give up on self-improvement and rely on God's righteousness by faith for true deliverance and freedom.
(Exodus) Exodus 7:1
By J. Vernon McGee3.3K04:22EXO 4:10EXO 7:1ROM 7:18In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of putting aside the human element and relying solely on God. He quotes Paul's statement that within the flesh dwells no good thing, highlighting the need to recognize our own limitations. The preacher suggests that God cannot use the flesh and therefore, Moses needed Aaron to speak for him. The preacher also speculates on the reason behind Moses' need for Aaron, suggesting that it may have been a psychological fear or inadequacy that needed to be overcome. The sermon concludes with a reflection on the hindrance of taking credit for God's work, both in the church and in individual lives.
The Glory of the New Covenant
By Fred Zaspel2.7K39:40New CovenantROM 7:182CO 3:18GAL 5:22In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of reflecting Christ's glory through our behavior as a test of genuine faith. He shares his personal experience of encountering Christ and being transformed by the Spirit of God. The preacher highlights the radical change that takes place in believers, both inwardly and outwardly, as they are conformed to the image of Christ. He contrasts the old covenant, characterized by harsh commands and condemnation, with the new covenant of grace, where God provides all that He requires of us. The sermon references Augustine's prayer of "give what you command" and emphasizes the pursuit of God and compliance with His law.
Audio Sermon: Backsliding
By William MacDonald2.5K1:01:01PSA 51:10PSA 103:12PRO 28:13JOL 2:25JON 3:1ROM 7:181CO 9:27HEB 11:3JAS 4:81JN 1:9
This sermon delves into the theme of backsliding, exploring the consequences and the way back to God's grace. It emphasizes the importance of confession, forsaking sin, and seeking restoration in relationships. The speaker highlights the need for a thorough spiritual house cleaning, including mending broken relationships and living daily in fellowship with the Lord. The message reassures believers of God's willingness to restore and redeem, offering a second chance to those who come back to Him.
Blessed Are the Merciful
By Don McClure2.0K50:22MAT 5:3ROM 7:18In this sermon, the speaker addresses the harsh realities of life, such as war, disease, accidents, crimes, and tragedies. He emphasizes that in this life, there may not always be justice or a way to set things right. However, the answer lies in the teachings of Jesus, particularly the Beatitudes. The speaker explains how the first three Beatitudes focus on personal relationship with God, while the fourth Beatitude serves as a transition towards relating with others. The sermon emphasizes the importance of showing mercy and being peacemakers in our interactions with others, as God has shown mercy towards us.
Principles for Holy Living
By Herbert McGonigle1.5K1:02:48Holy LivingMAT 6:33ROM 3:19ROM 7:18ROM 7:25ROM 8:4In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the introduction of the Gospel in the book of Romans. He emphasizes that the Gospel is not just an intellectual understanding, but something that deeply impacts the heart and spirit. The preacher highlights the importance of understanding universal sinfulness as the foundation for the glorious gospel of justification by faith. He also mentions that Paul takes time in this letter to demonstrate, argue, and illustrate the Gospel in a way that he doesn't in his other letters, covering topics such as sin, redemption, grace, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the destiny of Israel, and Christian living.
Cost of Discipleship - Part 8
By Leonard Ravenhill1.5K08:53ROM 7:18
This sermon by Pastor Jessop emphasizes the importance of spiritual maturity and growth, highlighting the need to address issues like envy, pride, and division in our lives. It challenges listeners to confront their shortcomings and not make excuses for sin but to bring it to the cross for transformation. The sermon also stresses the significance of sacrifice over success in Christianity and the need for a spirit-dominated life as seen in Romans 8.
Jacob
By Paris Reidhead1.5K43:01JacobGEN 28:19GEN 35:1GEN 35:14MAT 6:33ROM 7:18REV 2:4In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Jacob from the Bible. Jacob recognizes that he is in the house of God and vows to worship Him. He makes a vow to God, stating that if God protects him and provides for him, then the Lord shall be his God. Jacob flees from Esau's wrath and finds himself alone in a desolate place, much like sinners who are fleeing from justice and God's wrath. However, in this moment of solitude, Jacob encounters God and realizes that it is only God who can truly meet his needs. The preacher emphasizes that God loves to find those who are helpless and hopeless and give them everything.
Bear Fruit or Burn
By Carter Conlon1.5K42:04Bearing FruitISA 40:3JHN 1:19ROM 7:18In this sermon, the preacher discusses the message of John the Baptist as the final statement of mankind's attempt to obey God's laws through human effort. He emphasizes that man's inherent problem stems from the serpent's poison in the Garden of Eden, which infected all of humanity. The preacher then introduces the title of his message, "Bear fruit or burn," explaining that it is not as harsh as it sounds. He highlights the dilemma that humans face in believing they can be godly on their own, and how God gave a set of laws to prove that humans cannot save themselves. The preacher references Paul's words in Romans 7 to illustrate the futility of trying to be godly through human effort alone.
Bristol Conference 1976-12 Studies in the Judges
By Bob Clark1.3K36:33Bible ConferenceJDG 2:1JDG 2:14JDG 4:1JDG 5:1ROM 7:18The video is a sermon on the Book of Judges in the Bible. It discusses the unique period in the nation's history that is covered in chapters 4 and 5 of the book. These chapters depict a time after the resurrection of the Church, where people are singing in a similar fashion to the time of Moses and Miriam. The sermon also highlights the three basic movements in the Book of Judges, which include an introduction, the historical account of the Judges, and a closing annexation and appendix. The purpose of studying this book is to learn spiritual lessons and apply them to our own lives.
The Cross and the Flesh, 2 of 3
By Stephen Kaung1.3K1:17:00FleshROM 7:14ROM 7:181CO 3:1GAL 5:24EPH 4:18In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of living according to the flesh versus living according to the spirit. He uses the illustration of grafting to explain how our sinful nature can be transformed through faith in Jesus. By believing in Jesus, our sins are washed away by his shed blood, and our dead spirit is quickened into new life. We are born again and receive the life of God, with Christ dwelling in our new spirit. The preacher emphasizes the importance of recognizing the symptoms of living according to the flesh, such as unbelief and disobedience, and the need to walk in the spirit to please God.
Keep Your Heart With All Diligence
By Hans R. Waldvogel1.3K27:47Keeping YourselfPRO 4:23ISA 26:3MAT 24:44ACT 17:30ROM 5:10ROM 7:182CO 6:17PHP 1:6In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being mindful of our thoughts and words, as they are recorded and will be proclaimed in eternity. The preacher highlights the need to surrender our hearts to God, who is the keeper of our hearts and can bring perfect peace. The sermon also emphasizes the power of God's word and the importance of guarding our hearts against impure thoughts. The preacher uses the analogy of a garden to illustrate the need for careful attention to the condition of our hearts, as they can be filled with negative influences that lead to death.
Man's Dealing With Man
By Paris Reidhead1.2K49:46MankindMAT 6:33LUK 15:11ROM 6:23ROM 7:18PHP 3:10In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the parable of the prodigal son from the 15th chapter of Luke. He reads the biblical passage and emphasizes the importance of understanding the reason for which we were created. The preacher highlights the plight of those who have lost their purpose in life due to sin or unfortunate circumstances. He urges the audience to reflect on their own lives and come to the realization that they need to turn to God and seek a deeper understanding of themselves.
An Alarm to the Unconverted 5 of 5
By Joseph Alleine1.2K1:18:36Audio BooksMAT 25:24ROM 7:14ROM 7:18ROM 7:23In this sermon, Joseph Alayne passionately urges his audience to embrace the kingdom of heaven and not neglect eternal glory. He emphasizes that God offers salvation and eternal joy to those who submit to His mercy, accept His Son, and serve Him in righteousness and holiness. Alayne pleads with his listeners to abandon their sins and turn to Jesus Christ, reminding them that all manner of sins and blasphemy can be forgiven if they thoroughly repent and come to Christ. He encourages his audience to study God's word, humble themselves before God, and follow Him diligently, warning that those who refuse to do so will be condemned as wicked and slothful servants.
The Cost of a More Abundant Life
By Dan Augsburger1.2K55:17Abundant LifeMAT 6:33JHN 3:16ROM 7:18GAL 2:20EPH 2:8PHP 1:21In this sermon, the speaker begins by expressing gratitude for the timeless message of God's word that has transformed lives throughout history. He shares the story of Hudson Taylor, who had a life-changing encounter with the gospel and went on to do great work for God. The speaker emphasizes that the true gospel is not about material prosperity, but about the finished work of Christ. He highlights the temptation to take control of our lives instead of relying on the hope found in the cross. The sermon also explores the encounter between Jesus and a young man who claimed to have kept all the commandments. Jesus challenges him to sell everything he has, revealing the one thing he lacks.
Why Did God Make Us Like We Are - Part 1
By Bertha Smith1.2K30:36Nature Of ManMAT 6:33ROM 7:18EPH 2:8In this sermon, the speaker reflects on various experiences and encounters with God. They mention a moment when God spoke through thunder, and another moment when Jesus prayed for the disciples near Solomon's vineyards. The speaker also shares their personal journey of praying for the salvation of others and seeking understanding of the Bible. They mention a lesson on the concept of "the flesh" and the importance of recognizing and repenting from sin. The sermon emphasizes the need for individuals to come to God with their sins and seek salvation.
Matthew 5 Overview
By Don McClure1.2K58:44The BeatitudesLiving RighteouslyMAT 5:3MAT 5:27ROM 7:18Don McClure delivers a profound overview of Matthew 5, emphasizing the significance of the Beatitudes and the transformative power of Christ's teachings. He highlights the importance of recognizing our spiritual poverty, mourning over our sins, and the necessity of a strong will to follow Christ's commands. McClure stresses that true happiness comes from living out these principles, which lead to a life filled with mercy, purity, and peace, ultimately reflecting the character of Christ. He challenges listeners to examine their hearts and wills, urging them to allow Jesus to reign in their lives and to embody the salt and light of the world.
The Preacher
By Alan Redpath97354:09Preachers1CH 4:23MAT 6:33LUK 6:28ROM 2:21ROM 7:182CO 3:2In this sermon, the speaker reflects on his 31 years of ministry experience and shares about his own health breakdown due to overwork. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the kind of person God requires in the ministry today. The speaker discusses the temptation to seek success and recognition through intellectual prowess, but highlights the need for humility and a genuine relationship with God. He also acknowledges his own struggles with prayer and encourages listeners to prioritize their spiritual life.
Submission and Humility
By Paul Hershberger8651:03:41PSA 110:1MAT 3:17LUK 2:46ROM 7:18COL 3:201PE 5:5In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of submission and humility in our lives. He encourages listeners to set a standard of submission and humility from a young age, as it can be a foundation for a blessed and fruitful life. The speaker warns against self-will and the desire to do things our own way, as it can lead to the curse of God. He urges listeners to surrender their hearts to God and allow Him to cleanse and plow their hearts, leading to a deeper worship and freedom in their lives.
Deliverance From Indwelling Sin ~ Romans 7:15
By William MacDonald77250:10DeliveranceGEN 39:12ROM 7:15ROM 7:182CO 3:182CO 4:71JN 2:1In this sermon, the speaker expresses their gratitude for being at the conference and their thoughts about the attendees. They emphasize the importance of relying on the Lord and surrendering control to Him in solving problems and living a dependent life. The speaker also highlights the sinful nature of humanity and the consequences of our actions, even after receiving forgiveness through Jesus. They emphasize that the answer to our struggles is not found in introspection or personal strength, but in the supernatural power of God. The sermon references the Bible to support these teachings.
On Eagles' Wings Pt 6
By Don Courville73229:11Radio ShowPSA 34:18PSA 145:2ISA 6:5MAT 5:23ACT 5:29ROM 7:18ROM 10:9ROM 14:231JN 1:9In this sermon, the preacher Evan Roberts delivers a message from God to his fellow members. He emphasizes the importance of confessing known sins to God and making amends for any wrongs done to others. He also urges the congregation to give up any doubtful habits and to promptly obey the Holy Spirit. Lastly, Roberts encourages the believers to publicly confess their faith in Christ. The sermon had a profound impact, with 17 people responding immediately and the church being filled with eager attendees. The sermon also highlights the transformative power of God's work in the life of Moses, showing that even a period of devastation and desertion can lead to a deep relationship with God and ultimately, great leadership.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
For I know that in me, etc. - I have learned by experience that in an unregenerate man there is no good. There is no principle by which the soul can be brought into the light; no principle by which it can be restored to purity: fleshly appetites alone prevail; and the brute runs away with the man. For to will is present with me - Though the whole soul has suffered indescribably by the Fall, yet there are some faculties that appear to have suffered less than others; or rather have received larger measures of the supernatural light, because their concurrence with the Divine principle is so necessary to the salvation of the soul. Even the most unconcerned about spiritual things have understanding, judgment, reason, and will. And by means of these we have seen even scoffers at Divine revelation become very eminent in arts and sciences; some of our best metaphysicians, physicians, mathematicians, astronomers, chemists, etc., have been known - to their reproach be it spoken and published - to be without religion; nay, some of them have blasphemed it, by leaving God out of his own work, and ascribing to an idol of their own, whom they call nature, the operations of the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Most High. It is true that many of the most eminent in all the above branches of knowledge have been conscientious believers in Divine revelation; but the case of the others proves that, fallen as man is, he yet possesses extra-ordinary powers, which are capable of very high cultivation and improvement. In short, the soul seems capable of any thing but knowing, fearing, loving, and serving God. And it is not only incapable, of itself, for any truly religious acts; but what shows its fall in the most indisputable manner is its enmity to sacred things. Let an unregenerate man pretend what he pleases, his conscience knows that he hates religion; his soul revolts against it; his carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be. There is no reducing this fell principle to subjection; it is Sin, and sin is rebellion against God; therefore sin must be destroyed, not subjected; if subjected, it would cease to be sin, because sin is in opposition to God: hence the apostle says, most conclusively, it cannot be subjected, i.e. it must be destroyed, or it will destroy the soul for ever. When the apostle says, to will is present with me, he shows that the will is on the side of God and truth, so far that it consents to the propriety and necessity of obedience. There has been a strange clamor raised up against this faculty of the soul, as if the very essence of evil dwelt in it; whereas the apostle shows, throughout this chapter, that the will was regularly on God's side, while every other faculty appears to have been in hostility to him. The truth is, men have confounded the will with the passions, and laid to the charge of the former what properly belongs to the latter. The will is right, but the passions are wrong. It discerns and approves, but is without ability to perform: it has no power over sensual appetites; in these the principle of rebellion dwells: it nills evil, it wills good, but can only command through the power of Divine grace: but this the person in question, the unregenerate man, has not received.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
For, &c.--better, "For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is in my flesh, any good." for to will--"desire." is present with me; but how to perform that which is good--the supplement "how," in our version, weakens the statement. I find not--Here, again, we have the double self of the renewed man; "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."
John Gill Bible Commentary
For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh,.... The apostle goes on to give some further account of himself, what he knew, and was fully assured of by long experience; as that dwelleth no good thing in him, that is, in his flesh, or carnal self; for otherwise there were many good things dwelt in him; there was the good work of grace, and the good word of God in him, and even Father, Son, and Spirit, dwelt in him; but his meaning is, that there was no good thing naturally in him; no good thing of his own putting there; nothing but what God had put there; no good thing, but what was owing to Christ, to the grace of God, and influence of the Spirit; or as he himself explains it, there was no good thing in his "flesh"; in the old man that was in him, which has nothing in his nature good; no good thing comes out of him, nor is any good thing done by him: and this explanative and limiting clause, "that is, in my flesh", clearly proves, that the apostle speaks of himself, and as regenerate; for had he spoke in the person of an unregenerate man, there would have been no room nor reason for such a restriction, seeing an unregenerate man is nothing else but flesh, and has nothing but flesh, or corrupt nature in him; and who does not know, that no good thing dwells in such persons? whereas the apostle intimates by this explication, that he had something else in him beside flesh, and which is opposed to it; and that is spirit, or the new man, which is of a spiritual nature, and is seated in the spirit, or soul, and comes from the Spirit of God; and in this spiritual man dwell good things, for "the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth"; so that though there was no good thing dwelling in his flesh, in the old than, yet there were good things dwelling in his spirit, in the new and spiritual man, the hidden man of the heart: and he adds, to will is present with me; which must be understood, not of the power and faculty of the will, with respect to things natural and civil, which is common to all men; nor of a will to that which is evil, which is in wicked men; but of a will to that which was good, which he had not of himself, but from God, and is only to be found in regenerate persons; and denotes the readiness of his mind and will to that which is spiritually good, like that which Christ observes of his disciples, when he says, "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak", Mat 26:41, which may serve much to illustrate the passage before us: since it follows, but how to perform that which is good, I find not; he found he had no strength of himself to do what he willed; and that he could do nothing without Christ; and that what he did by the strength and grace of Christ, he did not do perfectly. To will to live without sin, not to have a lustful or a revengeful thought in his breast, was present with him, but how to perform, how to live in this manner, which was so desirable to him, being born again, he found not. It may be asked, how does this agree with what the apostle says, "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure?" Phi 2:13. To this it may be replied, that when God does work in his people both to will and to do, he does not work both equally alike, or to the same degree, so that the work answers to the will; God never works in them so to do, as to will, for when they are wrought in, acted upon, and influenced to do the most, and that in the best manner, they never do all that they would; and sometimes God works in them to will, when he does not work in them to do; as in the case of the disciples of Christ, in whom he worked to will to watch with Christ an hour, but did not work in them to do, Mat 26:40; and whenever he works in the saints, whether to will or to do, or both, it is always of his own good pleasure.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
7:18 my sinful nature: See study note on 6:19. This phrase could refer to Paul’s former state as an unredeemed person or to a part of Paul that remains tied to the world and resists the will of God.