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NASB | Romans 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 7:24 Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will [rescue me and] set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]? |
Subject: Who is the Wretched Man? |
Bible Note: Brother Tim, It seems to be a stretch to say this was Paul speaking of himself as a Pharisee so I hope you don't mind me breaking in your study :-). So in an attempt to reconcile, let me reverse the question. Considering verses 21-23, 25 how does one reconcile the passage to be speaking of a none believer? Romans 7:21-23 and 25 (NASB) 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Where in Scripture do we see it taught that the natural man "wants to do good” or “joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man” or struggles with a “different law in the members of" the "body” and “the law of” the mind, or with the “mind” serve the “law of God” but with the “flesh the law of sin”? Is it not true that the mind set on the flesh does not submit itself to the laws of God and is not even able to do so (Romans 8:7)? The desires of the natural man or not the things of God but of the flesh (1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:5-8, Galatians 5:16-25). And what of Romans 3:10-12? Considering verse 17. If he indeed is describing himself as when he was a Pharisee, how is it as a Pharisee, it is no longer him doing it but sin in him? As a Pharisee, when was he set free from the bondage of sin? And one last point. How do we reconcile verse 25. Again, if Paul is describing himself as a Pharisee, how do we reconcile that he thanks God through Jesus Christ our Lord and yet concludes that on the one hand he serves the law of God with his mind but on the other with his flesh the law of sin? A Pharisee thanking God through Jesus Christ our Lord??? Although a Christian has been set free from sin, they can indeed be fleshly (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) Also, Romans 6:12-13 seem to clearly indicate that although the believer is no longer a slave to sin, sin is certainly still a distinct possibility in the life of a believer. Romans 6:12-13 (NASB) 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. What am I missing? Your brother in Christ, Steve |