Romans Chapter 7- I can relate!
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[d] I want to do what is right, but I can't. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God's law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 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.
My Paraphrase: So, the problem isn't that God has given me too many rules. The problem is, I keep forgetting that I am not a slave to sin anymore. I have the power within me, through the holy spirit to quit doing the stuff that I hate doing (after the fact), but I let myself be bossed around by Satan. It sucks. I suck. I have been thinking about this passage a lot since I re-read it lately, and I have just been praying that God would help me to choose who I want to serve- cause everyone is serving something (whether you realize it or not). I want to be in control of my choice- and choose to serve God-- which leads to holiness.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[d] I want to do what is right, but I can't. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God's law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 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.
My Paraphrase: So, the problem isn't that God has given me too many rules. The problem is, I keep forgetting that I am not a slave to sin anymore. I have the power within me, through the holy spirit to quit doing the stuff that I hate doing (after the fact), but I let myself be bossed around by Satan. It sucks. I suck. I have been thinking about this passage a lot since I re-read it lately, and I have just been praying that God would help me to choose who I want to serve- cause everyone is serving something (whether you realize it or not). I want to be in control of my choice- and choose to serve God-- which leads to holiness.
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