Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 7:16

"But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good." — Romans 7:16 (ASV)

If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

If I do that which my will and conscience rebel against, to that extent, the better part of me acknowledges the goodness of the law, though the baser part of me rebels against it.

For what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

This is the believer's riddle. To say that this is not a believer's experience is to prove that the man who says it does not know much about how believers feel. We hate sin, and yet, alas! alas! we fall into it! We would live perfect lives if we could, we who are renewed.

We make no justification for our sin: it is evil and abominable; yet do we find these two things warring and fighting within.

If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (Romans 7:16)

My inmost heart, says the law, is good, though I have not kept it as I wish I had, yet my very wish to keep it is the consent of my nature to goodness of that law, and proves that there is a vitality about me which will yet throw out the disease, and make me right in the sight of God.