The chapter explores exactly how the laws and commandments of the Lord provide sin to be exposed. " But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment, wrought in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead (Romans, 7:8). I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died (Romans, 7:9).

This passage provides strength for the argument that until man has an understanding of God and the commandments, man is not breaking them however once the commandments have been outlined and spoken they are law and sin becomes alive dwelling within man.

The battle is founded in the serious nature of sin as is illustrated in verses 8-11. Verse 10 goes over the fact that until the commandments was written, spoken and commanded sin was not in existence because man did not know it was wrong.

A it is interesting to note that this passage is not unlike the story of Adam and Eve. They were unclothed and felt no embarrassment or shame. Once Eve ate from the forbidden fruit and cast a shadow of sin upon the entire world they understood that they were to be clothed and not show their flesh to the world.

This is a similar situation in the book of Romans Chapter Seven. It provides this knowledge of sin and the importance of understanding sin and its battle with the Holy Spirit when it proclaims, "The very commandment which promised life proved to be death to me (Romans, 7:10)"

The fact that sin dwells within man is also exposed during this chapter as it explains sin has always been within but was not defined until the commandments made it so. It is at this point according to the bible that sin found opportunity to move from within and create sinful acts and thoughts because of the commandment allowing for the boundaries to begin existing.

For sin, finding opportunity in the commandment, deceived me and by it killed me (Romans, 7:11)."

Expressions of God's Righteousness

The expression of God's righteousness is clearly illustrated in this chapter and dovetails with the message of the battle between sin and the Holy Spirit that dwells within mankind.

The 12th verse in the chapter explores the reason the law is to be obeyed. It states that the law is holy and the commandment is also holy and they are both just and good. It is important to remember instructs mankind to obey the laws of the land. The Ten Commandments are direct from God and lead mankind in the basis expectations of the Lord and the way mankind conducts his life.

So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good."

In stating that the law is just the Lord is letting mankind know that it is there to provide balance in what should and should not be done in life. It provides fair boundaries in that it asks man to follow what is fair and just and is now boundaried by the laws and the commandments of God.

The Law and the Carnal Man

The law and carnal man are in constant conflict because of the battle within. The battle is about sin and the Holy Spirit and that battle is never more illustrated than it is in the 14-16 of chapter seven of the Book of Romans.

In the 14th verse the passage admits to having sin dwell within the body. It explores the fact that the law is based in spiritual understanding of what is just and what is good and holds it against the vernal nature of mankind. This underscores the battle that goes on within each person as they struggle with carnal desires and knowledge and knowing that they must turn against those desires and instead obey the law and the commandments of the Lord.

In verse 15 the speaker alludes to a clash of personality when the text explores two different desires. On the one hand the speaker does not want to sin, knows it is wrong and has no desire to take part in those actions, however, he does.

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate (Romans, 7:15).

In the very next verse however the speaker attributes the law with the keeping of the good and just behaviors that should be followed. The previous passages discussed the strictness of the law and the fact that the law actually made sin possible by setting the boundaries and restrictions. Before the law the things that man wanted to do could not be considered sinful because there was no limit to what was...

These particular passages stress the fact that the sin is out of man's control. It is not that man wants to sin, he does not. Given his way he would never ever do anything that would be against the law or the commandments of God, however, the sin that is within him causes him to do things that are undesirable.
For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me (Romans, 7:18-20).

All of these verses that speak of the fight to do what is correct illustrate the battle between sin and the Holy Spirit that dwells within each person. The Holy Spirit that dwells within man choose the right thing, the right path and the right obedient attitude. The sin that also dwells within us however, fights against the Holy Spirit and uses the flesh of man and the laws of the land to promote and cause sin to be released.

The Two Laws

The law of sin and the law of my members are sometimes in conflict. Verses 21-25 wrap the concept up of the fight between sin and the Holy Spirit that constantly goes on within mankind. The speaker speaks of wanting to do right but the more he wants to do right the more closely evil lies nearby. Whether it is lust, coveting or other things that should not be allowed within a Christian life the more the speaker wants to ignore such feelings the more they push through.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand (Romans, 7:21)."

The speaker knows that he indeed has the Holy Spirit within as he talks about wanting to do what is right and obey the laws of God deep within his heart. "For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, (Romans, 22)."

CONCLUSION

The Holy Spirit and sin both dwell within each person. The book of Romans explores both entities and examines how they are in constant conflict and battle with each other. The speaker of verses 7-25 illustrate the battle by discussing the desire to do the right thing but the fact that man does the wrong thing because sin takes over. In addition the verses explore the fact that sin would not be acknowledged without laws giving it definition.

There is a battle going on and it is the battle between sin and the Holy Spirit. Chapter seven of the Book of Romans provides an explanation about how it happens.

REFERENCES

Using your grace-gift.(NATIVE LEADERSHIP)

Indian Life; Jul 1, 2005; Jesperson, Joe

The revenge of conscience. (conscience and society's moral decay)

First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life; 6/1/1998; Budziszewski, J.

Origins and history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church

Apostle Paul http://me.essortment.com/apostlepaulbi_rbwm.htm

Are Catholics Born Again?

http://www.catholic.com/library/Are_Catholics_Born_Again.asp

Understanding Romans chapter 7 http://www.truthablaze.com/romans7.html

Struggling With Sin http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=52&chapter=7&version=31

Romans http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=RsvRoma.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=7&division=div1

The Roman ChurchOrigins and history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church)

Are Catholics Born Again? (http://www.catholic.com/library/Are_Catholics_Born_Again.asp)

Apostle Paul (http://me.essortment.com/apostlepaulbi_rbwm.htm)

Understanding Romans chapter 7 (http://www.truthablaze.com/romans7.html)

Understanding Romans chapter 7 http://www.truthablaze.com/romans7.html