I try to do right, but sometimes I still slip up...

Scripture Reference | Romans 7:14-25

14-16 I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.

17-20 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

21-23 It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

24 I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?

25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

-from the Message translation

Key things to know to fully understand this scripture…

The “law” which Paul refers to is the Old Testament. Many are familiar with the ten commandments, but in addition to that, God had given His people just over 600 other laws to follow. Keep in mind, there was no separation between church and state. Every aspect of life concerns God, such as politics, family, life, diet, economics.

These laws were recorded in the books of Leviticus, Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. If you read through them, you’ll noticed the laws are listed in no particular order. Life wasn’t analyzed in separate components, but seen as a whole.

Remember…the Old Testament is still valid. The law still matters, but God us a choice. We can either be judged by the Old Testament or accept Christ and be judged under the New Testament. If Christ is not accepted as your Lord and Savior, you will be judged by the Old Testament. If so, you will lose every time. It is impossible for a human to successfully live by all the laws. That’s why it’s so important to get saved and accept Jesus Christ.

Okay…all that out the way. Now, the book of Romans was written by Paul. Even though he was hailed as one of the greatest apostles of all time, he was still human. He was flawed like the rest of us. Paul was a man who was very passionate about God. He always kept it real. But like the rest of us, he still sinned. Sometimes, he fell into temptation, too.

Let’s read the message again. Paul admits to having a sinful nature. We all do because of the sin committed by Adam and Eve. They brought sin enter the world by disobeying God. Another thing Paul admits to knowing the difference between right and wrong. Even though he knows what he’s doing is wrong, he continues to do it, anyway. I think we all can understand what he’s going through. It could be cheating in a relationship, habit of lying under pressure, pre-marital sex, consciously not telling the whole truth, etc. We know when we’re about to do wrong, but do it anyway. Sometimes we do it to protect ourselves from trouble. Sometimes we do it for our own satisfaction. The point is…we all slip up. We need divine help. We need Jesus, because it’s impossible to be perfect.

Galatians 3:10-11

10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."^[a] 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."

-from the NIV translation