Definition: I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this passage from Romans 7:25 together. It’s a really important and complex verse that speaks to a struggle within us – our desire for good things versus our tendency to do bad things. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, the verse is saying: “I'm thanking God through Jesus Christ, but I don’t want to obey the rules of God. In fact, my own desires and feelings are often drawn to doing wrong or being selfish.” Let's unpack that a little further: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord…” – This is acknowledging that we are giving thanks to God because of Jesus’ sacrifice and example. It’s recognizing that God wants us to follow him. “…So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God…” – This means we are trying to live according to what God tells us, like following his rules or principles. We're actively choosing to do right and good. “but with the flesh the law of sin.” – This is the crucial part! This is where it gets tricky. "The flesh" refers to our physical body and all its desires and impulses - our ego, our cravings for pleasure, our anger, etc. “The law of sin” represents the bad thoughts, temptations, and behaviors that pull us away from God’s will – things like greed, envy, lust, pride, and harmful actions. Putting it all together: The verse is about internal conflict . We have a desire to do good and follow God, but our own desires and impulses are constantly tempting us to sin (do wrong) because that's what we feel in our hearts. It’s like having a battle going on inside your mind between your good intentions and your sinful urges. Why is this important? Romans 7:25 warns us about the danger of resisting God completely. We often fall short, making mistakes, and being tempted to do things we know are wrong. This verse reminds us that we need God’s help to overcome these temptations and truly live a life pleasing to him. In essence, it's a call to surrender our own desires and focus on God’s will, even when we struggle. Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you some practical examples of how this struggle plays out in everyday life? Compare it to another Bible passage that deals with temptation?