"For I delight in the law(1) of God according to the inward man. But I see another law(2) in my members, warring against the law(1) of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law(2) of sin which is in my members." (Romans 7:22,23)

It seems as if Paul is playing word games with us by the use of the word 'law' in almost the entire book of Romans. It's amazing how one single word can mean totally opposite things. Hence, we must be very careful in interpreting what we read. Otherwise, a concept that totally makes sense may seem conflicting. This verse would pose for a perfect example.

Excuse my labeling of the word 'law', but I did it to help myself out in keeping the meaning of the word straight. There is obviously two meanings to the word 'law' mentioned in this verse. 'Law(1)' would be the law we are to keep and supposed to keep. 'Law(2)' is the law within our carnal bodies that disrupts us from keeping 'law(1)'. We know in our mind that we must keep the law of God, however our flesh is weak. It is only with Jesus Christ that we are able to 'serve the law of God' (7:25).

If we know what is right but don't do it, then sin is the culprit. 'For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death' (5). The only one able to overcome sin is Jesus, since He already taken up all the sin we have upon His shoulders. Therefore, after having died with Christ, 'we should serve in the newness of the Spirit' (6). Through the strenght of the Holy Spirit, we have the power to renew ourselves in order to fight with the law in our members. With our determination we can defeat the carnal weakness that taunts us day in and day out. Even if our flesh is weak, '[we] can do all things through Christ who strengthens [us]' (Phil 4:13).