How Do I Stop Doing What I Hate I Do

Have you ever felt like you’re fighting a battle within yourself? One moment, you’re determined to do what’s right—to live a life that honors God—but the next, you find yourself doing the very thing you despise. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The Apostle Paul, a towering figure in the Christian faith, wrestled with this same conflict. In Romans 7:15, he writes, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (ESV).

These words resonate deeply with believers because they capture the reality of the Christian life: an ongoing war between our desire to please God and the pull of our sinful nature. But Paul doesn’t leave us in despair. His confession points us toward hope and a path to victory. This post will explore Romans 7:15. We’ll exegete the passage, unpack key terms from the original Greek, and use the ESV to guide our understanding. Most importantly, we’ll answer the question, “How do I stop doing what I hate?” with both spiritual truths and practical steps rooted in Scripture.

The Reality of the Internal War

Before we dive into Romans 7:15, we need to acknowledge a foundational truth: as believers, we are at war. This isn’t a battle with swords or guns—it’s an internal conflict between our flesh and our spirit. Galatians 5:17 explains, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (ESV). There’s no truce in this war. The flesh and the spirit will never sign a peace treaty; they are fundamentally at odds, and this struggle will persist until we meet Jesus face-to-face.

Understanding this war makes Paul’s words in Romans 7:15 more relatable. When he says, “I do the very thing I hate,” he’s not describing a one-off mistake but a recurring battle. As Christians, we’re not immune to sin after salvation. While God may immediately deliver us from certain temptations, others linger, testing our resolve as we grow in faith. This is the tension Paul describes—a tension we all feel. But here’s the good news: God doesn’t abandon us in this fight. Through His Spirit and His Word, He equips us to overcome.

Exegeting Romans 7:15 - The Struggle with the Sinful Nature

To understand Romans 7:15, we need to place it in its context. Romans 7:14-25 is a powerful passage where Paul unpacks the conflict between God’s spiritual law and our fleshly nature. Let’s walk through it step by step using the ESV.

The Context

Paul begins in verse 14: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.” The law—God’s holy standard—is spiritual, revealing His will. But Paul admits he is “of the flesh,” a phrase pointing to his human nature tainted by sin. Even as a believer, he carries the weight of this fallen nature, “sold under sin” like a slave to its influence.

Then comes verse 15, the heart of our discussion: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” Paul’s confusion is striking. He doesn’t understand why he acts against his own desires. He wants to obey God, but does what he hates instead. This isn’t a lack of intent or knowledge—it’s a lack of power to align his actions with his will.

In verses 16-17, he elaborates: “Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” Paul isn’t excusing his sin or denying responsibility. Rather, he’s saying that when he sins, it’s not his true self-the new creation in Christ—acting, but the sin still dwelling in his flesh. As believers, we’re regenerated by the Spirit, yet the old nature lingers, waging war against our redeemed identity.

Verses 18-19 deepen the struggle: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” Paul’s honesty is raw. He knows what’s good, he wants to do it, but his flesh lacks the power to obey consistently. The repetition—“I do not do what I want, but the evil I do not want”—underscores the persistence of this battle.

Finally, in verses 20-25, Paul concludes: “Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”

Here, Paul identifies a “law,” a principle, that evil is always near, tempting him when he seeks to do right. He delights in God’s law inwardly, but his “members” (his body, driven by the flesh) pull him toward sin. His cry, “Wretched man that I am!” is a desperate plea for rescue. And the answer? “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Deliverance comes not from Paul’s strength, but from Christ. Yet the tension remains: his mind serves God, while his flesh serves sin.

What This Means

Romans 7:14-25 isn’t about defeat, it’s about reality. Paul shows us that even mature believers struggle with sin because of the flesh. But he also points to hope: Jesus is our deliverer. This passage sets the stage for Romans 8, where Paul celebrates the Spirit’s power to free us from sin’s grip. For now, though, let’s focus on verse 15 and how it reveals our struggle and solution.

Key Terms from the Original Language

To enrich our understanding, let’s explore key terms from the Greek text of Romans 7:15 and related verses.

“Understand” (ginōskō): In “I do not understand my own actions,” ginōskō means to know or comprehend. Paul is perplexed by the disconnect between his intentions and behavior, highlighting sin's irrational pull.

“Do” (poieō): Used twice in verse 15 (“I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate”), poieō means to make or perform. It emphasizes action—Paul isn’t just thinking about sin; he’s doing it.

“Want” (thelō): In “I do not do what I want,” thelō means to desire or will. Paul has a genuine desire to obey God, making his failure all the more frustrating.

“Hate” (miseō): In “the very thing I hate,” miseō means to detest or abhor. Paul doesn’t merely dislike his sinful actions—he loathes them, reflecting his transformed heart.

“Flesh” (sarx): From verse 18 (“nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh”), sarx refers to human nature apart from God, corrupted by sin. It’s the source of Paul’s struggle.

“Sin” (hamartia): In verse 17 (“sin that dwells within me”), hamartia means missing the mark of God’s standard. It’s not just an act but a power dwelling in us, opposing God’s will.

These terms reveal the depth of Paul’s conflict: a heart that desires righteousness, thwarted by a fleshly nature he despises. This isn’t unique to Paul—it’s our story too.

Acknowledging Our Weaknesses

Paul’s confession in Romans 7:15 teaches us that we all have weaknesses. Sin isn’t a one-size-fits-all problem; it’s personal. Some wrestle with anger, others with lust, greed, or envy. For one person, a glass of wine might spark a spiral into excess; for another, it’s a plate of cookies that triggers overindulgence. I might not struggle with alcohol, but I know my own temptations—like the lure of a good story that veers into unhealthy territory.

These weaknesses aren’t trivial. Sin disrupts our fellowship with God, leaving us empty and remorseful. When we give in, we ask, “Why did I do that?” Guilt and shame create a divide between us and Jesus, making us hate the very things we’re drawn to. Yet, despite that hatred, the flesh keeps pulling us back. This is the cycle Paul describes—and the cycle we must break.

How to Stop Doing the Things You Hate to Do

So, how do we stop? Is victory possible in this war? Yes—through a combination of spiritual power and practical wisdom. Let’s explore both.

The Spiritual Answer is to Walk by the Spirit

The ultimate solution to our struggle lies in the Holy Spirit. Paul, who cried, “I do the very thing I hate,” also wrote in Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (ESV). The Spirit is our supernatural strength, greater than the flesh’s pull.

Walking by the Spirit means living in daily dependence on Him. It’s not a one-time fix but a lifestyle of prayer, worship, and immersing ourselves in God’s Word. When we pray, we invite the Spirit to fill us. When we worship, we align our hearts with God’s. When we study Scripture, we renew our minds. Over time, this builds resistance to temptation. Think of it like training for a race: the more we exercise our spiritual muscles, the stronger we become against the flesh.

For example, if you struggle with anger, memorize verses like Ephesians 4:31-32: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger… be put away from you… Be kind to one another” (ESV). When temptation strikes, the Spirit can bring those words to mind, giving you the strength to resist.

Cut Off What Leads to Sin

The Spirit doesn’t just empower us spiritually—He gives us wisdom to act. Jesus offers radical advice in Matthew 5:29: “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (ESV). This isn’t literal mutilation—it’s a call to remove anything that leads us to sin.

If lust is your weakness, install filters on your devices or avoid triggering content. If gossip tempts you, step away from conversations that fuel it. What we allow into our lives, media, relationships, and habits shape our desires. Cutting off the sources of temptation is painful but necessary.

Here are practical steps to start:

Identify Your Triggers: What situations or influences lead you to sin? Be specific.

Set Boundaries: Avoid places, people, or habits that weaken your resolve.

Seek Accountability: Share your struggles with a trusted believer who can support you.

Replace the Bad with Good: Fill your time with godly pursuits—prayer, service, Scripture.

You Can Be Victorious

This fight is real, and it’s hard. Some weaknesses may require more than willpower—counseling, community, or medical help. But victory is possible. You’re not alone. The Holy Spirit is your Helper, as Jesus promised in John 14:26: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (ESV).

Consider this: every small victory is a step forward. When you resist temptation, celebrate it. Thank God for His strength. Over time, those victories add up, weakening the flesh’s hold.

Hope in Christ

Romans 7:15 reminds us that the struggle with sin is universal—even Paul faced it. But it’s not the end of the story. In Romans 8:1, Paul declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (ESV). When we fail, God’s grace covers us, and through the Spirit, we can overcome.

If you’re weary from doing what you hate, don’t lose heart. You’re not fighting alone. With the Spirit’s power and practical steps, you can break free. As Paul says in Romans 8:37, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (ESV). Keep pressing on—victory is yours in Christ.