What does Romans 7:16 teach about acknowledging the goodness of God's law?

Setting the Context

Romans 7 traces Paul’s personal experience with indwelling sin. In v. 16 he pauses to draw a clear conclusion:

“​And if I do what I do not want, I admit that the law is good.”

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Acknowledging the Goodness of the Law

• Agreement with God: By confessing the law is “good,” Paul aligns his judgment with God’s own verdict (Psalm 19:7; 1 Timothy 1:8).

• Moral clarity: The law exposes sin so precisely that even our unwilling failures testify to its righteousness (Romans 3:20).

• Objective standard: Paul’s inner consent shows that God’s commands are not arbitrary but inherently good, reflecting His holy character (Leviticus 19:2).

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Why Paul’s Admission Matters Today

• Counters excuses: Blame shifts from the law to our sinful flesh, silencing the claim that God’s standards are unfair (James 1:13-15).

• Promotes humility: Recognizing the law’s goodness leaves no room for self-righteousness; we all fall short (Romans 3:23).

• Drives us to grace: The law’s goodness paired with our weakness points us to Christ, “the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).

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Scripture Connections

• Psalm 119:97-104 – Love for the law springs from seeing its goodness.

• Galatians 3:24 – The law as a tutor leading us to Christ.

• 1 John 3:4-5 – Sin defined by lawlessness, answered by the sinless Savior.

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Living Out This Truth

– Read God’s commands with gratitude, not resentment.

– Confess sin quickly, agreeing with the law’s verdict.

– Rely on the Spirit to fulfill “the righteous requirement of the law” in us (Romans 8:4).

– Celebrate Christ, who perfectly loved and kept the good law on our behalf.