Romans 7:17-18

17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

But now = this being the case (not referring to time)

Do = practice, as in verse 15

no longer = it can no longer be maintained as an argument

flesh (as in Romans 6:19) = human nature apart from divine influence

good (agathos — first usage in verse 18) = beneficial

nothing good — even those things that seem good from a natural point of view are void of goodness without a right relationship with God

good (kalos — second usage in verse 18) = intrinsically good

Paul is saying that he is incapable of doing anything beneficial in his flesh that will produce real good.

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