Romans 7:17-18, Watch Out for the Flesh

Romans 7:17-18 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

The Apostle Paul identified the source of mischief in the believer’s life as the sin that is within him which he identified as his “flesh”. It entices him to sin. And he speaks of a conflict within him, a tug of war between the flesh and the new nature within him. The new nature was formed in him when he received Jesus Christ into his life. The Holy Spirit now indwells him. The flesh does not speak of his body. His body is not evil. In fact, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit of God.

According to the Apostle Paul, the flesh is the seat of sinful lusts which wages war against the Spirit. Our corrupt nature – our sinful inclinations – draws us toward what is evil and “wars against the law of our minds.” (Schwertley). The Apostle Paul is fully awakened to the conflict within him and seeks to have a moment by moment victory over the flesh through unceasing prayer.

John Calvin writes, “Words fail to explain how necessary prayer is, and in how many ways the exercise of prayer is profitable. Surely, with good reason the Heavenly Father affirms that the only stronghold of safety is in calling upon His name [cf. Joel 2:32]. By so doing we invoke the presence both of His providence, through which He watches over and guards our affairs, and of His power, through which He sustains us, weak as we are and well-nigh overcome, and of his goodness, through which he receives us, miserably burdened with sins, unto grace; and in short, it is by prayer that we call Him to reveal Himself as wholly present with us. Hence, come an extraordinary peace and repose to our consciences. For having disclosed to the Lord the necessity that was pressing upon us, we even rest fully in the thought that none of our ills is hidden from Him who, we are convinced has both the will and the power to best care of us.”  [Institute of Christian Religion]

The Apostle Paul is aware that this conflict will continue to exist till the day he dies and sought to draw close to God for strength to overcome the flesh. Amen.