Here is how someone else explained it:
A lot of people seem to be thinking that in Romans 7 Paul is a believer. I'd be surprised is a believer has never heard, "Read Romans 7, this is Paul speaking, a mature Christian in the faith, yet he struggles with sin."
I am making this post to those who have been deceived into thinking Romans 7 is Paul as a believer and I'm going to show you how we know it is Paul as an unbeliever. The reason I post this is as a warning. In Ezekiel it teaches that if a righteous man turns from his righteousness, all his righteous deeds will be remembered no more and he will die in his iniquity. We are commanded to repent from not just some sins, but all sins. So, please. Don't be deceived by those stating that it is okay to struggle with sin. Note: I do not speak as one perfected.
Anyways, on to Romans 7.
Let's start with verse 1:
"Do you not know, brothers and sisters -- for I am speaking to those who know the law -- that the law is binding on a person only during that person's life time?"
In verse one we see that Paul is addressing Christians, but not necessarily Gentiles, but the Jews (those who know the law). Therefore, we see that in this passage Paul is speaking as a Jew, not a Christian (though he was a Christian while writing this).
Paul then states that the law is bound during that person's life time. He then gives the example of how when a spouse dies you are free to marry because you are no longer bound to them by law (vv.2-6).
Onto verse 14. Paul states:
"For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin."
Refer back to verse 1. Keep verse 1 in mind. Paul is saying that he was once under the rule of the law which was Spiritual, but because he was fleshly, sold under sin, he could not obey (vv.15-17). We know a believer is no longer of the flesh, nor is a believer under sin as a slave. Christ came to set us free. Therefore, Paul is speaking pre-conversion. We cannot be under the flesh under Christ. It's impossible (Romans 6:2).
Now, verses 17-18:
"But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it."
This solidifies that Paul is referring to pre-conversion. First we have the fact that Paul says it is sin dwelling in him, but we have died to sin (Romans 6:2). But let's continue, Paul then says, " For I know nothing good dwells within me." Hold on a minute, if Paul is saved, isn't Christ in him? So how can he say, "...nothing good dwells within me." Clearly he was speaking pre-conversion. But then Paul makes it even MORE clear, he says: "that is, in my flesh." Ahah! Paul was speaking about being "in [his] flesh." In other words, pre-conversion because the flesh is dead in Christ (as we'll see in a minute). You're probably thinking: "But Paul says, 'I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.'" Yes, but remember, Paul was a Pharisee. Of course he wanted to keep the law. Even unbelievers see that the commandments are good.
Verse 21 says:
"So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand."
Again, refer to verse 1. Paul is speaking to those who know the law. He is showing us that there is a law of sin that we are bound under and he cannot do good under this law. But Christ has freed us from that law (again, we'll see this in a minute). He continues to show that he is a captive to the law of sin that dwells in his members (verse 23).
Then in verse 24, the famous phrase we've all heard before:
"Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
We so conveniently leave out verse 25:
"Thanks be to God through Jesus our Lord!"
Now we move onto chapter 8. Bear in mind, when Paul was writing there were no "Chapters," so this is essentially the same context.
In chapter 8 verse 2:
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."
Therefore, we have been set free from the struggle Paul was experience in Chapter 7. And it gets even clearer in Chapter 8 verses 7-8:
"For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law -- indeed it cannot [sounds a lot like Romans-7 Paul] and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
And here is who the Christians are in Capter 8 verses 9:
"But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him."
We now see that Paul was not a believer in Romans 7 but speaking pre-conversion, whereas in Romans 8 we see him as being freed from Romans 7 through Christ.
Lastly, I post this as a warning to those who think it is okay to struggle with sin. Romans 8:12-13:
"So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
The reason I show this is because I believe it's very clear. Many of us believe eternal security. And right now I'm mixed on it. So, I post this as a warning. In those verses Paul is addressing "brothers and sisters," therefore, addressing Christians. He then says that Christians have the option to A) Live by the flesh or B) Live by the Spirit. He then states if you chose option A you will die, but if option B, you will live.
In case you say, "No but salvation is eternal." Well, consider people who have believed in vain (1 Cor. 15:2), those who have been severed from Christ (Gal. 5:4), fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4), continued in sin and no longer have a sacrifice for their sins (Heb 10:26), etc. But to show it more clearly, Revelation 22:19 says, "if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." Now, in order for God to "take a persons share" away, they had to be participants in that share initially. Therefore, it is possible to have a share, but then have it removed. But this is another discussion. However, if you want it more clear read Ezekiel 18.
Hope this was helpful, and if there is any untruthfulness in this I ask that God guards your mind.
A lot of people seem to be thinking that in Romans 7 Paul is a believer. I'd be surprised is a believer has never heard, "Read Romans 7, this is Paul speaking, a mature Christian in the faith, yet he struggles with sin."
I am making this post to those who have been deceived into thinking Romans 7 is Paul as a believer and I'm going to show you how we know it is Paul as an unbeliever. The reason I post this is as a warning. In Ezekiel it teaches that if a righteous man turns from his righteousness, all his righteous deeds will be remembered no more and he will die in his iniquity. We are commanded to repent from not just some sins, but all sins. So, please. Don't be deceived by those stating that it is okay to struggle with sin. Note: I do not speak as one perfected.
Anyways, on to Romans 7.
Let's start with verse 1:
"Do you not know, brothers and sisters -- for I am speaking to those who know the law -- that the law is binding on a person only during that person's life time?"
In verse one we see that Paul is addressing Christians, but not necessarily Gentiles, but the Jews (those who know the law). Therefore, we see that in this passage Paul is speaking as a Jew, not a Christian (though he was a Christian while writing this).
Paul then states that the law is bound during that person's life time. He then gives the example of how when a spouse dies you are free to marry because you are no longer bound to them by law (vv.2-6).
Onto verse 14. Paul states:
"For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin."
Refer back to verse 1. Keep verse 1 in mind. Paul is saying that he was once under the rule of the law which was Spiritual, but because he was fleshly, sold under sin, he could not obey (vv.15-17). We know a believer is no longer of the flesh, nor is a believer under sin as a slave. Christ came to set us free. Therefore, Paul is speaking pre-conversion. We cannot be under the flesh under Christ. It's impossible (Romans 6:2).
Now, verses 17-18:
"But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it."
This solidifies that Paul is referring to pre-conversion. First we have the fact that Paul says it is sin dwelling in him, but we have died to sin (Romans 6:2). But let's continue, Paul then says, " For I know nothing good dwells within me." Hold on a minute, if Paul is saved, isn't Christ in him? So how can he say, "...nothing good dwells within me." Clearly he was speaking pre-conversion. But then Paul makes it even MORE clear, he says: "that is, in my flesh." Ahah! Paul was speaking about being "in [his] flesh." In other words, pre-conversion because the flesh is dead in Christ (as we'll see in a minute). You're probably thinking: "But Paul says, 'I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.'" Yes, but remember, Paul was a Pharisee. Of course he wanted to keep the law. Even unbelievers see that the commandments are good.
Verse 21 says:
"So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand."
Again, refer to verse 1. Paul is speaking to those who know the law. He is showing us that there is a law of sin that we are bound under and he cannot do good under this law. But Christ has freed us from that law (again, we'll see this in a minute). He continues to show that he is a captive to the law of sin that dwells in his members (verse 23).
Then in verse 24, the famous phrase we've all heard before:
"Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
We so conveniently leave out verse 25:
"Thanks be to God through Jesus our Lord!"
Now we move onto chapter 8. Bear in mind, when Paul was writing there were no "Chapters," so this is essentially the same context.
In chapter 8 verse 2:
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."
Therefore, we have been set free from the struggle Paul was experience in Chapter 7. And it gets even clearer in Chapter 8 verses 7-8:
"For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law -- indeed it cannot [sounds a lot like Romans-7 Paul] and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
And here is who the Christians are in Capter 8 verses 9:
"But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him."
We now see that Paul was not a believer in Romans 7 but speaking pre-conversion, whereas in Romans 8 we see him as being freed from Romans 7 through Christ.
Lastly, I post this as a warning to those who think it is okay to struggle with sin. Romans 8:12-13:
"So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
The reason I show this is because I believe it's very clear. Many of us believe eternal security. And right now I'm mixed on it. So, I post this as a warning. In those verses Paul is addressing "brothers and sisters," therefore, addressing Christians. He then says that Christians have the option to A) Live by the flesh or B) Live by the Spirit. He then states if you chose option A you will die, but if option B, you will live.
In case you say, "No but salvation is eternal." Well, consider people who have believed in vain (1 Cor. 15:2), those who have been severed from Christ (Gal. 5:4), fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4), continued in sin and no longer have a sacrifice for their sins (Heb 10:26), etc. But to show it more clearly, Revelation 22:19 says, "if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." Now, in order for God to "take a persons share" away, they had to be participants in that share initially. Therefore, it is possible to have a share, but then have it removed. But this is another discussion. However, if you want it more clear read Ezekiel 18.
Hope this was helpful, and if there is any untruthfulness in this I ask that God guards your mind.
