I Did NOT Do It!

Romans 7:1-20

Apology to the Augsburg Confession III, 45-49

What need is there of a long discussion? All Scripture, all the Church cries out that the Law cannot be satisfied. Therefore, starting to fulfill the Law does not please on its own account, but on account of faith in Christ. 46 [167] Otherwise, the Law always accuses us. For who loves or fears God enough? Who has enough patience to bear the troubles brought by God? Who does not frequently doubt whether human affairs are ruled by God’s counsel or by chance? Who does not frequently doubt whether he is heard by God? Who is not frequently enraged because the wicked enjoy a better life than the righteous, because the righteous are oppressed by the wicked? Who fulfills his own calling? Who loves his neighbor as himself? 47 [168] Who is not tempted by lust? Paul says, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19). Likewise, “I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin” (7:25). Here he openly declares that he serves the law of sin. David says in Psalm 143:2, “Enter not into judgment with Your servant, for no one living is righteous before You.” Here even God’s servant prays for the removal of judgment. Likewise, “Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity” (Psalm 32:2). Therefore, in our weakness sin is always present, which could be charged against us. A little while after he says, “Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to You” (32:6). Here he shows that even saints ought to seek forgiveness of sins. 48 [169] They are more than blind who do not realize that wicked desires in the flesh are sins, of which Paul says, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh” (Galatians 5:17). 49 [170] The flesh distrusts God, trusts in present things, seeks human aid in trouble, even contrary to God’s will. It flees from suffering, which it ought to bear because of God’s commands. It doubts God’s mercy and so on. The Holy Spirit in our hearts fights against such tendencies in order to suppress and kill them and to produce new spiritual motives.