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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