The law of sin is the persistent pull of human nature that remains in a converted person even after receiving the Holy Spirit. In Romans 7, Paul describes sin as a living entity dwelling within, warring against the law of his mind, which delights in God's commandments, and bringing him into captivity. This law of sin is not the Ten Commandments but the carnal mind's hostility to God's spiritual law. It does not automatically remove the Spirit, so long as one's overall attitude remains submissive to God. Genuine repentance restores fellowship through Christ, and the indwelling Spirit supplies power to overcome. Deliverance is a process, initiated by Christ, with full liberation still awaited as one continues surrendering to Him. Also see sermons and articles about Law of Sin.
Romans 7:19-25 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 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. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 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.
Romans 7:15-17 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Related Scriptures
Galatians 5:16-17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Jeremiah 17:9 " The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
Romans 7:8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner ofevil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
