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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 WOS! Thanks for the questions! No, I am no advocating 'sinless perfection'. The general approach to the end of Rom. 7 is that Paul is describing a Christian who is struggling with sin. However, there are several problems with this view. First of all, according to the latter part of Rom. 7, there is no struggle - sin always wins. :-) Secondly, chapters 6 and 8 of Romans explicitly state that Christians are not any longer slaves to sin. That is what I have been trying to get addressed in this discussion. ************* Now, I would certainly agree that a Christian can still yield to the flesh and sin. However, are we really in some sort of hopeless struggle with the flesh? Here are some relevant Scriptures from a previous post. ********* 1) Gal. 5:24 says, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." This would be an odd description of someone who is still a slave to the flesh! :-) 2) Gal. 5:16 says, " So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Again, this would be an odd description of someone who is still a slave to the flesh. 3) Romans 8:4 explicitly says that we do not live according to the flesh, "...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." 4) Romans 8:9 explictly states that we are not controlled by the flesh, "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." So, which is it? Are we slaves to the flesh or not? Can the person described in the latter part of Romans 7 really be a Christian in light of all of these verses? ************ These verses would indicate that while we can still yield to the flesh, the flesh has been defeated. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |