Here below Paul recounts the realization that came to him after he was converted and had received Christ, as he tried so hard to live righteously according to "the Law." This frustrating experience served to enlighten Paul and heighten his knowledge of the truth concerning dilemma of all humanity and Christians in particular.

Romans 7:14-23 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward (soul) man: 23 But I see another law (another life principle at work) 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.

We note from this above just how far man has fallen after his short time in the garden, in innocence and in unity with the Lord. Some would assume that since "The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" has taken root in mankind, man can now can, of his own self, simply choose to do good. We must realize that with the disobedience of Adam something was added into the flesh bodies of all humanity, another element called "Sin" (as a noun), as a contrary personality now within, which is evil. Hence I usually capitalize the term Sin, in the singular, as though it were a person, since it is the deposit of the nature of another invading infectious spirit that is not of God and not according to God's intention for man. We've see that this evil spirit is lodged in man's body of flesh, as a usurping virus of sorts, "I see another law (another life principle at work) in my members" (v23). This repeats from v17 – "sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh..."

With that deposit of "Sin in the flesh" (Rom 8:3b), every person can relate to the frustration of the dilemma that faced all mankind – wanting to be righteous, wanting to not sin... and yet sinning.

Paul confirms the fact of another spirit in man is that is of the evil one, referring to "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit..."; saying every unregenerate man is "by nature the children of wrath" (v2 below).

Ephesians 2:1-4 And you (Christians) hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we (the believing Christians) all had our conversation (manner of living) in Times Past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

In v3 above we see the fallen "spirit" that rules man's being brought also its own "desires" (v3). Those desires were according to the nature of the Evil one – Lucifer, Satan, the Devil, the Serpent himself.

With this understanding we it was that man has been changed from his original created condition of being "upright." Ecclesiastes 7:29 (AMP) … God made man upright...

Man today has the "Knowledge of Good and Evil" in his soul's mind, which is confirmed by the witness of God speaking in his human spirit via his "conscience." But now also, with the fall, mankind has this added fallen life and nature within his flesh body members. This usurping and lying spirit distorts man's "mind" (Rom 7:23) so as to think man himself is the god of his own life... this is the root of humanism that prevails in pour society today. The greater lie is that man is not god of his own life... rather the evil one's Sin-spirit is the one who is guiding man by the impulses of the Sin nature usurping and operating through men's minds.

Thereby, there is now a conflict within every believer as they become awarene of the two natures within man.

Romans 7:23 I see another law (Gk. nomos, another regulating principle at work) in my members, warring against the law of my mind (the knowledge of good and evil), and bringing me into captivity to the law (regulating principle ) of sin which is IN My (body) Members

Galatians 5:17 For the (sinful) flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

But in Roman's 8:2 we see that there is victory for believers, even while the infection of "Sin in the flesh" is still present and will be until the Rapture. We must see how it is that Christ has made Sin powerless over us... Sin cannot rule a dead person, and we, our Old Man, was crucified with Christ.

"We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.

7 For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men]." (Romans 6:6-7 (AMP)