The Unchanging Impulse Of Sin

Romans 7:20-21, "Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me.  So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand."


Here is further repetition of what Paul has stated in verse 17.  It signifies Paul's emphasis that this experience of weakness is of deep significance to the believer.  One is not a Christian simply because he is like the saints in experiencing weakness or because he/she is living in a way that resembles the saints.  Rather, being a Christian depends solely upon the inner condition of confessing one's deadness and resting (i.e. faithing) in the promised gift of the Gospel; the forgiveness of sins.  The impulse of sin within our nature is unchangeable as long as we live in this world.  All believing regenerate Christians experience this with a measure of bitterness.  They are disturbed by this oppression of sin more than anything else in the world.  They find it so very real that "when (they) want to do right evil lies close at hand."


Source:  C.O. Rosenius (Romans, A Devotional Commentary) 
(Emphasis added)