Poll Regarding Paul & Romans 7

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Was Paul Referencing His Current Or Former Spiritual Status In Romans 7?

  • He Was Admitting He Was Actively Struggling With Sin

    Votes: 18 78.3%
  • He Was Describing His Former Life Before Jesus Found Him On The Damascus Road

    Votes: 7 30.4%

  • Total voters
    23

Edify

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2021
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#61
Ok. But Paul speaks often about his being set free from the Power of Sin in Romans. How could he be set free from the Power of sin yet claim to be filled with a demon that causes him to do what he doesn't want to do? Further, he states that he is Spiritually dead. If he's dead, how in the world did this guy become an Apostle?

Edity, if I walked up to you and told you that I was filled with a demon that wouldn't allow me to do the right thing, would you feel like this is normal, or would you distance yourself from me?
Paul neither says or alludes to having a demon. The only thing he alludes to is that his flesh is still cursed.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,652
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#63
Paul taught those who "press" toward the mark will reach it even though the flesh still wants to sin.
For instance, if Paul felt a little bad & didn't do that day what the Lord wanted to do, he sinned in disobedience.
Regardless what the flesh wants his inner man still wanted Christ.
Yes that’s a quote from Philippians I thought you were talking about Roman’s seven and explaining Paul was describing himself and his own current struggles with sin . That’s what I was wondering

pauls saying this is the state of a born again believer filled with the holy spirit of Jesus Christ ?

“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.

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:18-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

so Paul’s saying “I want to do what’s good but I can’t do it . The good that I want to do I don’t do , but the evil I don’t want to do , that’s what I keep doing “?

and that’s how we should be as Christian’s we should think “ I know what’s right but I just can’t do it . That good I know to do I don’t do it , but the evil that I don’t want to do I keep doing ?

doesn’t that seem to be describing this internal law in mankind

“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.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That man isn’t free at all he’s a captive to sins dominion over him so he concludes this

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is why we need the law of the spirit in the gospel that sets us free from sin


Paul is presenting the problem inside a sinner in chapter seven and then showing how we have been redeemed in chapter 8 from that state of sinfulness first he’s showing the issue inside sinners

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

(then again he says a little later)

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:15-17, 20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

hes showing us the state of a sinful person without Christ and then explaining what’s been done for Christian’s

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit. 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 sin explained in chapter seven )

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;

but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:1-6‬ ‭

Walk after the spirit

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63, 67-68‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Not after the flesh

“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:18-24‬ ‭

We do struggle with sin Paul wasnt explaining how his current state was in chapter seven but what all sinners including he himself face without Christ and the gospel we need this for freedom

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32, 34, 36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

im not arguing we don’t as Christians face temptations and even sin sometimes just that Paul was explaining what it is to be a sinner all people have a conflict inside them between good and evil that’s what a sinner is it isn’t what man is meant to be we are meant to be like Jesus and we’re never going to actually be just like him until he returns later we do have that goal your right

i eas talking about what Roman’s 7 there is talking about not that we’re all perfect sinless folk or anything we do struggle that’s why all those instructions about forgiving others and not judging others and being merciful and repenting when we have sinned confessing ect …..because God knows we aren’t perfect

paul and the apostles were about as close as one can be after the received the spirit however he wasn’t like chapter seven is explaining as an apostle but he was before that
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
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#64
That's as far as I got. Look, I'm not here to speak with nit-pickers. If this is the approach to communicating with Christians that you have been taught to employ, well . . . I'd rather stop.

Have a good day.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
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#65
Where in the post you responded to do you get the poster saying he was filled with a demon?
Romans 7:23 NLT - 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me."

Where does paul state this?
Romans 7:11, NLT - 11 Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me."

Romans 7:9-10 NLT - "At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10 and I died. So I discovered that the law's commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead."

Why would you ask such a question?
Give me a break.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
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#66
Paul neither says or alludes to having a demon. The only thing he alludes to is that his flesh is still cursed.
Suit yourself.

Romans 7:23 NLT - "But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me."
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
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#67
Paul is simply claiming in Romans 7 the Law helped him identify what he was and how he needed Christ.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,133
30,268
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#69
Romans 7:23 NLT - 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with
my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me."
But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my
mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.

It is the law of sin and death Paul speaks of in Romans 7:23.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
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#71
But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my
mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.


It is the law of sin and death Paul speaks of in Romans 7:23.
I hear you. I will add . . . All people who attempted to justify themselves through the Law of Moses remained under the Curse of the Lord. Anyone who is under the Curse of the Lord couldn't possibly be Purified. Their Spiritual Father remains the Devil, for "sin" used the commands against them (when they were following the Law).
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,133
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#73
I hear you. I will add . . . All people who attempted to justify themselves through the Law of Moses remained under the Curse of the Lord. Anyone who is under the Curse of the Lord couldn't possibly be Purified. Their Spiritual Father remains the Devil, for "sin" used the commands against them (when they were following the Law).
I notice you quote from the NLT a lot. Is that your preferred translation?

I don't particularly care for it. My preference is the Berean Study Bible
.:D
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
6,066
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#74
That's as far as I got. Look, I'm not here to speak with nit-pickers. If this is the approach to communicating with Christians that you have been taught to employ, well . . . I'd rather stop.

Have a good day.
I am just calling out someone.

If you think you can come in and act like you are and not be confronted with it.. You have another thing coming
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
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#75
Romans 7:23 NLT - 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me."
I do not see the word demon


Romans 7:11, NLT - 11 Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me."
here he is taking past tense. Not present tense. unlike the rest of the passage

Romans 7:9-10 NLT - "At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10 and I died. So I discovered that the law's commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead."


Give me a break.
Why would you use such a flawed bible

The word spiritual is not in scripture in that passage..

And again, in this context. He is speaking of past tense. in how the law brings death.. But he is no longer under the law but under the spirit.. But that does not mean he does not continue to sin..
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
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#76
Suit yourself.

Romans 7:23 NLT - "But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me."
again

Who is the one judging?

Again, where is the word DEMON?

That is talking about HIS FLESH, not a DEMON
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
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#78
I notice you quote from the NLT a lot. Is that your preferred translation?

I don't particularly care for it. My preference is the Berean Study Bible .:D
Wow. That is a great question!!!

Yes, I do quote from the NLT a lot and for a few reason's. I'd would like to say, however, that my "go-to" translations are the KJV and NLT. If it weren't for the NLT, I wouldn't have been able to grasp the KJV as I do.

Another reason is that I tend to quote from Translations that are easy for the less informed to understand. My ex-wife was pure Japanese. Of course, English was her second language. I think all would agree that it would have been ridiculous to expect her to speak a language that isn't used in America . . . rest her soul. I'm here to feed those who are hungry, not those who think they full. :)

In my database, I use I think 18 translations from the Blue Letter Bible website. More translations, in my opinion, are the first "commentary" we should turn to. When these many translations aren't helping me, the BLB has some ok Commentaries that I'll turn to, but only as little as possible. So, I'd LOVE IT if the BLB would add the Berean SB to their collection. Wheneven they add a new translation, I usually start copying and pasting its Scripture into my database. Love all translations except . . . drum roll please . . .

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