Doing What We Want
Doing What We Want
When reading Romans 7 it is important to distinguish the two Greek words used for body and flesh. The words are soma (body) which refers to our physicality, and sarx (flesh) which is talking about the earthy mindset which draws us toward attitudes and actions based on our senses rather than on faith in Jesus Christ.
Clearly at the time he wrote Romans, Paul was a believer. We also know from the preceding verses that he is writing to believers. My view is that Paul in speaking of this inner battle, is talking about a condition faced by believers.
In our inner self, we want to behave in godly ways. This is increasingly true as we grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord. (see Philippians 2:13) The flesh (sarx in this passage) desires something else. It wants what feels good to our senses. Everything in this world presses in this direction. I believe this is an issue for all of us. Evidence for that would include Galatians 5:16–17 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Paul would not need to say this to the saints in Galatia if they were not struggling in the same way as is pictured in Romans.
In the Galatians passage, he goes on to say this (in verse 17) “For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.” (NASB 2020)
It’s important to read this carefully because it does not say what many think it says. Here’s what I mean. The desire of the flesh (sarx) is against the Holy Spirit who lives in us, and He is against the flesh (sarx). This means the battle here is between Holy Spirit and the earthy mindset of sensual living. The flesh opposes the Spirit to keep us from doing what we want.
Here’s the part that I think many get wrong (for a long time I sure did). Many read this to say that Holy Spirit in us is working to keep us from behaving sinfully. This implies that what we want is to sin, but what we as believers want is to behave in godly ways. Paul says that in Romans 7. In verse 16 he says he does the very thing he does not want to do—covet. In verse 18 he says, “the willing (to do good) is present in me.” In verse 19 he says, “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” (NASB 2020) This goes on throughout the remainder of the chapter. What the passage in Galatians is saying is that the flesh (sarx) is opposing the Holy Spirit so that we don’t do the godly things that we want to do—just like Paul experienced.
Scripture is clear that we who are in Christ want to display godly attitudes and actions. It is also clear that we often display ungodly attitudes and actions. Fortunately, Holy Spirit is on our side. He’s guiding us into the truth that our desires are the same as His. As we grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord, we find that we trust this more readily and our attitudes and actions are impacted for the good.
