Romans 7:19

“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

-- Jubilee Bible

Free Will and Guilt

This verse and those that breath with it are so difficult to read and comprehend that I suspect most people's eyes gloss over as they try to read it. I had to read these verses several times to clearly appreciate what was being said, and when I finally understood the message, I was upset by the fact that the actual message is diametrically opposed to my first interpretation. Whew. That is one heck of a sentence...

It was so confusing I had to question if my brain damage from meth was so extensive, that I would never understand what what being said here. So I did what any self-doubting addict in recovery would do; I turned to YouTube.

Here is what I came up with. Paul is trying to explain something that is hard for anyone to reason with. But what is really being said?

Think back to Jesus. He was perfect. None of us is. We have to sin. We know what we should and should not do, but we often resist the right and embrace the wrong. Science based interpretation has to do with pattern based psychiatry. It takes longer for the good part of your brain to analyze data than it does for the bad part. It becomes a habit. We all know about habits. I know I shouldn't smoke but I do.

I agree with that, but I think the lesson is deeper than that. God is telling us we can't be perfect. If we were, we wouldn't need Him. I am not saying that God is using us to validate His being. I am suggesting that perhaps God is telling us, since we can not be perfect, we should not be so wrapped up in the guilt that comes with awareness. That is not an excuse to be bad. That is a reason not to hate ourselves for being human.

Jesus gave himself up so that we can survive our guilt.

Version Study & Takeaway

The Linguistic Trap:

In this study, I included three versions of this particular scripture to emphasize the point that the lesson can not be made easy to fully understand without stopping. I think that is what God wants. He wants us to stop and think. He wants us to slow down.

The Takeaway:

If Paul survived his sins, we probably can too.But don't treat sin like candy, treat it like bile.

Paul, a man of many words, and of God's favor, suffered the guilt of sin. Even after his redemption.

Romans 7:19 NIV

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

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.

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.

NLT (New Living Translation)7

So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.

So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t.

I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.

But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.