Romans 7:25-8:2 KJV I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
We usually consider the things of the flesh to be wicked things.
Romans 7 teaches how Paul gave all His might to do what the law taught him to do.
He used these words, "There is therefore..."
Trying in our own power to do good is what it is when we read of frustrating the grace of God.
Jesus' death freed us from our limitation to live in fleshly power alone.
But we need to understand that everytime the Bible speaks of not doing fleshly things, and not walking after the flesh, it is not always talking about flesh committing sins. It is often telling us to stop trying to do good in our own fleshly power. Rom 7:6 KJV But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. To better understand what God is saying, please not that we are told that believers are delivered from the law.
Rom 7:7 KJV What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Paul reassured us Law was not a bad thing. So, why would God want to deliver us from a good thing like the Law? Recall that verse 6 says we were delivered from law SO THAT WE CAN SERVE GOD IN NEWNESS OF SPIRIT, AND NOT IN OLDNESS OF THE LETTER.
Rom 7:8 KJV But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. Sin deceived Paul.
Keep in mind that law is good, though. Rom 7:12 KJV Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. But law is not the guilty culprit in why God wanted to deliver us from law. Rom 7:13-14 KJV Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. (14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Here is the key!
Rom 7:6 KJV But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Paul proved his flesh is sold under sin by having referred to what happened when he tried doing good -- when he tried serving in oldness of the letter. Too many believers never get far enough in their understanding to know the difference between serving in oldness of letter as opposed to serving in newness of Spirit.
Verses 15 and 16 is a connecting verse to another part fo the Bible. Rom 7:15-16 KJV For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Compare with ... Gal 5:17 KJV For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Gal 5:13 says we've been called to liberty. Gal 5:13 KJV For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Romans 7:6 says we're delivered from the law to no longer serve in oldness of the letter.
From what did Galatians 5:13 say we're set at liberty?
Gal 5:1 KJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. The law is the yoke of bondage.
If law is good, why be freed from it?
I've talked to some who misunderstand Paul's words who teach others to keep Law in order to be Christians.
God actually speaks against doing good with fleshly power, and without prayer, because IT DOES NOT WORK. Imagine Paul's reaction to learning this for the first time.
Follow the context of Galatians 5.
Gal 5:13 KJV For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Some might claim they keep law in order to serve each other in love.
The Law agrees with the results that this servitude in newness of Spirit accomplishes. The following verse says so: Gal 5:14 KJV For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. These next verses say that same thing that Romans 7:15-16 says. Gal 5:16-17 KJV This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Rom 7:15-16 KJV For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Galatians informs us that the answer to this dilemma is "walk in the Spirit." You will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh if you walk in the Spirit.
You may have MEANT to do good, but could never do good as you wanted.
The flesh you use in order to do good is revealed for what it really is as follows: Gal 5:17 KJV For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Being led of the Spirit is something that is completely apart from law-keeping.
Gal 5:19-21 KJV Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) 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 look what the Spirit produces. Gal 5:22-23 KJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. We have crucified the flesh with it's lusts. Gal 5:24 KJV And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. So if we've crucified the flesh with its lusts, WHY USE THAT FLESH TO SERVE GOD?
Rom 7:24-25 KJV O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Thank God we can SUCCEED to serve God.
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