When I speak on the truth that we are to focus only on righteousness rather than sin, the question is asked concerning Romans 7: 14-25.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 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. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to 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. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 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.
In this letter to the Romans, Paul is writing to two very different groups: the Jews, who have a long and established history with God and the law, and the Gentiles, who have no history at all. These are two groups who are coming into redemption from opposite sides. One from paganism and the other with a well-formed religious tradition. Romans 7 is where this problem gets serious attention.
The Jews came from a life lived under the law as the original people of God, but who are now needing to abandon the Old Covenant and to come into the New Covenant based on a different sacrifice for sin: the Messiah, Jesus.
The Gentiles, with no prior exposure to God, are coming out of gross darkness into the light. They have no concept of the true God and no part in Israel’s religious struggle.
At some point in his letter Paul must separate these two groups so that he can answer the very specific problem of the Jewish people, which is: what about the law of God-given to Moses?
Roman 7:1 is where that separation occurs. Or do you not know brethren for I am speaking to those who know the law.
In Romans chapter six and eight he writes to both groups. In Roman seven he is writing only to the Jews. Romans 7 is not for gentile Christians in Christ. It is answering specific questions for those under law.
If this is for all believers, then it clashes with the theology of life in Christ:
Roman 7 : 18 the willing is present but the doing is not, is in confrontation with I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4: 13).
Romans 7: 19 the good that I want to do, I cannot, is in opposition to God works in us to will and to do (Philippians 2: 13).
Romans 7: 21 evil is present with me, opposes the truth that I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me (Galatians 2: 20).
Roman 7: 23 I see a different law in my members, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members, conflicts with the theology of the cross, which states: he that is dead is free from sin, so consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God. Romans 6: 7, 11.
A dead person has no struggle, they are laid to rest. The Christian life begins with resting in all the accomplishments of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. It is continued in the same way, day after day. We begin each day with rest, but rejoicing in a confession of who we are in Christ. I am a new creation in Christ, the old things are passed away, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 17-18).
So why do so many Christians struggle with a sin habit? Because their mind has not been renewed. Our brain is programed by our behavior before our spirit was born from above. Our brain must be reprogrammed from the inside out, through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, so that we know who we are in Christ and behave accordingly.