As kids grow older, they learn what is acceptable and what is not acceptable from their parents. We all know it is difficult to stop doing something we enjoy once we are told it is incorrect. People did not realize they were doing something wrong (sin) until they were told not to do it (law). What makes it so difficult to stop doing bad things? In answering this question, we will start with an example from the Bible.

The Bible gives us an example in the law (God’s commandment) of coveting (to desire wrongfully, Dictionary.com), but sin, which the Bible refers to as sinful nature in man, produced in people every kind of coveting. So this example applies to every type of sin, not just coveting.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

Because the law told people not to covet, man’s sinful nature produced in them even more desire to covet in every kind of way. So we see that it is impossible to follow the law with our sinful nature right there, greatly desiring to oppose it in every way.

Romans 7:8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting.

In continuing, we know that the law is spiritual, but people are a slave to sin. They do not understand what they are doing, and they hate the things they do.

Romans 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

People need to realize that the law is good, and it is not them who disobey it, but the sinful nature living in them! We know that nothing good dwells in us, that is, in our sinful nature.

Romans 7:16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18a For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

People want to do what is good but cannot do it! So we find ourselves not doing the good we want to do but the evil we hate! That is what we keep on doing! This is the condition of man! Whatever they want to do, it is no longer them doing it but the sin in them doing it.

Romans 7:18b 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. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Here is the problem that people have: In their inner being (man’s spirit), they delight (man’s soul) in God’s law, but in their flesh (body), the law of sin is at work. This law of sin wages war with the law of their mind (soul), which is set on God’s law, making them prisoners of the law of sin.

Romans 7:21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

The solution is for people to realize how wretched they are and that they need someone to save them. There is someone who can rescue them! This someone is Jesus Christ!

Without Him, you will spend the rest of your life on Earth trying to figure stuff out. You may experience something that you call good and satisfying, but it will only be a momentary wisp in life’s journey. You will not experience the Fruit of The Spirit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) that comes from the Holy Spirit of God; only the false, temporary kind that comes from the world.

Again, you must realize how messed up you are and that you need someone to save you.

Romans 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?