In Romans 6, Paul had explained to his audience that grace does not permit sin. Rather, one under grace is one who died to sin, being buried with Christ in baptism (6:4). He is to reckon himself dead to sin, and alive to God through Christ Jesus (6:11). He is to present himself to God as an instrument of righteousness, not of unrighteousness to sin. “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (6:14). In another place, Paul elaborated, “not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21). It is not that the Christian is free from all law, but that the Jewish Christian is free from the Law of Moses, thus, from the curse of the law (cf. Galatians 3:10-14). This is illustrated by Paul in Romans 7:1-6 by utilizing the marriage bond as a parallel. A woman is bound by law to her husband for as long as he lives. However, when her husband dies, she is free from the law of her husband. Paul’s emphasis is that she is now free to marry another man, for her husband had died. Likewise, when Christ was crucified, the Old Law was nailed to the cross (cf. Ephesians 2:14-18). Therefore, they are dead to the law, but this was done that they might be joined to another – Christ (v. 4). This is not liberty to be used as an occasion for the flesh (cf. Galatians 5:13). Rather, “that we should bear fruit to God” (v. 4).

Such a consideration of the law may lead one to question the nature of the law. Is it sinful? Paul explains that it is not. Rather, “the law is spiritual” (v. 14). It is that which appeals to the inward man, leading to spiritual living. The law exposed sin, showing those who were under it what pleases, and displeases God. Paul learned that covetousness was sin when the law said, “You shall not covet” (v. 7). One who submits to such avoids sin. However, sin – personified in this context – took the commandment as opportunity to deceive, and brought forth death in the deceived. For a clear example of this one need only go to the beginning (cf. Genesis 3:1-7). “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (v. 12).

The second half of Romans 7 (vv. 13-25) serves to emphasize the state of one under the Old Law without Christ. The apostle speaks of a time where he was once alive without the law (v. 9). In childhood, he was innocent (cf. Matthew 19:13-15). However, he reached the age of accountability, and having rebelled against God, died. The law sought to direct Paul spiritually, but he minded the things of the flesh, and became a slave of sin. Sin deceived him through that which was good, and therefore became “exceedingly sinful” (v. 13). “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin” (v. 14). But this could not be said of Paul in the state in which he was writing. Paul said of himself as a Christian, “You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:10). This could not be stated of one who is “carnal, sold under sin.” It is clear that Paul speaks of his past self in the present tense. He does so to impress his readers with the terrible state in which he found himself under the law without Christ. And a terrible state it was.

Paul described what it is like to be “carnal, sold under sin” (v. 14) – “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do” (v. 15). This sentiment is repeated and elaborated through verse 20. To gain a better understanding of this verse, and the description that follows, it is helpful to consider the three Greek words translated into “do,” and “practice.”

• (v. 15a) – “For what I am doing, I do not understand.” – “doing” is the Greek word katergazomai. Thayer gives the definition for this word: “to perform, accomplish, achieve.”
• (v. 15b) – “For what I will to do, that I do not practice.” – “practice” is the Greek word prassō. Thayer defines this word as: “to exercise, practise, be busy with, carry on.”
• (v. 15c) – “but what I hate, that I do.” – “do” is the Greek word poieō. The definition Thayer gives for this word is: “to produce, construct, form, fashion.”

For further distinction between prassō and poieō, we consult R.C. Trench’s “Synonyms of the New Testament:”

“It is…rightly observed that [poieō; produce] brings out more the object and end of an act, [prassō; practice] the means by which this object is attained, as, for instance, hindrances moved out of the way, and the like; and also that the idea of continuity and repetition of action is inherent in [prassō; practice] …but not necessarily in [poieō; produce]…which may very well be the doing once and for all; the producing and bringing forth something which being produced has an independent existence of its own.” (R.C. Trench) (Trench, Richard. “Trench’s New Testament Synonyms :: xcvi. ποιέω, πράσσω..”)

It is helpful to reconstruct verse 15 with these definitions in mind:

“For what I am [accomplishing], I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I [produce].”

In practicing a sinful life, the sinner does not fully comprehend (“understand;” ginōskō) what he accomplishes. By the direction of the Law, he knows what is right, but minding things of the flesh, he does not practice such. The product of his actions is spiritual death – “But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good” (v. 13). He becomes a slave of sin and death. R.L. Whiteside comments on verse 15:

“The sinner does not know what he accomplishes by a life of sin. He cannot so much as know how far reaching is the influence of his life of sin. In his thoughtful moments he desires a different life from the things he practices, but without Christ, sin has him under its dominion. He may delight in gratifying his flesh, but he hates the results produced by his dissipation.”

Paul continues, “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do [poieō; produce] good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” (vv. 21-23). When one makes the decision to mind the things of the flesh, and practice sin, he is “sold under sin” (v. 14), or becomes sin’s slave – “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey” (6:16)? All make this decision and fall short of God’s glory (cf. 3:23). One who has not Christ is without the ability to throw off sin and lead a pure life. Thus, Paul exclaims, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Christ Jesus our Lord” (vv. 24-25a)!

While the context of Romans 7 concerns one without Christ under the Law of Moses, the sentiment remains true for any who are without Christ, thus, slaves of sin and death. It is impossible to have life produced in you through any other. Jesus is the only way (cf. John 14:6), and there is “no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Paul elaborates on the deliverance in Christ Jesus in the following chapter – “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (8:2). The only way one can be freed from sin’s dominion, thus spiritual death, and become God’s own possession is by obeying the gospel of Christ. It is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (1:16). Will you appeal to Almighty God for deliverance?