Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
God accepts our understanding of things as much as it may be sincere but after great light has been shed on the issues pertaining to salvation, He desires that we should have an intelligent understanding of the matter in question. Now some may be wondering why our first passage explicitly states: “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
There are several reasons why the two verses were written in such an explicit manner, and other verses which we will explore will bring to light the truth in the matter. Persons who earnestly desire to do right are not able to do so on their own without God. A thorough understanding of what Paul is saying is of critical importance if we are not to be fazed by those severe battles that are to be fought against internal and external foes.
On this point about foes, it is worthy of note that the internal foes are the more dangerous of the two. In other words, it’s not so much those temptations that satan will bring that causes us to stumble, it is the latent desires and clamors of the flesh that are the more dangerous, if they are not kept under bit and bridle at all times, through the power and the presence of The Holy Ghost.
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defiles not a man.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!