Romans 7:20

20 But if I do that which I desire not to do, it can no longer be said that it is I who do it, but the sin which has its home within me does it.

Romans 7:20 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 7:20

Now if I do that I would not
The same conclusion is formed here, as in ( Romans 7:17 ) , not with any view to excuse himself from blame in sinning, but to trace the lusts of his heart, and the sins of his life, to the source and fountain of them, the corruption of his nature; and to ascribe them to the proper cause of them, which was not the law of God, nor the new man, but sin that dwelt in him.

Romans 7:20 In-Context

18 For I know that in me, that is, in my lower self, nothing good has its home; for while the will to do right is present with me, the power to carry it out is not.

19 For what I do is not the good thing that I desire to do; but the evil thing that I desire not to do, is what I constantly do.

20 But if I do that which I desire not to do, it can no longer be said that it is I who do it, but the sin which has its home within me does it.

21 I find therefore the law of my nature to be that when I desire to do what is right, evil is lying in ambush for me.

22 For in my inmost self all my sympathy is with the Law of God;