Does Romans Chapter 7 reveal Paul's "I" Problem Find Out While We Revisit Romans 7

       

                                                      Revisiting Romans Seven

Romans 7:7-25 is admittedly a difficult passage. It has people wondering if this is Paul’s pre or post conversion experience and it is often represented as a proof of the Christian having a sinful nature or at least a bent towards sin.

Here are some things to consider; there are 47 Personal Pronouns in 19 verses. That’s 47 “I’s”. “Me’s” and “My’s” (KJV)

That suggests to me three things

First -   This is Paul’s Personal Two Part Testimony

      Part one the inability of the law to do more than reveal sin and drive one to Christ 7-14     (Note this section is written in the past tense)

      Part two the inability of self or flesh to keep the law or do good. verses            15-25                       (note this section is written in the present tense)

Second – Paul is the predominate person of the passage

Third   - Paul is still teaching about the law.

Ro 6:2 dead to sin, Ro 7:4 dead to the law, Ro 7;15-25 dead to self

Here’s a subtitle suggestion for this last section

Things I’ve learned on the way to the Romans 8 life or Paul’s “I” Problem

Romans 7 is CHARACTERIZED BY CONDEMNATION AND CONFUSION                        

v. 18 but how to perform that which is good I find not. = Inability

Ro 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. = Confusion

Ro 7:24 Miserable man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of Death?  = Condemnation 

The answer to the question in verse 24 is in verse 25 and Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Ga 1:24)

Here Paul is no longer the predominate person and Christ is the new I in Paul.

God is not the author of confusion and in Roman’s 8 there is no condemnation to those in Christ.

1Co 1:29 Says That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Listen, You can lead while being led = Paul said, “follow me as I follow Christ”

Just as the law has no power to enable one to perform its demands

There is nothing in the flesh, independent self, that is able to perform acceptable good and independent self is still sin that needs to be repented of. 1 Jon 1:9

That would be the opposite of “not my will but thine be done”

That would be the good from the wrong tree

Independent self does not produce acceptable good

Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing”

“He that will save his life will lose it but he that will lose it for My sake the same will find it.”

“Take up your cross and follow Me” the cross implies an individual death to self

“There is none good but God”, or put another way, God is the only source of acceptable Good.

The real Christian is in the spirit not in the flesh Ro 8:9

Some Christians are so use to being taught or tied to this body of death that they think it is normal

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Ro 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become slaves to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Ro 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Ga 5:1 ¶ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

This is not about the Christian having a sinful nature but about the lie that man is an independent self that the Deceiver sold to all mankind. And mankind for the most part has been under that illusion. 

And if the apostle Paul had to learn this truth so must we!

Nelvan Evans

                                               

Connect the Dots From Numbers Chapter 20

Water out of the Rock

Nu 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. (Nu 20:8 and speak ye unto the rock) Christ was to be crucified only once (Ro 6:10, 1Pe 3:18, Heb 9:28)  Heb 6:6 … seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.( Nu 20:12 did not sanctify Me)  De 1:37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in to (Canaan). (Nu 20:12; 27:14; De 3:26; 4:21; 34:4; Moses angers God) (Ps 106:32 the people angers Moses) What the Lord says the Lord means and what the Lord means He says.’ Evidently, Moses was to use the rod once not twice and that was not only for the immediate circumstance but also for generations to come, teaching and instruction for you and me and those who come after us. (1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition) We might say that Moses already had two strikes against not doing it God’s way and getting mad at the people.

What a stark contrast to the Moses that built the Tabernacle where the Lord instructed Moses exactly how to do what He wanted which he did.  Ex 25:9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it  Ex 38:22…. made all that the LORD commanded Moses. Ex 39:32….did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, Ex 39:42 According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, Ex 40:16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, Ex 40:19 as the LORD commanded Moses. Ex 40:21 as the LORD commanded Moses. Ex 40:23…..as the LORD had commanded Moses. Ex 40:25…. as the LORD commanded Moses. Ex 40:27…..as the LORD commanded Moses. Ex 40:29……as the LORD commanded Moses. Ex 40:32…. as the LORD commanded Moses.

Ex 40:33And he (Moses) reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. Ex 40:34  Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Only after it was built exactly as the Lord commanded ( Ex 40:35 And (then even) Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.)

Note the variances of the description drink, rivers, gushed out and its correlation to the New Testament

Ex 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.    (Ex 3:1; 17:6; 33:6; Ps 106:19, MT. Horeb)      with         (Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; (interesting that this took place on a mountain)

Ps 78:16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.  with      (Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.)

Isa 48:21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.    with                  (Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.)

1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.     with          (Nu 20:16 And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: (Ex 33:2 And I will send an angel before thee)

(Seems like both cries were physical not Spiritual which resulted in unthankfulness. It was easier to get Israel out of Egypt (the world) than to get Egypt out of Israel. One requires a change of address the other requires a change of Nature, Spirit, Heart, Mind.)

 And these must have been the kind of things Christ shared with them on the way to Emmaus in the New Testament.

Lu 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He (Christ) expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. Lu 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

And that Rock is the Stone that the builders rejected Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a trap and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Mt 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Mt 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: ( Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.) but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.(Judgment)  It is much better to be on the right Foundation than under it.

Mt 16:18……and upon This Rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.        (In light of these many verses connecting Christ to this Rock how could anyone mistake earthly Peter or Popes for this heavenly position?)                                                                                                                                       Ac 4:11 This is The Stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

 1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.

 1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the Corner,

1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.                                                                                              

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

What else do you suppose Jesus talked about on that road, manna from heaven, animal sacrifices, the Red Heifer, Jonah’s three days and nights in the fish’s belly?

Nelvan

Have you ever wondered why Adam and Eve didn’t realize that they were naked until after they had sinned? 

A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Ex 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Ex 34:30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

Ex 24:17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings;

John 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world:

Mt 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light

Isa. 60:19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Re 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

SOME EXTRA THOUGHTS

Adam and Eve did not know they were naked until they sinned (fell). Could it be that they lost the glory of the Lord with which they were clothed?

Light on the first day sun on the forth day of creation. Ge 1:3, Ge 1:16

Ex 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. Ex 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush,

Light Contrast

         Spiritual Illumination

         Physical illumination

So This Is How it is

                                                    SO, THIS IS HOW IT IS

Your Salvation and mine is only a minute part of our Fathers overall plan. For God so loved the world (all of mankind) that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in and receives Him into their life as their Life (Col 3:4) He can now continue His redemption of mankind through our prepared bodies (Heb 10:5). That is what Romans 12:1&2  means when it says present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by this new way of thinking that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Our body has become His body here on earth (Eph 1:22,23) and we have this Treasure (Christ in you) in earthen vessels (2Co 4:7, Col 1:26,27). We must remember that our bodies have become the temples (dwelling place) of the Holy Spirit, and that we have been bought with a price: not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, (1Pe 1:18), But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without spot or blemish (1Pe 1:19): We are not our own therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. And Remember, the body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body (1Pe 1:19). God has not only promised to dwell in you but also to walk in you (2Co 6:16) and He has promised to give you the words to speak (1Co 12:3) for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. (Lu 12:12). May God be with you, or more correctly be in you all, Amen.

After this manner

AFTER THIS MANNER

(Mt 6:9) Jesus instructed that prayer should be after this manner, Address the Father in heaven, with reverence to His name. Pray for the coming of His kingdom, His will to be done here on earth, ask and be thankful for His daily provision and continued forgiveness along with the ability to forgive others, seek daily deliverance from evil, recognizing that we are citizens of His Kingdom, operating under His power, and are to glorify Him by our lip and life forever. Amen

Nelvan Evans