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(13) That which is good then, to me hath it become death? let it not be! but the sin, that it might appear sin, through the good, working death to me, that the sin might become exceeding sinful through the command, (14) for we have known that the law is spiritual, and I am fleshly, sold by the sin; (15) for that which I work, I do not acknowledge; for not what I will, this I practise, but what I hate, this I do. (16) And if what I do not will, this I do, I consent to the law that `it is' good, (17) and now it is no longer I that work it, but the sin dwelling in me, (18) for I have known that there doth not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh, good: for to will is present with me, and to work that which is right I do not find, (19) for the good that I will, I do not; but the evil that I do not will, this I practise. (20) And if what I do not will, this I do, it is no longer I that work it, but the sin that is dwelling in me. (21) I find, then, the law, that when I desire to do what is right, with me the evil is present, (22) for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man, (23) and I behold another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of the sin that `is' in my members. (24) A wretched man I `am'! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? (25) I thank God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord; so then, I myself indeed with the mind do serve the law of God, and with the flesh, the law of sin.
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Paul realized to the marrow in his bones that he was sinful. But he wanted to do what is good. He had a will of steel that kept him from committing a great many sins, but he still sinned, and he hated it every time he did. So, he was grieved deeply that he could not perform what God required of him because of that deep-set sin within human nature. Because we are so selfish, we allow human nature to lead us around by our noses and indulge ourselves when we should be sacrificing ourselves.
This sorrow is what Jesus is advocating when He says, "Blessed are those who mourn" (Matthew 5:4). He wants the kind of sorrow that is grieved to our innermost being that we are not like Him, that we are full of sin, that we cannot ever seem to move beyond our carnality. We see it cropping up so often, and we hate ourselves for it. We grieve because of our weakness.
This sorrow is always appropriate and applicable in our walk with God. It is a deep conviction that we are unworthy, and we are upset about it. We grieve that we cannot match the perfection of Jesus Christ. We always have miles to go, but Jesus also promises comfort at the end of that hard road.
— Richard T. Ritenbaugh