Is Paul talking about himself before or after conversion, is he describing what Jesus did for him or not?
Oh yeah Vs 16 tells why Paul said he was a sinner[past tense]
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
1 Tim 1.15 must be understood in context with 16.
in Vs 16 Paul is telling people that Jesus saved even me, a real bad apple, and if he can save me, he can save you.
Oh yeah Vs 16 tells why Paul said he was a sinner[past tense]
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
1 Tim 1.15 must be understood in context with 16.
in Vs 16 Paul is telling people that Jesus saved even me, a real bad apple, and if he can save me, he can save you.
Paul when speaking of believers in Christ now - they are called "saints" in 64 places. I too believe Paul was simply identifying himself as a sinner in his past too when he said "I am the chief of sinners".
The true identity and nature of a believer in Christ is the new creation - the inner man of the heart which has been created in righteousness and holiness. We still have the flesh which has the law of sin still in it. But the flesh is not the real us.
We have this treasure ( Christ in our new creation ) in an earthen vessel so that the excellency of the power maybe seen to be of God and not ourselves.
When we die - the flesh will not be going with us. We are still responsible for the deeds done in our body. The law of sin in our flesh has a "voice" and that voice will deceive us.
Living by the flesh is more then just not committing sexual sins - it is also being done if we have malice towards someone, slandering others in the body of Christ, the causing of strife amongst us, envy...outbursts of anger...etc.
All of these things will stop us from experiencing in this life the inheritance that is ours in Christ just as Paul said in Gal 5. For example - live in malice towards others and the peace of God that is our inheritance because we are in Christ will not be manifested in our lives.
Will we not go to be with the Lord because we don't experience this peace because we have walked in the flesh? Of course not.
We will however get a new body one day and the law of sin will not be there anymore. Thank you Jesus!