Page 18 - Only a Sinner Saved by Grace???
P. 18

Only A Sinner Saved By Grace???



               In verse 5 of Romans 7, Paul speaks of being


               “in the flesh” in the past tense, which would



               suggest  a  first-person  narrative  in  verses  14


               through  23  of  Paul’s  inability  to  resist  sin



               before the Spirit of Christ freed him from sin’s


               bondage and control in his life.  But even as a



               Christian, Paul’s sinful nature warred against


               his new, Christlike nature, and in verse 25 of



               Romans  7,  Paul  expresses  an  impassioned



               yearning for ultimate deliverance from what


               Paul referred to as “the body of this death.”



               At the conclusion of chapter 7, however, Paul


               is not indicating that he did not have victory



               over  sin  in  his  struggle  between  his  old


               nature and his new nature, but he simply



               concedes  that  “they  that  are  in  the  flesh



               cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8) because those






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