Bedside Watchman -- SIN THAT DWELLETH IN ME

Last Updated on : October 11, 2014

The Bedside Watchman

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January 30th -- Romans 7

SIN THAT DWELLETH IN ME

PAUL was human and he knew the difficulties of life. His apostleship did not exempt him from any conflict that is the common lot of all. His early efforts to keep the law of Moses, combined with his later knowledge of God's purpose, must have given him a fearless and honest power of introspection. While it is one Paul, he yet recognizes that he is under two influences. In Galatians he says "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me". Here (in Romans 7) he says, speaking of failure to do as he would have liked, "it is no more I, but sin that dwelleth in me". There is a danger of these words being used to get rid of personal responsibility. They will always remain true when every effort has been made to follow righteousness, but should only be used when that effort has been made, when the words from Galatians can also be used. To follow a way of sin and excuse it by putting the blame on "sin that dwelleth in me" is as far removed as possible from Paul's position. In fact it would seem that those only can rightly use his words who are trying most to be followers of Paul as he was of Christ.

JOHN CARTER, Paul's Letter to the Romans, pages 70-71