1.0
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Many have used Rom 7 to convince themselves that to sin is only human since Paul seems to be implying (which is denied) that he may be having a sin problem as well (Rom 7:25). It is possible that some people may have used this chapter to assuage their guilty conscience, whenever they sin, thinking that it would be alright for them to continue to remain in darkness. But it is clear that those who remain in darkness are not saved, but self deceived. In any event, false teachers are always aplenty, and they will tell these people what their ears are itching to hear. Generally, Romans 7 is trying to explain that there is no way anyone can fulfill the requirements of the Law without Christ. Rom 7:14 (NASB95) states: “(14) For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.” So, the key reason why the Law is impossible to fulfil is because it is spiritual, while man is flesh, sold into bondage to sin. Thus, if it is so difficult to not sin, why not sin as frequently as possible? Most definitely, not. The reasons can be found in the commentary below.
2.0
ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY ON ROMANS 7
2.1
Rom 7:1-3 (NASB95) states:
(1) Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? (2) For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning her husband. (3) So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.
2.2
Rom 7:1 Commentary: When Paul says that he was speaking to those who know the law, it certainly does not mean that the law is only applicable to the Jews or to the Gentiles who know the law. It just means that he was speaking to those who have some technical or specialized knowledge on that subject matter, as they are likely the ones who may have further clarifications for Paul. The law is applicable to every person, to both Jew and Gentile, male or female, regardless of whether that person has or does not have the knowledge of the law (Rom 2:12-15). And the law has jurisdiction over every single person as long as he or she is alive.
2.3
Rom 7:2-3 Commentary: Verses 2 and 3 are straightforward and self-explanatory. A married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, she is released and is free to remarry again. Only death can separate the wife from her husband, nothing else.
2.4
Rom 7:4-6 (NASB95) states:
(4) Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. (5) For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. (6) But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
2.5
Rom 7:4 Commentary: Just as the wife is released from her husband through his death, all true born-again believers are also released from the Law when they died with Christ. Notice the words, “Therefore, my brethren..,” Paul was referring to Christians only. Those reading Romans chapter 7 are expected to have an understanding of some core foundational doctrines. Otherwise, they are likely going to be confused. Nonetheless, for readers’ benefit, some of these doctrines will be discussed now. Firstly, Christians are predestined to be saved (Eph 1:4-5). This group of people were chosen to be saved, before the world was created and before they existed. God knew them before there were born. Secondly, God knew He was going to encounter a significant problem, that is, the sins of this group of people. Their sins will inevitably separate them from Himself. But God is steadfast and determined. So, He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross in order to pay for their sins once and for all. When Christ completed His mission, all of their sins past, present and also future sins that have yet to be committed by them became fully paid. This includes even the sins of the elect that have yet to be born into the world. For He alone is worthy to pay for all their sins. But it must be emphasized that Christ died only for the sins of His elect and not for every person in the world. This is because if he did that, then even the unrepentant, the wicked, and evil persons will be saved, and the new kingdom of God would be no different from this current world. No, but the wicked and those who do not believe will be condemned forever, and they will have no part in the kingdom of God.
Before a person came to Christ, he was spiritually dead because he was under the law. One fleeting moment of lust or a split second of coveting is enough to be considered a sin. And the wages of sin is death. But when this person comes to Christ, he is instantly transferred to another domain. From previously being under the law, he is immediately transferred to be under grace. The believer now comes under the grace of God and under the law of the Spirit (Rom 8:1-2). That Christian is no longer under the previous domain, he has died to the Law through the body of Christ. If he remains in the old domain, then every time he sins, Christ will have to be sacrificed all over again in order that God could save him. But because he has been transferred to a new domain that comes under God’s grace, the law of sin and death no longer has any effect on the Christian (Rom 8:1-2) and the Christian is no longer spiritually dead. Then the next question arises, “What if he sins again?” Remember that in this new domain, the law of sin and death no longer has any effect on the Christian. He is permanently saved and cannot be unsaved. But he will have to conform to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29). Continuous sanctification and discipline from the Father is guaranteed as long as the Christian is alive. So the true Christian is definitely going to sin lesser and lesser over time as he continues to walk according to the Spirit (Rom 8:4). As for false Christians, they will continue in their lifestyle of habitual sin, all the while thinking that they are saved. But they will be surprised on the last day.
Christians are branches attached to Christ (the Vine). God the Father being the Vinedresser will prune the branches in order that they may bear more fruit (John 15:1-2). Sinful habits and other character flaws in the sight of God will be pruned away. In most cases, the pruning is severe and miserable. For example, if the Father needs to bankrupt the Christian in order to remove the love of money from him, He will do it. God the Father is adamant about getting sin out of His children’s lives and He will be waver the slightest. The fastest way to end the “misery” is to recognize those sinful issues and remove them quickly and permanently. Therefore it is not that the Christian can sin happily because the law of sin and death cannot apply to him, it is that now he comes under God’s disciplining and guidance that will lead him to life. The true Christian may never be completely sinless, but he will sin lesser and lesser over time. In fact, he will even find it more and more difficult to sin as he grows spiritually in Christ. Whereas for those who think they are Christians, but are not, they will continue in their habitual sins with no reduction in its frequency. They are those who think they are Christians, but are just imagining things.
2.6
Rom 7:5 Commentary: The phrase, “For while we were in the flesh” refers to the time before Paul and the Roman believers became believers in Christ. Verse 5 may seem strange to some readers. How are sinful passions aroused by the Law? It is easy to understand if sinful passions are aroused by the person’s own sinfulness. But aroused by the Law? It is aroused by the Law because passions only becomes sinful if the Law says it is sinful. If the Law does not say it is sinful, then passions are only passions. The word, “passion” means strong desire for something or strong feelings of attraction for something. So, if we have a passion for God’s word, it is certainly not sinful. But if a person has a strong desire for someone else’s wife or husband or anything that does not belong to him or her, then the thoughts that the person had are enough to be considered a sin. Just a split-second thought of coveting her friend’s handsome husband will be considered a sin. And the wages of sin is death.
2.7
Rom 7:6 Commentary: In this verse, Paul reiterates what he had already stated earlier in verse 4. All true born-again believers have been released from the Law when they died with Christ to their old sinful selves. So that they serve in the newness of the Spirit, that is, they now walk according to the Spirit. The law of sin and death no longer has any effect on them because they have been transferred from the old domain being under the Law, to be placed into a new domain under the grace of God.
2.8
Rom 7:7-8 (NASB95) states:
(7) What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” (8) But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.
2.9
Rom 7:7 Commentary: The Law is not sin, of course. It is not that God is trying to destroy man by giving him the Law either. He could have done so without ever giving the Law. But He had to set the standard for man’s behavior. The Law reflects God’s righteousness, holiness and goodness. The Law is like a measuring device that instead of measuring the length or weight, it measures what is considered right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable. Just like what Paul said in this verse, in that he would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” Thus, while the Law governs behaviors, it also shows up how lacking every person is when measured against God’s Law. They see how they have all fallen short and area unable to meet those standards.
2.10
Rom 7:8 Commentary: Verse 8 says that apart from the Law sin is dead. Thus, coveting will not be sinful if the Law does not say it is sinful, but because the Law says that coveting is sinful, the act of wanting something or anything that belongs to someone else immediately becomes a sin. Even something as trivial as desiring someone’s food is considered coveting. And because Paul in his old sinful life has been desiring all kinds of things that belonged to someone else, it has produced all kinds of coveting in him. Thus, the sin of his coveting became multiplied and became utterly sinful.
2.11
Rom 7:9-12 (NASB95) states:
(9) I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; (10) and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; (11) for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. (12) So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
2.12
Rom 7:9 Commentary: Paul said that he was once alive apart from the Law. Many commentators have insisted that Paul did not mean that he was without sin. But this verse is clear that Paul did say that he was without sin at one point in his life. It was not a matter of Paul’s perception of his disconnectedness from God or that somehow Paul was referring to mankind as a whole. No, but Paul was indeed talking about himself being sinless. But is this possible? Is Paul talking nonsense? Can Paul be sinless at one point in his life? We wish to highlight that we disagree with some of our reformed brethren who say that all babies are born with Adam’s sin nature (Please see our article titled, “What is sin nature and where did it come from?”). If babies die, they go straight to heaven because they have not reached the age of accountability – that is our view. Babies or young children do not know what is good or evil. Even if you gave them the Law, it is meaningless to them. And if it is meaningless to them, can they keep the Law? Similarly, it is only after Paul grew up and reached the age of accountability, that the commandment came to him, that is, came to his knowledge, and sin became alive for him. Paul became accountable for his sin, and he died spiritually. Thus, when Paul said he was once alive apart from the Law, it is true because it can only be that he was referring to the time when he was not old enough to be held accountable for his actions.
2.13
Rom 7:10 Commentary: The commandment that was supposed to provide a guiding light to life, to righteous behavior as well as guidance away from deeds that would lead to death, instead resulted in death for Paul. This is because of Paul’s own sins and sinful inclinations.
2.14
Rom 7:11 Commentary: Paul could have reasoned previously that he would gain life through the commandments. But it was his own sin that deceived him and caused his death (instead of life) through the commandments. But sin is not a living person, so how is it able to deceive Paul? The deception occurred due to Paul’s own sinful pride when he thought he could perfectly keep the commandments. His sinful pride deceived him and because he could not keep commandments, it killed him.
2.15
Rom 7:12 Commentary: So, the problem lies with sin and man’s persistent inclination to sin, not the commandment. God and His commandments are not to be blamed. Thus it can only be that the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
2.16
Rom 7:13 (NASB95) states:
(13) Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
2.17
Rom 7:13 Commentary: A person receiving the death penalty for murder cannot blame the law of the land, but himself for committing the act of murder. Thus, the cause of spiritual death for Paul (before he turned to Christ) was not the Law, but it was sin. But why did Paul say that his sin through the commandment became exceedingly sinful? Is it not that all sin has to be through knowing the commandments? Not quite. Rom 2:12 states, “For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law…” Gentiles and all who lived before the Mosaic law, all died without the Law given to them. The Jews were physically given the commandments by God Himself. Whereas the Gentiles and those who lived before Moses had the Law written in their hearts so that they did the things of the Law instinctively (Rom 2:12-16). God will judge all men (both Jews and Gentiles), but He will know the difference on that day because the Jews were physically given the commandments by Himself, while the Gentiles did not have such privilege. Thus, with Paul being a Jew and a Pharisee (Phil 3:5-6), his sin through the commandment became exceedingly sinful. Not only is he a Jew, but he knew the Law very well, so even more is expected of him. In other words those without the commandments (such as the Gentiles), sin without the commandments, and those who were given the commandments (such as the Jews and especially those who knew the Law well, such as the Pharisees), their sin became utterly sinful.
2.18
Rom 7:14 (NASB95) states:
(14) For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
2.19
Rom 7:14 Commentary: Apostle Paul talks about his own struggles with his flesh. But what he went through reflects very much what every Christian would go through as well. Paul highlights that the source problem of all our internal struggles with sin, is the incompatibility of the Law with the flesh. The Law is spiritual, but we are of flesh. It was Paul’s flesh that sold Paul into bondage to sin. In other words, Paul was inclined to sin and bound to sin. There is no escape for Paul, or for any who are Christians, or for any human who has ever lived. Man will sin no matter how hard he tries to escape from it (we will explain this statement below). One sin is all it takes for the wages of sin to take effect, and the wages of sin is death – physical and especially spiritual death. But how can all Christians be bound to sin or sure to sin when Rom 6:22 clearly states that Christians are freed from sin and enslaved to God? What then is Paul trying to say? We hope that readers will be patient with us because we feel the need to repeat ourselves here again in order to ensure to the best of our ability that no one misunderstands this chapter. Once again, true born-again Christians are no longer under the law but under grace (Rom 6:14). Their sins have been 100 percent fully paid for by Christ’s death on the cross, be it their past sins, present sins or future sins. And because true Christians have died with Christ, the deaths of their old sinful lives have freed them from any need to obey the Law. In modern language, all true Christians have been transferred from the previous domain (law of sin and death) to a new domain coming under God’s grace. But herein lies the important question. How does a person know he is truly saved? Just because a person says he believe in God does it mean he is truly saved? Even demons believe and tremble. That person could very well be self deceived. One of the clearest evidence a person is saved is his continuous sanctification. That is, his spiritual growth process of becoming more and more holy and Christ-like over time. As he progresses, he will find himself sinning lesser and lesser as he grows in Christ. In time, he develops a deep-seated hatred for his own sins and yearns to walk according to the Spirit. The true Christian will not walk according to his flesh but according to the Spirit (Rom 8:4). With all this in mind, we can now look into the issue of Paul’s struggle with sin and his apparent inability to escape from it. So what did Paul mean when he said, “but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin?” Firstly, nowhere did Paul ever say that he was living a lifestyle of habitual sin. Secondly, Paul was referring to something that is so inherent in every human being that most never paid attention to it and that is, man’s automatic reaction. This automatic reaction of the flesh is in Paul and every human person ever lived. That is why he said that he was sold into bondage to sin – Paul was referring to his flesh’s automatic reaction.
The body (including the brain) is a biological machine. The physical brain does NOT control the body (it assists the mind of the human spirit in controlling the body). It is the human spirit dwelling inside the body, (or more accurately, the mind of the human spirit) that controls the controllable parts of the body such as moving from place to place, listening, speaking, thinking, learning, doing things, etc. As for the uncontrollable parts of the body, everything happens automatically and in reaction to something. For example, the pupil of the eye will react automatically to the amount of light in an environment. Same for the stomach in reaction to food or the lack of it, same for the pancreas, the liver, the kidneys, the reproduction systems, etc. A lot is done in reaction to something. For example, a person may throw his fist at another person and the other person’s automatic reaction may be to dodge. Does he stand there and ponder? No, his automatic reaction is likely to dodge or to block the incoming fist. As for the hungry person, his automatic reaction is almost always to yearn for food and if he sees his favorite food he automatically feels hungrier. The same applies to many other things such as an attractive opposite sex, a beautiful wristwatch, handbag, car, money, etc. The flesh is not contented as it almost always wants something at one time or another. The sin of covetousness is an automatic reaction that can happen faster than a split second and in that fleeting thought that is faster than lightning, that person would have committed a sin, even if he did not dwell on those thoughts for an extended period of time. Please also see Proverbs 27:20. There is no way of blocking the automatic reactions of the flesh. This was what Paul was referring to, that is, before his inner man (the mind of his human spirit) can block his automatic reactions of his flesh, sin has already occurred. This leads to Paul stating the following verses.
2.20
Rom 7:15-20 (NASB95) states:
(15) For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am no practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. (16) But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. (17) So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. (18) For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. (19) For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. (20) But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
2.21
Rom 7:15 Commentary: Some commentators argue that in verse 15, Paul was referring to his past sinful life. We disagree with this view. If Paul was referring to his past, he would have said so. In this verse, Paul was explaining his ongoing struggle with the automatic reactions of his flesh. He hates those reactions because he could not stop or block it in time no matter how hard he tried to be faster. Paul said, “For what I am doing, I do not understand…”. Again, let us take for example the problem of covetousness. King David was coveting someone else’s wife when he likely had a long queue of women just waiting to be with him. This defies logic and reason. Why was it even necessary to do what he did? As king, he had almost everything, yet he sinned greatly against the Lord and even murdered her husband. As for Paul, we do not have much information about the issues he was facing. But based on Rom 7:8, Paul probably had issues with general covetousness such as for things or money since he does not seem to mind being celibate (1 Cor 7:8). But this is just speculation as we have no conclusive evidence apart from the fact that it has something to do with covetousness.
2.22
Rom 7:16 Commentary: If we could rephrase verse 16, if would be the following: “But if my flesh does the very thing my spirit does not want to do, my spirit agrees with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.” The flesh almost always reacts sinfully, apart from the intention of its human spirit.
2.23
Rom 7:17 Commentary: If we could rephrase verse 17, it would be, “So now, no longer is my spirit doing it, but sin which dwells in my flesh.” The flesh is always inclined to sin apart from the intention of the human spirit and in this verse, it is the spirit of Paul.
2.24
Rom 7:18 Commentary: Paul reiterates the problem of his flesh doing the opposite of what his spirit wants to do. Paul’s spirit wants to avoid sin, but the automatic reaction of his flesh is sinful. Even when Paul wills himself to do good, his flesh automatically reacts in the opposite direction.
2.25
Rom 7:19 Commentary: Paul reiterates his spirit’s inability to prevent the automatic sinful reaction of his flesh towards every opportunity to sin. By the time his spirit attempts to rein in his flesh, sin has already occurred. We wish to reemphasize again to help readers understand better, all automatic reactions of the flesh are considered sins of very short duration lasting no more than a few seconds until the human spirit seizes control of his flesh to block that sin from establishing itself further. Whereas the sin of longer durations can be considered as not walking according to the Spirit (Rom 8:4) because the human spirit failed to prevent any particular sin from establishing itself and taking root. Further failure to block that sin will result in habitual and willful sinning against the Lord. Willful sinning against the Lord is a serious problem as seen in Heb 10:26. Therefore, sinning repeatedly and habitually is not the same as automatic sinful reactions. One is clearly willful, and the other is not. One can be blocked by the human spirit, while the other cannot be blocked due to its speed. As discussed earlier, it cannot be blocked because the flesh reacts faster than the human spirit can react to block it. For example, if a person sees a desirable item that his friend possesses, his first instant reaction of wanting it may not be blocked. As it is, he has already sinned because of covetousness. If that person is a Christian, he must then quickly block that sin of covetousness from establishing by distracting himself on purpose, to redirect his attention somewhere else. Failure to seize control of his flesh, which in this case, is his eyes and his brain, will very likely lead to that sin of covetousness taking root in him. And it will grow and become worse and worse. Further failure to stop that growth of covetousness will lead him to stealing or robbing that item from his friend. Now he has committed two sins – covetousness and theft. If the process is repeated habitually, Heb 10:26 will apply.
2.26
Rom 7:20 Commentary: In this verse, Paul repeats what he already said in verses 16 and 17. Paul reemphasizes that his human spirit does not want to sin, but his flesh is always inclined to sin. Paul is not pushing away his responsibility for his instantaneous sinful reactions, he is just telling his readers how impossible it is to be sinless by following the Law.
2.27
Rom 7:21-25 (NASB95) states:
(21) I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. (22) for I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, (23) but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. (24) Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? (25) Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
2.28
Rom 7:21 Commentary: When Paul said that evil is present in him, he was telling the Roman Christians that his flesh in inherently evil because his flesh is always inclined to sin. Paul was certainly not talking about the demonization of his body.
2.29
Rom 7:22 Commentary: This is almost similar to verse 16. Paul’s inner man, that is, his human spirit, joyfully agrees with the law of God. This also implies that Paul’s outer man does not agree with the law of God. But Paul’s inner man controls his outer man and does not allow sin to reign in his body. Of course, we know that it is no walk in the park, some effort is needed as we shall see in the next verse.
2.30
Rom 7:23 Commentary: The word, “law” in verse 23 is not referring to a system of written rules. In the NLT, it is translated as, “power.” In our view the word, “law” is referring to a kind of influencing power. So Paul was explaining that there was an influencing power in his body that is battling against another influencing power that is in his mind. One is inclined to do evil and the other joyfully agrees with the law of God, both pulling in two different directions. The mind of Paul’s inner man wants to do good, but his body is inclined to do evil. And because Paul was still physically alive, he could not pull away from his body. Paul was essentially trapped and imprisoned in his body that is inclined to sin. Hence the words, “making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”
2.31
Rom 7:24 Commentary: Paul was expressing his frustration with his body’s persistent inclination to sin – wretched man that he was and wretched men we all are! When he asked who will save him from this body of this death, he was also telling the Roman Christians that there was actually no way to fulfill the law of Moses because their bodies will automatically sin, no matter how hard their minds try to control the reaction of their bodies. To be clear, we are referring to the automatic reaction of their bodies before the mind of their inner man takes control of their bodies via their brains to stop themselves from sinning.
2.32
Rom 7:25 Commentary: It is important that Christians do not misinterpret this verse. Paul was most certainly not saying that he was giving in to the desires of his flesh. Paul was saying that because his flesh was always reacting faster than his mind could take control, thus, due to its speed, he has no choice but to let his flesh continue in its sinful inclinations. Lustful thoughts, lust of the eyes, prideful thoughts, covetousness, hateful thoughts, etc. can all occur as automatic reactions of the flesh. They are automatic (not willful) and they are almost instantaneous. But once the mind registers (or realizes) the fast-occurring sin developing from the flesh, the Christian has to put a stop to it immediately and prevent it from taking root in his life. Those sinful inclinations make it impossible to be justified by the Mosaic law. In fact, no one is justified by the Law in the sight of God (Gal 3:11). If the Christian counts on the Law for justification, he will be condemned without end because of his automatic reactions. But thanks be to God, because he now has Christ. Christ has redeemed him as well as all who truly believe, from the curse of the Law (Gal 3:13). But how does a person know that he truly believes? This is what John 12:46 (NASB95) says, “(46) I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.” So, if anyone is still living his life in darkness, that is, in habitual sin, then he still has not truly believed. Those sinful automatic reactions of the flesh cannot be wished away. They are very bothersome to say the least. But if our minds are truly serving the law of God (as what Paul said in this verse), we will not allow sin to take root in our lives. Darkness, through this world and through a person’s flesh will always try to influence the Christian, that is, the mind of the Christian. While he may be momentarily affected, he will not remain in darkness. We need to re-emphasize that he will not remain in darkness and he will not walk according to his flesh, but according to the Spirit. Christians must not allow their sinful automatic reactions to linger for more than 3-4 seconds (as a general guide). As soon as their minds realize they are sinning, they must immediately assert control of their flesh and prevent it from taking root. Let us go on to Romans chapter 8 where we see the importance of walking according to the Spirit.
3.0
CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY
3.1
The human body is a biological machine that has automatic reactions to various different things. All automatic reactions differ from person to person. For Paul it is covetousness. For others but it could be the lust of the flesh, or the lust of the eyes, or boastful pride of life (1 John 2:16). Using the sin of covetousness as an example, it almost always happens in the physical brain faster than the mind of the human spirit can react to stop coveting from occurring. So, although that person may be a mature Christian and he has determined never to covet anything or anyone anymore, his flesh always reacts faster than his spirit can stop the coveting. Hence the wretchedness. Thus when Paul said that with his mind he served the law of God, but with his flesh the law of sin, he was NOT talking about himself living a habitual lifestyle of sin. He was describing how his flesh is always inclined to sin and that all Christians (including himself) must walk according to the Spirit. A true Christian walking according to the Spirit will block the sin from establishing and stop it from taking root even though he will likely fail to stop the initial sinful reaction of this flesh.