Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (Romans 7:13-20)
I have once again broken up a train of thought, which I did not mean to do. Paul has trains of thought like a coal train, 99 carriages long, so long you wonder if it is a continuous train all the way from mine to port. I can be guilty of the same thing though, so I won't throw the first stone.
This section starts off by saying that it is not the law's fault that I am a sinner. I would still be a sinner even if I did not know the law, and most people don't know it thoroughly. The point Paul is making in that previous section (which I said I did not understand, and still don't) as well as this one, is that rather than being a source of salvation, the law is actually a source of conviction. The law does not help me correct my behaviour, it simply shows me how bad my behaviour is. The gospel does not (especially) show me how bad my behaviour is, it shows me how to correct my behaviour, through faith in Jesus Christ.
The fact that we regret sinning, that is, we feel guilty, is evidence that we believe in the law. It is not evidence that the law is valid, the law must stand on different evidence because people will feel guilt about anything they have taught is wrong, regardless of whether it actually is wrong, and they will not feel guilty about something they genuinely believe is okay until they find out somehow that it is actually wrong.
When we have experienced conversion and Jesus has put a desire to live righteously into our hearts, we usually continue to sin. But Paul has a good way of dealing with this problem that is practical for us. Paul says that he does not sin, sin does bad things in him like a monster and parasite. This is a useful way of thinking about it, because we often think of sin as "part of who I am" but actually sin is a monster that we need to obliterate.
If sin is a monster that lives inside me, then he must be killed, and as quickly as possible. I like the analogy that if I don't feed him he will get skinnier and eventually starve to death, though he will not die quietly. Whether we can overcome sin before we join Jesus in heaven is controversial, we will definitely continue to be tempted, and Jesus definitely has the power to give us victory over all sin, but anyway, don't feed the monster. You don't like lying. You hate lying. Sin likes lying and tricks you into doing it. Frustrate sin and refuse to lie, you actually like taking the consequences of truth more than you like living a lie, believe it. The same goes for all sins. Live life as it was meant to be, life for Christ and not for sin, live the good life.
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