PAUL STRUGGLING WITH THE SINFUL NATURE?
(Rom. 7:7-25)

 

In Romans 7:7-25, Paul contrasts the pre-Christian condition of the sinner. Many use this as "proof" to excuse Christians who continue to habitually sin.  A careful reading shows this is not about the struggles of a born again believer at the time of this writing. There are several reasons why this is not Paul's present condition or the condition of any born again believer.

Paul makes it clear in the next chapter that the testimony of his struggle was before his salvation for he testifies that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus had made him free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

It is evident that Paul was not talking about his present condition in Romans 7, but was describing his bondage to sin while under the law, and not his life as a believer who was delivered from the law (Romans 7:6). This is abundantly clear by the fact that right after he describes his bondage to sin and the law before he was saved, he says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

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