If you are using these verses to prove Paul still committed sin after his conversion, you are in error.
The first few verses of Ro 7 clearly show that it is speaking of a former time. Verse 5..."For when we WERE in the flesh..."
The entire middle of Ro 7 is about Paul's former life as a Pharisee; trying to live the Mosaic Law, but failing. And again, a reference to the past in verse 18; (that is, in my flesh).
And the end, especially verse 23; "But 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."...points again to a former time. Because....
we read in Romans 8:2...."For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from THE LAW OF SIN and death.
Why would Paul be subject to something he is free of?
If you could see the truth of Ro 7, and its proximity to Ro 6, which speaks of baptism and the death of the flesh, you would see that Paul is making the past-present transition, and Ro 8 continues on into the life walked in the Spirit.
BTW, verse 24 was answered in Romans 6:6.
Can I ask what your view is of the following?
My simple thoughts.
1 Timothy 1:15
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
He says I am and not I was.
Pauls letter to the Romans focuses at length that we are saved by grace through Christ’s death and resurrection.
We are not saved by observing the law.
Chapter 7 to me deals with the relationship between the law and sin.
I don’t think the law he is referring to is the 10 commandments, I don’t see them as the Mosaic law. but the law keeping, the laws we find that religious leaders of the time placed upon people that burdened them, but also the laws that the religious leaders circumnavigated in order to meet their own needs rather than the needs of others.
Galatians 5:14
14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
This is the law that was defined as sin as such.
We of course we find Paul getting upset with the Galatians because they returned to the law. When I say law here if memory serves me it was to do with the snip. It seems the Galatians started off with salvation through faith based on grace through and love and bearing with each other in love and with love. and not of works and insisting on the snip to be saved.
Then we find Sabbath keeping, eating food sacrificed to idols.
You say Romans 7 is Paul’s experience prior conversion.
I am no theologian but there are many great theologians who argue either side.
I can see which ones you side with and I think you know which side I come alongside.
To me he talks about sin that resides in the flesh, even after conversion sin still resides in the flesh and we will constantly struggle with it and at times we will follow the flesh and not the spirit. That doesn’t mean we want to and use it as an excuse.
As addressed in Romans 6.
And yes he gives the resolution at the start of Romans 8.
Romans 8:1
Chapter 8
Free from Indwelling Sin
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Spot the difference between the two?
With NIV it stops with Jesus but the NKV doesn’t.
Does a genuine believer walk according to the spirit? Of course he does.
Will a believer succumb to flesh?
I will let you answer that.
Will we still sin after conversion?
I will say yes we will (and before anyone jumps on me I’m not using it as an excuse to sin, God for I do) you see I seek to walk according to the spirit, the new spirit given me which is the Holy Spirit.
1 John 1:7 - 2:2
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
If I could be sinless why would I need an advocate?
Jesus summed up the 10 commandments in 2. And both focus on love, he also told us to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us.
Can anyone on this thread tell me that they Walk in the Agape Love that Jesus told us walk in?
If you can’t then at some point you have failed.
Can anyone here tell me when they stand before Jesus and he separates the sheep from the goats that they a mark of 100%?
If you can then Paul is lying
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
I am not a sinless perectionist and will never be.
Neiither do I use it as an excuse to sin.
My default when I sinned was to be like Adam.
Taken years to get out of this mindest
Now when I sin I fess up and ask “Jesus help me to grow in you, be like you. May you increase in me so that I decrease”
That is my hearts desire.
If anyone here can tell me that they do not sin then you claim to be Jesus, if so go back to 1 John 1 v 10
Not that I could order anyone to do anything. Just... I get excited about revelation seen in the words of scripture.
