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NASB | Romans 7:19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 7:19 For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. |
Subject: Paul's evil practices Pre or PostJesus |
Bible Note: Greetings John! You wrote: "the only ans. I can give you at this time is that Paul is saying that we are not slaves because we are to reckon ourselves to be dead to sin's bondage." I am not sure if I am following you my friend. Are you saying: a) That we really are slaves to sin, but are not to consider our selveselves slaves to sin. or b) That we aren't slaves to sin if we don't think that we are slaves to sin? By the way, you wrote: "To pursue lawkeeping as the means to gain favor with God is to make the same mistake that Caine made when he offered up a sacrifce that God had not decreed. The righteous will live by faith. In this way God insures that I never will be in a position of claiming any of the glory that rightfully belongs to Christ Jesus, my Saviour; my Redeemer; my Righteousness." Allow me to make clear that I am not advocating lawkeeping as a means to gain favor with God. Nor, am I claiming any glory on my own part. The only reason I am no longer a slave to sin is because of what Christ did for me on the cross. Rom. 8:1-4 makes this perfectly clear: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." I am only able to live according to the Spirit because of Christ. But, Rom. 8:9 also makes it clear that I cannot be controlled by the flesh if the Spirit of God lives in me: "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." This is why I think this topic is such an important study. How can we teach people that we are still slaves to sin when Scripture clearly says that if the flesh cannot control me if the Spirit of God lives in me? The flesh is hostile to God (Rom. 8:7). Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:8) and will die (8:13). Instead, we are to live by the Spirit and we will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). Notice that the text does not say, 'Might not', or 'Sometimes will not'. It says, 'will not'! :-) Anyway, I appreciate the discussion. Hopefully these posts will prompt further study of this issue on all of our parts. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |