7:15
Sin is not just something we do, it almost has a life of its own and it takes control of our lives. We may even not want to sin. Now this may seem strange as sin is usually associated with giving into pleasurable temptations. Well they may be pleasurable for a time, but then they start taking over, demanding ever more. We may then wish to be free of the sin, able to do be different and do different, but we find that we cannot. Paul is describing the battle against sin that we all experience. What he is doing here is demonstrating the futility of trying to overcome sin by purely human effort.
7:16
The fact that we do what we do not want to do shows that the Law is good. Ie we agree that the Law is right, but we are unable to do the right thing. Coming to terms with our inability is vital, otherwise we will persist in trying to overcome sin by our own strength, failing to face up to the root of the problem.
7:17
Sin takes over our lives. We are still responsible for our actions, but we lose control. Some might argue that it is unfair then for God to judge the sinner. To such a person I would ask this: Is it unfair to judge a drunken driver? Is it unfair to judge a drug addict? We make the initial choice to sin, but then find that it leads us to become increasingly addicted to the sin. We rightly judge the drunken driver because he or she should not have chosen to drink and drive, and so endanger others. We rightly detest drug addicts who make others’ lives a misery as well as their own. That is the effect of sin, it is what sin does to us and what our sin does to others. Of course, at the same time as judging and detesting we should hold out the way of salvation, the escape route that is open to all.
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