Chapter 7: The Struggle of the Spirit with the Flesh

v.1 When Paul uses the word “brethren” he’s referring to his Jewish brothers. The principle Paul begins to establish here is that death brings freedom from the law.

v.4–6 The Jews who had become Christians thought they still had to keep the law. So, Paul explained that they had died in Christ. Once freed from the law, we can serve God from the motivation of love.

v.7 Paul here states that the purpose of the law was to show men their sins.

v.14 We’re in agreement with the law because it is good and just. Our problem is that the law is spiritual and we are carnal. Jesus explained God’s intention when He gave the law, because the Pharisees had misinterpreted it (Matthew 5–7). The new covenant we have with God depends upon our belief in His righteousness. The old covenant depended on our righteousness in keeping the law.

v.15 This is the struggle Paul had before he realized that the law was spiritual.

v.17–20 Only the Christian has this conflict between the flesh and the spirit. The non-Christian lives in harmony with the desires of his flesh, but we Christians are trying to bring our flesh into conformity with the will of God. Now our will and desire is to serve God. So, when we sin, it’s because we still have the sinful nature.

v.22 My spiritual, inward self loves God’s law and wants above all to obey Him.

v.23 Our flesh always seeks to gratify itself and struggles with our spirit to bring it under the control of sin.

v.24 We’re dragging the body of our dead man (our flesh) around with us, hoping for the day when we’ll be released.

v.25 With God’s help through Jesus, there’s a way that we don’t have to continue to be defeated by the flesh.