Skinski,
You didn't answer the questions.
Two where did I blame God in this? Just because one has a bent to do things wrong does not shift the blame. Remember God created Adam and Eve perfectly,after they fell the whole entire creation has been under the curse of sin. See what you don't get is how wide and deep the curse goes,everything in the entire creation was affected. You want to minimize how badly sin has AFFECTED everything,including our entire being. And what else don't get is that because the curse is there we go right to the wrong,don't even have to think about it,it's a part of us whether you like it or not. Which by the way is what Paul said here
Romans 7
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Paul is very clear that it is something inside of him that causes him to do this. Paul says NO GOOD THING DWELLS IN him.
But of course you have those that will insist that somehow they are better then Paul. They DO have good in them,they can choose the right things to do. So what does that Paul? Is Paul confused? Is he lying? Or does Paul speak the truth when he says that there is NO GOOD THING IN him? So is Paul blaming God because Paul does not have any good in him?
Paul is speaking of the BONDAGE of sin by personifying sin. He is not saying that sin is a some kind of "thing" in him that forces him to sin.
He is speaking of being in "captivity to a law in his members" and due to this captivity he cannot stop sinning. Thus he is a wretched man crying out for deliverance.
This is why Paul says in Romans 8:2...
Rom 8:2 For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
The law of the Spirit of life In Jesus Christ is what set him free from this wretched state.
As a wretch he was "carnal and sold under sin." In other words he was operating under a base nature and was enslaved. Sinners are basically enslaved to the bodily passions and desires.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
In this carnal state where he was sold under sin he found that...
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is,
in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
In other words he could not escape this enslavement in the flesh.
What did Abraham discover as pertaining to the flesh? (Rom 4:1). Abraham found that being counted righteous by God was not of works (Rom 4:6) but was strong in faith and trusted God (Rom 4:20-21) and thus walked in those steps (Rom 4:12).
What did Paul discover as it pertains to the flesh? He had a desire for change (in his mind) but the law he found active in his flesh kept him in captivity to the law of sin (Rom 7:23).
Again read Romans 8:2 for Paul specifically teaches what set him free and it was not the flesh. Rather it was the SPIRIT OF LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST which set Him free. This is why there is no condemnation of those who are IN Christ Jesus because they are no longer enslaved to the law of sin and death because they no longer walk according to the flesh, instead they walk according to the Spirit whereby they mortify the deeds of the body.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Thus the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who walk after the Spirit.
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The Romans Wretch was under the law and sought release from bondage via the law. It does not work for one cannot defeat sin in the flesh. Only via plugging oneself into God can one be set free hence...
Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Rom 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
The bondage is broken in dying with Christ...
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
The old man must be crucified with Christ once and for all and this is where the "body of sin" is DESTROYED!
This is the death that sets one free from being enslaved to sin. It is not only the death but the rebirth that is associated with it. For it is the Spirit of life In Jesus Christ which sets us free from the law of sin and death and what is that law?
That law is that if you sin you die. God's salvation sets us free from that because via a death and rebirth the life IN Christ whereby we walk in the Spirit keeps us from "sinning unto death." Hence...
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
It is a complete change of service. We go from SERVING SIN to SERVING RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The Romans wretch is CLEARLY still serving sin because sin is still his master. Hence he is CARNAL and SOLD UNDER sin. He cannot do what he wants because he is a slave. Sin owns him.
Jesus Christ through the cross BOUGHT US BACK from sin. Thus when we partake in his sufferings (2Pet 4:1) and die with in order that we abide in the Spirit of His life (Rom 8:2) we cease from sin (2Pet 4:1) because we no longer serve sin (Rom 6:6) but instead serve righteousness (Rom 6:12-13). This is what it means to be under grace.
Grace is not some abounding forgiveness which cloaks ongoing enslavement to sin.
Grace is the literal power of God which sets one free from enslavement to sin.
Many people do not believe it.
Instead they believe they will be Romans Wretches for the rest of their lives and salvation is simply trusting in the provision they perceive as the cross which to them is a COVERING for ONGOING INIQUITY.
What do you believe Sarah?
Are you carnal and sold under sin?
Have you been set free from bondage or do you still serve sin?
Has your heart been made PURE?
Do you believe in HEART PURITY in salvation? Well do you?
Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,
by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.