Romans 7:20

20 Now, when I do what I don't want to do, I am no longer the one who is doing it. Sin that lives in me is doing 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 I know that nothing good lives in me; that is, nothing good lives in my corrupt nature. Although I have the desire to do what is right, I don't do it.

19 I don't do the good I want to do. Instead, I do the evil that I don't want to do.

20 Now, when I do what I don't want to do, I am no longer the one who is doing it. Sin that lives in me is doing it.

21 So I've discovered this truth: Evil is present with me even when I want to do what God's standards say is good.

22 I take pleasure in God's standards in my inner being.