Someone in the crowd yells out, "Hey, Paul! Do Christians walk in sin?"
Paul looks directly at the man as the corners of his lips begin to curl upwards into a smile. "Well, let me tell you," he begins. "Christians are brought from death to life (6:13); they walk in newness of life (6:4); the old self is crucified (6:6); they're dead to sin (6:11); sin cannot have dominion over them (6:14); God has made them obedient from the heart (6:17); they're set free from sin (6:18); God has made them His slaves (6:16), they're good trees bearing good fruit for God (7:4); they serve in the new life of the Spirit (7:6), the Spirit of life has set them free from the law of sin (8:2); Christ came to make them law keepers (8:3-4); and by the Spirit they put to death the deeds of the flesh (8:13). Does that answer your question, sir?"
Paul asks the rhetorical question, "Can Christians continue in sin?" in Romans 6:1 and for the next 2 and a half chapters he answers that question no less than 11 different times and ways. At least 7 different times Paul says that if you continue in sin you will die (spiritual death).
Chapter 5 ends saying, "Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." He begins chapter 6 by asking the rhetorical question that follows on the heels of where chapter 5 left off: "Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound?" After providing his strong denial to that question and giving his conclusive commentary against it, he ends in verse 14 by saying, "You are not under law but under grace." Then he begins verse 15 by asking another rhetorical question that follows hot on the heels of verse 14: "Are we to sin because we're not under law but under grace?" His conclusive commentary that follows deals with being free from sin and the law. This continues through 7:6. Immediately following is his third rhetorical question, "Is the law sin?" He denies this and gives another conclusive commentary, ending by saying the law is good. He then asks his fourth rhetorical question, "Did that which is good bring death to me?" How long does Paul take to explain the answer to his question in verse 13? Merely half a verse, while his past three questions have been rather lengthy? No. Verse 14 begins with a conjunction—"for"—which lets us know that this is not a new thought with Paul. It's a continuation of his answer to this question. He is now going to give us an example of what he has just laid out for us in verses 7-12, especially verse 9. If a man walked up to you and said, "I am of the flesh," does it sound like chapter 7 and verse 4? verse 5? or verse 6? It sounds like verse 5. Paul denies everywhere, where he talks about the flesh, that we live in the flesh. Paul continues answering his question from 6:1 all the way through to 8:13, making his case stronger, driving home his point, and enforcing his emphasis on the truth.
Paul set the historical context for us in verses 7 through 12. In these verses, is this a Christian? No! Paul continues speaking in the historical present from 7:7 through 7:25. The man in 7:14-25 is not a Christian. It is a lost man who has come under the condemnation of the law. Chapter 7 is sandwiched between chapters 6 and 8. The context flows smoothly and fluidly. Paul does not ask in verse 13 if Christians will sin from time to time. Ergo, he is not all of a sudden jumping to the subject that Christians sometimes sin, of which this passage says he never does good and always practices evil (v.19). The language of this passage is anti-Christian all the way down and violates every other passage of Scripture that talks about what a Christian is, how they live, how they behave, etc., etc. This passage contradicts Galatians 5:16-25. They are not parallel passages.
In verse 13, there are three truths presented to us.
(1) Death is present.
(2) Sin is really bad and brings death.
(3) The law is good but is powerless to prevent our death.
If Paul wants to illustrate these three truths by using an example to drive home this point, would he not use an example that would portray a man who is (1) under the sentence of death, (2) controlled by sin that's killing him, and (3) holding tightly to the law that in the end cannot deliver him? Paul didn't all of a sudden decide to jump over and talk about whether a Christian will sin or not. He is presenting a man who is faced with those three truths from verse 13. In 8:1 you see the word "therefore," and whenever you see that word you must ask, "What is it there for?" The man in 7:14-25 is condemned. Thus, Paul continues fluidly by stating, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Why? "Because you are not under the law but under grace."
Romans 5:18 says that justification equals life and condemnation equals death. Therefore, those who are justified will be brought from death to life (6:13); those who are justified will walk in newness of life (6:4); those who are justified have the old self crucified (6:6); those who are justified are dead to sin (6:11); those who are justified sin does not have dominion over them (6:14); those who are justified God has made obedient from the heart (6:17); those who are justified are set free from sin (6:18); those who are justified God has made His slaves (6:16); those who are justified are good trees bearing good fruit for God (7:4); those who are justified serve in the new life of the Spirit (7:6); those who are justified the Spirit of life has set free from the law of sin (8:2); those who are justified Christ has made law keepers (8:3-4); and those who are justified by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the flesh (8:13). Those who are justified have lost their life for Christ's sake (Matt. 10:39); those who are justified have counted the cost of following Christ (Luke 14:27-33); those who are justified have taken up their cross and followed Him (Matt. 16:24); those who are justified abide in Him (John 15:4-7; 1 John 2:6). Wherever you see death and life contrasted, you know that those who are in the flesh receive the death and those who are in the Spirit receive the life. In John 15 Christ spoke about those who abide in Him and those who do not. Those who do not receive death. Those who do receive life. He who endures to the end shall be saved (Matt. 10:22). Salvation equals life. Therefore, the justified will endure to the end. Those who do not endure were never of the faith and are not the justified. In Matthew 7, only those who obey the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, those who are justified will obey the will of the Father.
Compare the idea that Paul is supposedly speaking as a Christian in Romans 7:14-25 with what he said to the Corinthians who were trying to judge him: "I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me" (1 Corinthians 4:4) Before Felix, Paul said, "I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man" (Acts 24:16). Then to the Philippians he says, "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - do." (Philippians 4:9). Again, to the Corinthians he said, "I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27). To Timothy he says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). These are contrary to the belief that he is describing himself as a Christian in Romans 7:14-25. Was Paul lying when he wrote to the Corinthians in 55 A.D.? and then two years later in 57 A.D. when he wrote to the Romans said he constantly struggles, never does good and always does evil? What does Paul say without hesitation in Galatians 5:24? This accords perfectly to Romans 8:13, as does this entire passage.
Believing the Romans 7 man is a Christian is extremely dangerous and harmful! You are saying you can be of the flesh, captive to sin, sold as a slave to sin, bear evil fruit, and it all leads to eternal life. Before you ever fight right, you have to think right. Before you get to 6:12, you must grasp 6:11. You only fight well when you believe well. What you believe dictates how you live (see Prov. 23:7). From 6:1 through 8:13 Paul is teaching that you must think right. Enoch walked with God (Gen. 5:24) and had the testimony that he pleased God (Heb. 11:5). How? By faith! "For we walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7). The entire Christian life is about faith! It starts by faith and continues by faith. Faith is what aids in the battle. Being dead to sin means that your relationship to sin is severed. "Consider yourselves dead indeed unto sin" (Rom. 6:11). It is a fact. Believe it. Live it out. When you fall, don't beat yourself up about it. Confess it to God, repent of it and continue walking by faith. The Christian life is a life of continual sanctification, being conformed more and more to the image of Jesus Christ.
Paul looks directly at the man as the corners of his lips begin to curl upwards into a smile. "Well, let me tell you," he begins. "Christians are brought from death to life (6:13); they walk in newness of life (6:4); the old self is crucified (6:6); they're dead to sin (6:11); sin cannot have dominion over them (6:14); God has made them obedient from the heart (6:17); they're set free from sin (6:18); God has made them His slaves (6:16), they're good trees bearing good fruit for God (7:4); they serve in the new life of the Spirit (7:6), the Spirit of life has set them free from the law of sin (8:2); Christ came to make them law keepers (8:3-4); and by the Spirit they put to death the deeds of the flesh (8:13). Does that answer your question, sir?"
Paul asks the rhetorical question, "Can Christians continue in sin?" in Romans 6:1 and for the next 2 and a half chapters he answers that question no less than 11 different times and ways. At least 7 different times Paul says that if you continue in sin you will die (spiritual death).
Chapter 5 ends saying, "Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." He begins chapter 6 by asking the rhetorical question that follows on the heels of where chapter 5 left off: "Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound?" After providing his strong denial to that question and giving his conclusive commentary against it, he ends in verse 14 by saying, "You are not under law but under grace." Then he begins verse 15 by asking another rhetorical question that follows hot on the heels of verse 14: "Are we to sin because we're not under law but under grace?" His conclusive commentary that follows deals with being free from sin and the law. This continues through 7:6. Immediately following is his third rhetorical question, "Is the law sin?" He denies this and gives another conclusive commentary, ending by saying the law is good. He then asks his fourth rhetorical question, "Did that which is good bring death to me?" How long does Paul take to explain the answer to his question in verse 13? Merely half a verse, while his past three questions have been rather lengthy? No. Verse 14 begins with a conjunction—"for"—which lets us know that this is not a new thought with Paul. It's a continuation of his answer to this question. He is now going to give us an example of what he has just laid out for us in verses 7-12, especially verse 9. If a man walked up to you and said, "I am of the flesh," does it sound like chapter 7 and verse 4? verse 5? or verse 6? It sounds like verse 5. Paul denies everywhere, where he talks about the flesh, that we live in the flesh. Paul continues answering his question from 6:1 all the way through to 8:13, making his case stronger, driving home his point, and enforcing his emphasis on the truth.
Paul set the historical context for us in verses 7 through 12. In these verses, is this a Christian? No! Paul continues speaking in the historical present from 7:7 through 7:25. The man in 7:14-25 is not a Christian. It is a lost man who has come under the condemnation of the law. Chapter 7 is sandwiched between chapters 6 and 8. The context flows smoothly and fluidly. Paul does not ask in verse 13 if Christians will sin from time to time. Ergo, he is not all of a sudden jumping to the subject that Christians sometimes sin, of which this passage says he never does good and always practices evil (v.19). The language of this passage is anti-Christian all the way down and violates every other passage of Scripture that talks about what a Christian is, how they live, how they behave, etc., etc. This passage contradicts Galatians 5:16-25. They are not parallel passages.
In verse 13, there are three truths presented to us.
(1) Death is present.
(2) Sin is really bad and brings death.
(3) The law is good but is powerless to prevent our death.
If Paul wants to illustrate these three truths by using an example to drive home this point, would he not use an example that would portray a man who is (1) under the sentence of death, (2) controlled by sin that's killing him, and (3) holding tightly to the law that in the end cannot deliver him? Paul didn't all of a sudden decide to jump over and talk about whether a Christian will sin or not. He is presenting a man who is faced with those three truths from verse 13. In 8:1 you see the word "therefore," and whenever you see that word you must ask, "What is it there for?" The man in 7:14-25 is condemned. Thus, Paul continues fluidly by stating, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Why? "Because you are not under the law but under grace."
Romans 5:18 says that justification equals life and condemnation equals death. Therefore, those who are justified will be brought from death to life (6:13); those who are justified will walk in newness of life (6:4); those who are justified have the old self crucified (6:6); those who are justified are dead to sin (6:11); those who are justified sin does not have dominion over them (6:14); those who are justified God has made obedient from the heart (6:17); those who are justified are set free from sin (6:18); those who are justified God has made His slaves (6:16); those who are justified are good trees bearing good fruit for God (7:4); those who are justified serve in the new life of the Spirit (7:6); those who are justified the Spirit of life has set free from the law of sin (8:2); those who are justified Christ has made law keepers (8:3-4); and those who are justified by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the flesh (8:13). Those who are justified have lost their life for Christ's sake (Matt. 10:39); those who are justified have counted the cost of following Christ (Luke 14:27-33); those who are justified have taken up their cross and followed Him (Matt. 16:24); those who are justified abide in Him (John 15:4-7; 1 John 2:6). Wherever you see death and life contrasted, you know that those who are in the flesh receive the death and those who are in the Spirit receive the life. In John 15 Christ spoke about those who abide in Him and those who do not. Those who do not receive death. Those who do receive life. He who endures to the end shall be saved (Matt. 10:22). Salvation equals life. Therefore, the justified will endure to the end. Those who do not endure were never of the faith and are not the justified. In Matthew 7, only those who obey the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, those who are justified will obey the will of the Father.
Compare the idea that Paul is supposedly speaking as a Christian in Romans 7:14-25 with what he said to the Corinthians who were trying to judge him: "I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me" (1 Corinthians 4:4) Before Felix, Paul said, "I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man" (Acts 24:16). Then to the Philippians he says, "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - do." (Philippians 4:9). Again, to the Corinthians he said, "I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27). To Timothy he says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). These are contrary to the belief that he is describing himself as a Christian in Romans 7:14-25. Was Paul lying when he wrote to the Corinthians in 55 A.D.? and then two years later in 57 A.D. when he wrote to the Romans said he constantly struggles, never does good and always does evil? What does Paul say without hesitation in Galatians 5:24? This accords perfectly to Romans 8:13, as does this entire passage.
Believing the Romans 7 man is a Christian is extremely dangerous and harmful! You are saying you can be of the flesh, captive to sin, sold as a slave to sin, bear evil fruit, and it all leads to eternal life. Before you ever fight right, you have to think right. Before you get to 6:12, you must grasp 6:11. You only fight well when you believe well. What you believe dictates how you live (see Prov. 23:7). From 6:1 through 8:13 Paul is teaching that you must think right. Enoch walked with God (Gen. 5:24) and had the testimony that he pleased God (Heb. 11:5). How? By faith! "For we walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7). The entire Christian life is about faith! It starts by faith and continues by faith. Faith is what aids in the battle. Being dead to sin means that your relationship to sin is severed. "Consider yourselves dead indeed unto sin" (Rom. 6:11). It is a fact. Believe it. Live it out. When you fall, don't beat yourself up about it. Confess it to God, repent of it and continue walking by faith. The Christian life is a life of continual sanctification, being conformed more and more to the image of Jesus Christ.