Law Cannot Save from Sin

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. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, (A)sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. (B)For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that (C)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. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

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13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good(A) to bring about my death,(B) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,(C) sold(D) as a slave to sin.(E) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.(F) 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.(G) 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.(H) 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a](I) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:18 Or my flesh