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The "Laocoon" may serve as an artistic embodiment of Romans 7:14 to end. But the issues of the struggle differ. Laocoon is overcome; St. Paul conquers, in the grace of Christ. Self-effort for righteousness is a hopeless struggle. St. Paul found the "more excellent way."

I. THERE IS ONE THING MAN MUST SOMEHOW ATTAIN — it is "righteousness."

1. Except for this pursuit of righteousness, it is not worth being a man at all. Without it how is man higher than the beast? No man really lives save as he pursues this. No man can ever be satisfied save as he attains this.

2. But what is righteousness? It is —

(1) Conformity of inward conditions and outward conduct. It is of the lack of this harmony St. Paul complains. This he called unrighteousness.

(2) Conformity of both spirit and conduct to the revealed will of God. For that must be our standard.

3. Taking these ideas of righteousness then, it appears that men wholly fail to attain it by self-effort. And self-effort ends in a despairing sense of the power of sin. Then arises the question — Can we attain righteousness by any helps we can secure? Try two.

II. THE OFFER OF HELP BY THE LAW. What is law? The plain statement of what is right, made to us with befitting sanctions. This cannot help us to righteousness. Because —

1. Of its nature. It can only disclose sin and condemn. "I had not known sin, but by the law." It cannot give life.

2. Of the corruption of man. He is "weak through the flesh"; he "cannot do the thing that he would." There is no hope of ever making flesh render perfect obedience. It is plain that "law is helpless."

III. THE OFFER OF HELP BY GOD. This help is in no sense intended to set law aside. It is the offer of power to obey. And the offer is made in Christ Jesus, who came into the world bringing a new force of Divine life. How, then, does God in Christ help? Not as law does, trying to shape conduct and force the flesh, but by quickening the spirit, renewing the will, moulding the inclination, inspiring the soul with love to God, and holy desires. And this succeeds. Thus urged and inspired, the spirit can master the flesh, and win the righteousness which the law requires.

(R. Tuck.)

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KJV: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

WEB: For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;