What Does Romans 7:21-23 Teach About the Inner Struggle of the Christian?

What does Paul mean by "I find then a law" in Romans 7:21?

In Romans 7:21, when Paul says "I find then a law," he is not referring to the Law of God or the law of sin. Rather, he is describing a principle or rule that operates consistently in his experience. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, Paul means "there seems to be a principle working in me... which is working in such a definite manner that it really is virtually a kind of law." It's like a natural law - just as night follows day or seasons change in sequence, Paul finds that whenever he desires to do good, evil is present with him. This is a regular, invariable pattern in his experience.

What is the "inward man" that Paul mentions in Romans 7:22?

The "inward man" refers to the mind or understanding - the invisible part of a person that has been illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the inward man is "that hidden man of the heart... that part of man which is not visible" as contrasted with the "members" or bodily organs. It includes "the soul, spirit, and so on, and including the mind." This becomes clear when Paul contrasts it with his "members" in verse 23, and when he refers to "the law of my mind." The inward man is not the body but the inner, spiritual aspect of a person that can delight in God's law.

How does Paul's statement about "delighting in God's law" prove this cannot be describing an unbeliever?

Paul's statement that he "delights in the law of God after the inward man" (Romans 7:22) conclusively demonstrates this cannot be describing an unbeliever. Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes this point by referencing Romans 8:7 where Paul says "the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." An unregenerate person cannot delight in God's law - they are naturally hostile to it. The progression in Paul's language is significant: he first acknowledges the law is "spiritual" (v.14), then "consents" that it is good (v.16), and finally "delights" in it (v.22). Such genuine delight in God's law is impossible for an unbeliever.

What does Paul mean by being "brought into captivity" in Romans 7:23?

When Paul speaks of being "brought into captivity to the law of sin," he is describing a state of defeat, not merely a tendency or struggle. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the original meaning of this word relates to a conquered person at the point of a spear - completely helpless and under the control of the conqueror. Paul is saying that despite his delight in God's law with his mind, the law of sin operating in his members frequently defeats him. This is not merely describing the presence of conflict but the outcome of that conflict - being "taken captive" and experiencing failure. It is this persistent defeat that leads to his cry of anguish in the next verse: "O wretched man that I am!"

Why does Paul cry out "O wretched man that I am" in Romans 7:24?

Paul cries out "O wretched man that I am" precisely because he experiences persistent defeat in his spiritual struggle. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this is "a cry of anguish," "a cry of hopelessness" with "a tinge of despair in it." The word "wretched" means "exhausted as the result of hard labor" - Paul has been striving and struggling until he's weary and worn out. This cry only makes sense as a response to failure and defeat, not merely to the existence of conflict. It expresses his anguish at being unable to overcome the law of sin in his members, leading to his desperate question: "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" This is the cry of someone who has discovered he cannot deliver himself.