One of the misquoted Scriptures in The Bible is found in, Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who can shall deliver me from the body of this death?
People read this quote and stop, they read where Paul is tortured by knowing that he is evil and even when he wants to do good evil is always what he ended up doing. He said what he wants to do, he doesn't do. Paul was a Pharisee, Paul knew The LAW, he loved The LAW, he lived The LAW, he enforced The LAW. (Philippians 3:5)
Paul had people arrested because they were Christians. He was concenting to the death of Stephen. (Acts 8:1) Paul was on his way to have Christians arrested when Jesus stopped him and blinded him, then ultimately Saved him. (Acts 9:2-6 ) After Paul met Jesus he was never the same. Paul did not go to see the Apostles or anyone else, he went into Arabia and then into Damascus, after three years he went to Jerusalem to see Peter and James, (Galatians 1:17)
So Paul of all people knew all about The LAW and sin.
Here is what many people don't understand, so let's examine Romans 7:7 closely. Is The LAW sin? No! Paul said if it hadn't been for The LAW people would not have known what sin is.
We wouldn't have known what lust is if hadn't been for The LAW.
"Sin" taking occasion by the Commandment, thou shalt not lust,
Romans 7:7 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.
Sin: Transgression of The LAW 1John 3:4
Occasion: arising from a particular circumstance
Pay close and particular attention to Romans 7:8 it has two parts, so I will call Romans 7:8a and Romans b.
Romans 7:8a But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.
Sin: Transgression of The LAW 1John 3:4
Occasion: arising from a particular circumstance
Wrought: work, beaten out of shape by
Concpiscence: strong sexual desire, lust
What Paul said was once The Commandment was known unto him, he knew what he was doing was against GOD, immediately sin became alive in him. The Commandment had shown him that he had "sin" and sin had made him into someone evil, in GOD'S eyes.
Romans7:8b For without the law sin was dead.
Paul said before The LAW came there was no sin laid against him.
Romans7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. When The LAW came, the knowledge of sin came to life, Paul then became dead, a sinner.
Pay attention to the word sin throughout the next Scriptures, Paul is explaining sin and how it takes hold of us through The LAW.
Romans 7:10-24 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. [11] For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. [12] Wherefore the LAW is Holy, and the Commandment Holy, and just, and good. [13] 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. [15] 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. [17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [18] 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. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a LAW, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. [22] For I delight in the LAW of God after the inward man: [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. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
All of these Scriptures are explaining the difference between the Law of GOD and the law of sin which our members live under. The LAW of GOD brings Life, but the law of sin brings death. The Scriptures show the agony and torture one lives under, knowing to what is right, but doing wrong. When you feel like the wretched man, you live like there is no Hope, that is when you start believing you are just that way and you cannot ever be Righteous. You believe that you are a sinner and no more. You feel you are barely saved and could be lost any second. You feel that GOD is mad at you all of the time. You have your focus on you and what you are doing, that you can't see what Jesus Christ did in His Sacrifice.
Listen to what Paul said in 7:1-6
Romans 7:1-6 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the LAW) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? [2] For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. [3] So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. [4] Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the LAW by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto GOD. [5] For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. [6] 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 explains how we are now free from The LAW, which he referred to as Oldness Of The Letter. Paul stated in Romans 5, we were in the flesh, but now we are Spirit now and no longer the flesh.
Paul had contention with Jews that believed I Christ Jesus, he had words with them, read about this in,
Acts 15:1-2,5-7,9-11,19-21,23-24,28-29 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. [2] When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. [5] But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the LAW of Moses. [6] And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. [7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. [9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. [10] Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? [11] But we believe that through the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. [19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: [20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. [21] For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. [23] And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: [24] Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the LAW: to whom we gave no such commandment: [28] For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; [29] That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Certain men of the Pharisee sect came to Paul tell him he need to preach The LAW of Moses. These men were so disruptive that Paul had to go to Jerusalem with them to see Peter, because they had come and told the people, whom Paul was preaching to, that, Paul was preaching in error. Paul was telling the people about Grace, instead of the LAW. So there was a dispute between Paul, Apostles, and the Pharisees, but an agreement was reached after all. Some men were sent by Peter, went back with Paul to the people who heard the Pharisees say, that Paul was in error, to get everything straightened out. The men sent from Peter read the letter to the people, stating that Paul was not in error and Salvation is about Grace.
When you understand these Scriptures, then the next Scriptures come alive to you!
Romans 8:1-17,26-39 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. [3] 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: [4] That the righteousness of the LAW might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [5] 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. [6] For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the LAW of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. [9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. [10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. [12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. [15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: [17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. [26] Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. [28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. [29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. [30] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. [31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? [32] He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? [33] Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. [34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Galatians 5:13-14,16,18,24-25 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. [14] For all the LAW is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. [16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. [18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the LAW. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Carnal: fleshly, sensual, not Spiritual
WALK IN THE SPIRIT!
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, FULFILLS THE LAW!
THEY THAT ARE IN CHRIST HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH!
ROMANS 14:23b. For whatsoever is not of Faith is sin!
Our Faith is in The Finished Work of Christ Jesus, and Him alone!
Live The Victorious Life That Christ Jesus Bought For Us To Have!!!
Donna K Purifoy
10/9/20121