THE INWARD BATTLE OF ROMANS SEVEN DOING WHAT I WILL NOT First, the believer is to acknowledge these are unsought and unwanted. The phrase, "If, then, I do what I will not to do" means this. If something occurs in me that is against my will something I have neither sought nor cultured. The eruption is something I actually hate and despise. It is like a robber that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. It is as much out of order as a Philistine in Israel, a heathen in the Holy of Holies, or the devil in heaven. It does not represent my preference. It is not what I muse and meditate upon. It is contrary to who I really am and where I am really going. Erroneous Teaching Those who insist this passage is referring to Paul prior to his life in Christ have revealed their failure to comprehend the nature of salvation. It makes little difference how they bend the words of the text, or attempt to correlate what is being said with other texts of Scripture. In their teaching, they have affirmed those outside of Christ, (in their very best state noted for "ignorance and unbelief" 1 Tim 1:13) have no preference for sin. Rather, they hate it, and have no desire to do it. What is more, if these pretentious teachers are right, the alienated sinner is not even guilty of sin at all, as will be affirmed later in this chapter. Sin Hated in its Totality The words "I do what I do not want to do," NIV refer to the outbreak of the old nature in any sinful thought. They do not speak of a certain class of sin, but of sin in its totality. The intrusions may take the form of questioning the reality heaven, or the validity of Scripture. They may include imagining God has abandoned us, or that there is no need to fight the good fight of faith. They may take the form of discouragement, fear, or hopelessness. They may be the intrusion of mysterious dreams that are so contrary to our nature in Christ that they cause confusion within the believer. AGREEING WITH THE LAW "I agree with the law that it is good." Here is a most blessed conclusion, comforting to the heart and strengthening to the spirit. Make no mistake about this! God Almighty places a high value on agreeing with His Law. Those who are at variance with it in their wills, are headed for disaster! Not Heartless Agreement This is no mechanical or academic agreement! It is not agreeing with your back, so to speak, pinned against the wall, as though you were forced to agree. This is the expression of the heart. The affection consents. The will consists. Even the intellect consents. No part of the essential person--the "new creation in Christ Jesus"--disagrees with the good Law of God! THE STRUGGLE IS THE EVIDENCE The invasion of his mind with unwanted passions and desires were Paul's evidence that he agreed with the Law. He made no attempt to justify such thoughts, but acknowledged that he hated them. That hatred was only possible because he consented to the goodness of God's holy Law.
While it should not be necessary to say this repeatedly, a veil of ignorance has been thrown over this passage by those who lack spiritual understanding. The result is that a very essential aspect of the Kingdom has been obscured to the people of God. They have been left to struggle with the corruption of the "old man," thinking they are dealing with their basic self. As a result, some have doubted whether or not they are really saved. Others consider their baptism to have been invalid. Still others are persuaded they waffle in and out of God's favor because of uncomely thoughts and imaginations within. These can extend into the area of dreams, which are often troubling to those who are tenderhearted.
The Spirit will now show us how to reason upon these things. When involuntary imaginations overtake us, intruding into our thoughts, here is how the believer is to deliberate about the situation.
There is not a person outside of Christ who does not prefer to sin. That sin may take a mild form that is not offensive to an insensitive society, but it is enough to bring the wrath of God upon the sinner. If "A haughty look a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin" (Prov 21:4), how can goodness be ascribed to such people? And, it is good to love righteousness and hate iniquity, a trait of Jesus Himself (Heb 1:9).
If the sinner, or the person under the Law, prefers to do good and hates to do evil, precisely what is the difference between that person and the saved? How is it that a sinner can eat the fruit of redemption, without having access to its tree of life?
Emphatically, this passage refers to those with a new will, a new heart, and a new spirit! That newness is precisely what has produced this experience. It is not one of rote, but one flowing from the heart. "What I will not" is what I do not will, or want, to do, and it applies to THOUGHTS, not deeds.
A novice may very well imagine that a sinner, under the domination of the Law, does not really want to murder, or steal, or commit adultery. That is, from one point of view, conceivable. But what about coveting, lusting, or desiring--for that is the matter now being discussed? Where is the person outside of Christ that is alarmed when they want something that displeases God?
If the matter still seems too distant, think of wanting to be secure in this world, as opposed to desiring to be with the Lord (2 Cor 5:1-8). Ponder fearing death (Heb 2:15), or being occupied with thoughts of what we will eat, or what we will wear (Matt 6:25). What of the love of money, or an inordinate attachment to mother, father, brother, and sister (Lk 14:26). What of a failure to WANT to crucify the flesh, together with its affections and lusts (Gal 5:24). What about wanting to stay in this world, and not being "willing to depart" (Phil 1:23). Such conditions DOMINATE the sinner, even though they are covered with the veneer of culture. They show that sin is really not hated, even though some more heinous expressions may be repulsive.
These sinful intrusions include all manner of evil lusts, but are not limited to them. The temptation to commit adultery, for example, may take the form of prostituting our affection for Christ. We may be tempted to seek counsel or solace from men instead of God. We may be tempted to steal time and money from God, with never a thought of taking them from men.
The closer one is to the Lord, the broader the range of sinful expression. Just as surely as there will be more the person WILLS to do, there will be more he WILLS NOT to do.
Other versions read, "I consent unto the law that it is good," KJV "I am in agreement with the law that the law is good," BBE "I still acknowledge the Law as good." NJB Notice, the heart does not admit the Law is right, but agrees that it is GOOD. "Good" means flawless by nature and perceived as desirable and profitable to the individual. It is seen as precious, needful, honorable, and comforting. All of that is inherent in the word "good."
The Law IS good, whether men see it that way or not. There is no flaw in it, and no disadvantage in its statutes. It reflects the nature of God, and is therefore good. It defines sin, and is therefore good. However, when someone acknowledges, consents to, or agrees that it is good, a milestone of life has been reached.
Much before his time, David, the "sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Sam 23:1), put this "consent" or "agreement" into words. Although he lived and died under the Old Covenant, his faith took him beyond the perimeter of the Law. In his measure, he was able to speak in harmony with the New Covenant, even though it was not enacted until nearly 1,000 years after his death. That is a most remarkable circumstance! Read some of David's expressions and see if they do not reflect the nature of the New Covenant.
1. "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law" (Psa 119:18).
2. "For Thy judgments are good" (Psa 119:39).
3. "Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart" (Psa 119:34).
4. "So shall I keep Thy law continually for ever and ever" (Psa 119:44).
5. "I have remembered Thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept Thy law" (Psa 119:55).
6. "I have not forgotten Thy law" (Psa 119:61).
7. "I delight in Thy law" (Psa 119:70).
8. "Thy law is my delight" (Psa 119:77).
9. "Unless Thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction" (Psa 119:92).
10. "O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day" (Psa 119:97).
11. "My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget Thy law" (Psa 119:109).
12. "I hate vain thoughts: but Thy law do I love" (Psa 119:113).
13. "I hate and abhor lying: but Thy law do I love" (Psa 119:163).
14. "I have longed for Thy salvation, O LORD; and Thy law is my delight" (Psa 119:174).
Consenting that the Law is good involves delighting in it, preferring it, not forgetting it, and meditating upon it. David's expressions were preparatory for what would be realized in Christ. Paul is acknowledging participation in the salvation for which David longed (Psa 119:81,123, 160,174).
But the word "consent" also carries the idea of verbalization, or confession. Coming from a word involving, "consent," or "agree with," it also means to affirm or confess. It is as though the intrusion of unlawful desires into his mind caused him to shout out, "THY LAW IS GOOD!" It was good by contrast as well as nature.
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ I confess Your Law IS good, and that I hate every false way. I praise Your name for giving me a heart that can joyfully do this!