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