“The Sin that Dwells in Me”

[Romans 7:17-20]

Let’s look at Romans 7:17 and 20: “Now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me... If I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” The apostle Paul repeats the phrase “sin that dwells in me” twice. Here, “I” refers to the apostle Paul himself. What kind of person was Paul? He was someone who zealously persecuted the church. Look at Philippians 3:6 and 1 Timothy 1:13: “As for zeal, persecuting the church…” (Philippians 3:6), “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man…” (1 Timothy 1:13). He was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians when he encountered Jesus on the road (Acts 9). Let’s look at the conversation between Jesus and Saul (Paul):

Jesus: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)
Saul (Paul): “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5)
Jesus: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:5)

Jesus is the head of the church, and because Saul (Paul) was persecuting Christians, he was, in fact, persecuting Jesus. Saul (Paul) accepted Jesus and became a member of the church. He became the apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13; Galatians 2:8). As Paul served in Antioch, he became a missionary. He went to what is now Europe and spent three months in Corinth, during which time he wrote the book of Romans.

The apostle Paul repeats twice, “sin that dwells in me.” Here, "in me" refers to Paul’s own flesh. Let’s look at Romans 7:18: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells...” So, what does “flesh” mean? Let’s look at Romans 7:14: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.” The phrase “my flesh” (18) means that Paul was subject to the flesh. And to be “subject to the flesh” refers to being exposed to temptation and corruption. Due to Adam’s transgression, we also fell and sinned. Although Adam was created as a living being, by disobeying God’s covenant and sinning, he became a slave to sin.

Look at 1 Corinthians 6:19: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” The Bible says that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, meaning the Holy Spirit dwells in us. This is why we are saints. Look at 1 Corinthians 1:2 and 3:3: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…” (1:2), “You are still carnal…” (3:3). However, the Bible says that we are still “carnal.” Even though we have been born again and are saints, we are still subject to the flesh.

Therefore, not only the apostle Paul but also our own flesh as saints is exposed to temptation and corruption.

In Romans 7:17 and 20, the word “dwells” (거한다) does not mean that sin has intruded or taken advantage of a gap. It also doesn’t mean that it came as a guest or that it’s temporary, like a guest or rented house. The word "dwells" here means "to reside" or "to live." For example, as long as we live on this earth, we reside (dwell) here. The Holy Spirit resides within us (1 Corinthians 6:19), but sin also dwells in us (Romans 7:17, 20). As long as we live on this earth, sin dwells in us. We cannot eradicate this sin until the Lord’s return.

Additionally, in Romans 7:17 and 20, when the Apostle Paul says “the sin that dwells in me,” we should reflect on the origin of sin. In Genesis 2:17, God gives the commandment, “You shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” But the woman, seduced by the serpent, saw that the fruit was good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom. She took and ate it, and gave it to her husband, Adam, who also ate it, disobeying God’s command and falling into sin (Genesis 3).

What was the result of this? In Romans 5:12, it says, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” When we think about the origin of sin, we must also consider the origin of the gospel. In Genesis 3:15, God says, “I will put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” This prophecy was fulfilled about 4,000 years later, when Jesus Christ accomplished it on the cross (John 19:30). In other words, Jesus, on the cross, bruised the head of the serpent (crushed Satan’s head), completing our salvation. The serpent (Satan) bruised Jesus' heel—Satan crucified Jesus.

In Colossians 2:15, it says, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [the cross]” (Modern version: “Christ triumphed over Satan’s power, crushing him on the cross and publicly showing that victory to all”). Here, “principalities and powers” refer to the evil angels, namely, Satan. Jesus defeated Satan on the cross.

The power of sin still dwells in believers. Although Satan was defeated on the cross, he remains. The defeated forces of Satan, like his troops, are still present. Therefore, we are engaged in a spiritual battle against Satan.

In Galatians 5:17, it says, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” We are fighting against the desires of the flesh within us and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. For this reason, we must continually fight against Satan and his forces. The Apostle Paul did not understand why he did not do the good he wanted, but instead did what he hated (Romans 7:15, Modern version). He desired to do good, but instead did the evil he did not want (Romans 7:19). From this, he realized that there was nothing good in his old nature (Romans 7:18, Modern version). He thought the law caused him to sin, but he realized that it was due to the presence of Satan’s followers in him that he sinned. He confessed that the law is good (Romans 7:14). He also confessed that the sin that dwelled in him caused him to do the evil he did not want to do (Romans 7:17, 20).

While we live on this earth, we must fight against the power of sin that dwells in us. Since Jesus Christ has already crushed Satan’s head on the cross and won the victory (Genesis 3:15; John 19:30; Colossians 2:15), we should live with the certainty of victory, engaging in a militant faith life. We must submit to God and resist the devil, and he will flee from us (James 4:7, Modern version).

Finally, in 1 Corinthians 15:52-54, it says, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.’” This prophecy will be fulfilled.

Therefore, we must believe in the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross and fight well in this spiritual battle, so that we can stand before the Lord as victorious.