Romans 7 Clash of the Titans Believer or Unbeliever

 
    The purpose of this paper is to come against the heresy that has many believers perplexed in regards to their sanctification and their struggle with sin. Proponents of this view are Carlos Bedoya, Ameen Hudson and Kevin Burgess. I would also like to note that these are my brothers in the faith and I love them dearly. They affirm that the person being described in (R7) is a slave to sin, simply, because of Romans 6. Their arguments are that of contradiction with regards to the doctrine of “Total Depravity.” On one hand they will affirm that man is dead in trespasses of sins, and on the other hand affirm that he has a desire to do what is good. They completely ignore the doctrine of original sin and the spiritual disposition of man after the fall. They would also affirm that the Christian does have a struggle with sin (Gal 5:17-18). But, what does that struggle with sin look like, and how is that struggle in (Gal 5) different from that of (R7)? These are the questions that that must be answered when taking the unbeliever approach to (R7). In this paper, I will attempt to show forth the major theological blunders of this erroneous view and answer the questions that have been circulating around in regards to this controversy. Before I do that, I would like to thank my beautiful wife Mileta, Christopher Mays, Sylvester Pittman, Kenny “Klarity” and Pastor Jesse Washington for reading my pre work and offering helpful insight.

Romans 6

    Romans 6, is the key indicator for those that hold to (R7) as being an unbeliever. They use verses like (Rom 6:2; 6:6; 6:7;6:12; 6:13) to say the (R7) is not indicative of the spiritual emancipation as depicted in (Rom 6) by the Apostle Paul. But, when these verses are viewed in the proper context we can see what they actual mean in regards to sanctification in the life of a believer. It’s important to note that (R7) is given a contrast of two realities in the life of a believer: 1) the spiritual liberation from sin in the mind and heart; and 2) the human limitations of the flesh.

Romans 6:2

By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

    We as believers have indeed died to sin and are free from its power. How can we continue on in sin, if we are free from it? This verse in not speaking of instant sanctification, for that would be inconsistent with scripture. Rather, Paul is admonishing believers to live holy lives in light of regeneration. He’s not telling them to live perfect lives, for that would be impossible. He even makes that clear in (Rom 6:19) when he says, “I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations.” (Romans 7), is the reality of every believer; we are limited by this flesh and as a result we die. (2 Corinthians 5:17) states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This verse does not mean that we have been totally redeemed. This verse is speaking to a spiritual reality, not a physical one. I don’t think any sound Christian would affirm that this would mean our physical bodies are redeemed. Our physical bodies have not been made new, for that is what we are patiently waiting for. The spiritual disposition of man has been made new. In (1John 3:9) it states, “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.” Keyword in this verse is “practicing.” This suggests that we will fall since none of us are Jesus, but as a result of the seed of God abiding in us, we will not continue to practice sin. So, if you hold to (R7) being an unbeliever based on Romans 6:2, its going to be impossible to stay consistent, because you have to view the verse as Paul admonishing us to be perfect. In (Gal 5:24) it states, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” According to this verse if you struggle with masturbation, anger, etc… You’re not saved, because those that belong to Christ have crucified those passions! There’s a reason why we have a “High Priest” making intercession for us and it’s because we sin. If we didn’t struggle with sin there wouldn’t be any need for a High Priest.

Romans 6:6

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

    When looking at this verse again, it is talking about the spiritual disposition of man. Our old self was crucified with Christ spiritually.  This is not talking about full redemption that includes our physical bodies. Because Christ died to sin, we also died to sin having been crucified with him. To die to sin doesn’t mean we’ll never sin, or struggle with sin. It simply means that we’re free from its bondage as perpetual sinners (1John 3:9). We as believers struggle with sin every single day and that is why we live a life of repentance while trusting in the finished work of Christ.

Romans 6:7

For one who has died has been set free from sin.

    If you’re taking this verse to justify that (R7) is not indicative of a believer you’re going to have serious problems. Mainly, this verse would denote perfection and the complete eradication of sin in the life of the believer. From the condition of being dead to sin would stem perfection from that deadness. What does being dead to sin mean, biblically? It’s the spiritual liberation from sin to see sin for what it is, offensive to God. It’s the power to put sin to death by the spirit (not sinlessness, it’s the power to be free from the bondage of perpetual sinning). It’s the hatred for sin and longing for deliverance from the body of death.

Romans 6:12

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.

    If (R7) is not indicative of a believer based off (Rom 6:12); why would Paul write it in scripture as if it were possible for sin to reign?  This verse is a command to live holy and not be conformed to this world (Rom 12:1-2). Why would Paul give an exhortation for something that was not possible? In the very next verse, Paul gives the exhortation not to present your members as instruments of ungodliness.

Romans 6:13

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

    If it’s not possible to present your body as instruments of unrighteousness, why is Paul admonishing them not to do so? This goes back to (Eph 4:30): “grieve not the holy spirit in which you have been sealed with until the day of redemption.” These are instructions fit for the believers in sanctification, which are given as warnings to keep them.

Paul self Perception

    The person that Paul is describing in (R7) is himself. At this point Paul is a mature believer and understands his sinfulness in light of God holiness. Paul is unable to do all he desires for God, because of his physical limitation. The remnant of sin that remained, prohibited Paul from doing that which he desired. This is the reason Paul screams “O wretched man that I am” (Rom 7:24) Paul expresses the same sentiments in (Eph 3:8; 1 Cor 15:9-10; 1 Tim 1:12-16). Now, we would look at the Apostle Paul as the superlative example of a saint, but due to true humility, Paul didn’t see himself as such. And, I would argue he had reasons not to. I don’t belief these were empty sayings of Paul, neither do I believe he was displaying false humility. These are the holy convictions of anyone that has been redeemed by the grace of God. What’s the alternative analysis of oneself? I’m a super disciple of Christ. I do all that I desire for God.  The opposite of Paul’s position is arrogance and pride. To scream out before God that you are anything but wretched is blasphemy. This is why we rely so heavily on the grace of God. We see this example with the Pharisee and the Tax collector in (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee thought he was justified before God based off his actions. This would of be the antithesis of what Paul was screaming in (Romans 7:24). The tax collector was humble and aware of his sinfulness in light of God holiness. This was the man Jesus said was justified. Paul is displaying an accurate, Godly and truthful depiction of himself. This is something an unbeliever can’t do.

Romans 7:14-25

    In verses (Romans 7:14-25) we see Paul giving a contrast between the spirit and the flesh. He’s encouraging the believers in their faith in light of what has transpired spiritually. It seems that they were confused as to what sanctification looked liked. Paul is answering their questions and inviting them into his world as a believer. What better way to be encouraged than to have the Apostle Paul expounding on his struggles with sin. Have you ever had a stronger brother in the faith share his struggles with you? Did that encourage you in your faith? This is exactly what Paul is doing. He building up their faith by expressing to them that he’s no different. The same hindrances’ they have, he has. Proponents of the (R7) heresy that Paul is describing an unbeliever, view this passage as if Paul is having an immense struggle with sin, a struggle so severe that it could not possibly be a believer. Since when did unbelievers struggle with sin?   This is not what Paul is denoting here. This is the classic struggle with sin that every believer has until he is released from the body of death. Paul elaborates on this struggle in (Galatians 5:16-17). I will elaborate on that passage later on.

Romans 7:14

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

Here we see the contrast between flesh and spirit. The Law is spiritual (obviously, God is a Spirit). But Paul describes himself as a corporeal, fleshly being. The Greek word used for flesh in this verse is “sarkinos,” which means:

1) fleshly, consisting of flesh, composed of flesh
2) pertaining to the body (as earthly and perishable material)
3) wholly given up to the flesh, rooted in the flesh as it were


    This verse reveals to us that there is no way for Paul to rid himself of the flesh except through death. The fleshy aspect of his whole being will be with him until he dies. The flesh being described is that of a sinful nature. Adam’s sin has been imputed to us and as a result we die. We all have this disease (intrinsic sin) that will eventually lead to our death, no matter how many miles we run, how much water we drink, or how much healthy food we consume, death is inevitable (Romans 6:23). This is what Paul means when he says that he has been “sold” under sin. He is now subject to the physical limitations of the body due to the fall. The body that Paul was in prohibited him from doing all that he wanted for God. The body gets tired, hungry and weak and as a result of these limitations we can only do so much in our Christian walk. These are the physical limitations as describe in (Rom 6:19). This flesh is constantly holding us back. We are waiting for our liberation from this body so that we can worship God without hindrances. Jesus expressed in (Matt 26: 40-42) that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We see the human limitations of the flesh that had the disciples sleeping at a time when they should have been praying. That’s just one example. Jesus recognized the battle between flesh and spirit and Paul is harping on that very point.

Romans 7:15

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

    This is the verse that opponents to the believer position of (R7) get hemmed up on. They say that Paul doing the very things he hates is indicative of his pre conversion experience. But this simply cannot be the case sense Paul changes tense in verses (14-25). They use verses from (Rom 6:2; 6:6; 6:7; 6:12; 6:13) which have already been explained as their defense. In (Rom 7:15) we find the same type of language presented in (Matt 26:40-42; Gal 5:16-17). The “I do not do what I want” is not the inability to live the Christian life, rather it the inability to do all that we want in the Christian life.

Galatians 5:17

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
    This verse is iterating the same thing as in (Rom 7:15). If he is not saying the same thing then the question becomes, is Paul referring to a pre-conversion experience in (Gal 5:17)? This would be a ridiculous assertion since Paul is admonishing the believers in the present tense to live by the spirit as opposed to the flesh. The Greek word used for flesh in this verse is (“sarx” strong’s G4561 ). The meaning is as follows:

1) flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts
2) the body
a) the body of a man
b) used of natural or physical origin, generation or relationship
1) born of natural generation
c) the sensuous nature of man, "the animal nature"
1) without any suggestion of depravity
2) the animal nature with cravings which incite to sin
3) the physical nature of man as subject to suffering
3) a living creature (because possessed of a body of flesh) whether man or beast
4) the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God

Considering the rendering of the Greek word “sarx” we can clearly see the battle described in (Gal 5:17) is no different from that described in (Rom 7:15). The latter part of the verse states “to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Again, this is not keeping you from living the Christian life, we as believers have the spirit conforming us into the image of Christ. Furthermore, (Gal 5:17) is a cross reference to (Rom 7:15, 18, 19).Therefore, the verse is talking about the natural limitation of man to do all that he desires for God. If it were up to me, I would choose to never sin.
 
Romans 7:16-17
 
Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

    This verse I’m sure brings about a lot of ambiguity. Paul here is making the distinction between his new nature (spiritual disposition) and his fleshly nature. With Paul being born again he has a desire to do what is right though at times his actions may say otherwise, these actions are not synonymous with whom he is spiritually. A good example of this would be (Matt 7:18), which states, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” The good tree represents the believer which cannot bear bad fruit. What does Jesus mean when he says that the good tree cannot bear bad fruit? Does he mean that Christians as represented by the tree cannot sin? This is not what Jesus was trying to communicate. The good tree is the Christian who as been born again. From the core of his nature he only produces that which is good. The reason being is he has a new heart from which new Godly desires stem. Though at times we find things hanging on the good tree that don’t belong, like lust, pride, and covetousness, these things are no longer a by product of our hearts, but flesh. Remember (1 Samuel 16:7) man looks at the outer appearance but God looks at the heart.
   
    Paul stated that he agreed with the law and that it was good. As a result of agreeing with the law, Paul shifted the blame of his fleshly limitations to the members of his body, i.e., the flesh. He says that it is no longer “him” who does it, but the sin in “him” that does it. Now the question becomes: who is the “I” that Paul is referring to? It would have to be his inner man.  The only way Paul could make this claim is if he saw himself as being a new creature inwardly (2 Cor 5:17).  Paul being spiritually renewed is now trapped in the body of death until his physical liberation. Another important note; If Paul is speaking in this case from the past tense, is it safe to say that Christians don’t have a remnant of sin remaining within their members. For in verse 17, Paul says that it’s the sin that dwell within him that does the things he hates; If this is a pre-conversion experience one would have to conclude that after regeneration indwelling sin is done away with. Everything about his pre-conversion experience could not be carried over into his Christian experience, because the two realities would be the antithesis of each other.
 
Romans 7:18
 
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

    Again, if one is going to take the pre-conversion experience view to (R7) he would have to agree that after the pre-conversion experience there would be something good in Paul. Why, because the opposite of bad is good. The post conversion would have allowed Paul to say the exact opposite of (Rom 7:18). So, the first part of the verse would have been written like this, (For I know that something good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.) I’m not comfortable making such a claim since my body has yet to be redeemed. I’m not comfortable making this claim because I know I’ll sin until the day I die. The inconsistencies of this view are insurmountable. The only way to stop sinning is to die. Therefore as a Christian, nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. The evidence that nothing good dwells in me is my inevitable physical death since that would be something bad and only comes about as a result of sin. (1 John 1:8) states, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” There isn’t one day that I or any of you can claim to be without sin, and if we do its evidence that we have deceived ourselves. The question must be asked, why Paul paused to stress the emphasis on his flesh. He was distinguishing between his inwardly renewed self and that of his sinful nature.
 
    Now my proponents would argue that Paul was delighting in the law as a Pharisee but frustrated because of his inability keep it. This can’t be true because we see in (Acts 9:3-9) Paul on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, because he thought he was doing the work of God. If Paul was truly having a struggle with his inability to keep the law as a Pharisee why was he so adamant about persecuting Christians and approving the stoning of Steven (Acts: 7:58). This could not have been a pre-conversion experience, because Paul is acting in accordance with his sinful disposition. An important verse to mention would be (Jeremiah 17:9) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” It would be quite irrational to propose Paul really wanted to stop killing Christians, but he had not the ability to carry it out. Paul wanted to kill those Christians, which is why he says in (Philippians 3:2:7):

 2Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

This proves that he wasn’t struggling with keeping the law. He goes on to say he was blameless under it. Paul thought he was keeping the law because he thought salvation came through it as did all Pharisees. If Paul really delighted in keeping the law as my proponents would advocate, Jesus seems to contradict their claims by saying the following:
 
Mathew 23:25-28
 
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
 
Key verse is 28 when Jesus said that they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. This proves that that (R7) is not speaking of a pre- conversion experience, in which Paul delighted in the law.

Matthew 23:31-33 Jesus calls them vipers: Vipers don’t delight in God’s law!

Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
 
John 8:44-45 Jesus said their father was the devil and their desire was to do the will of their father “Satan”
 
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
 
    The latter part of the verse is dealing with Paul’s inward desire to do what is right, but not having the ability to carry it out. This is dealing with the everyday hindrances of sin and the physical limitations of the flesh. We as believers have the ability to live the Christian life and not continue in perpetual sin (1 John 3:9). However, we lack the ability to never sin. This goes back to being saved by grace, not works. The beauty of the Christian life is that I’m not saved by my own actions, but by the grace and mercy of God. If I sin, which I will, I have an advocate with the father who is faithful and just to forgive me.
 
Romans 7:19-20
 
I will not deal with these verses, because they’ve already been expounded on. (Romans 7:19) is a reiteration of (Romans 7:15) and (Romans 7:20) is a reiteration of (Romans 7:17).
 
Romans 7:21

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
 
    When looking at this verse it’s important that we go back to where the classic battle between good and evil begins. The Garden of Eden being the stage in which this battle is initiated. The notion of good and evil is seen hanging on a tree. Adam disobeyed and so the ancient battle began. God said in (Genesis 3:15) that he would put enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent and so this clash with evil remains until the consummation. (Romans 7:21) is consistent with Old Testament scripture. We are constantly confronted with evil everyday. The option to sin is around every corner and until sin is completely eradicated, it will continue to be this way. This is what Paul was conveying in this verse.
 
Romans 7:22
 
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,
 
    This is when the doctrine of “Total Depravity” is compromised. The usage of inner man in this verse is referring to the soul and/or conscience. Soul is synonymous with spirit; they mean and are referring to the same thing. Paul states that in his inner man he delights in God’s law. Now taking the unbeliever approach to (R7) one would have to reconcile (Rom 7:22) with (Rom 8:7) which states the following: For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. This begs the question, how does Paul delight in God’s law as a Pharisee and be hostile to it at the same time? (Jeremiah 17:9) states: the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Also in (John 3:19) it states “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than light because their works were evil” The pre-conversion experience completely contradicts this notion. Now, some have stretched scriptures to say that the inner man Paul is referring to is the rational mind that has an innate knowledge of good and evil. Even if that was the case, how could it explain (Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:19) and how a man delights in God’s law with the condition of his heart as such. That would presuppose every human born has an innate desire to please God which contradicts scripture. It’s not a surprise that Jacobus Arminius was an advocate of his view. The bible is clear on what it teaches about “Total Depravity”.

Romans (3:11, 18) sheds more light on the spiritual disposition of man heart.

11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.

18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Paul seems to exemplify a holy fear of God as opposed to his hatred for the God-Man (Jesus) before his conversion took place on his way to Damascus.
 
Romans 7:23
 
but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

    This verse is again displaying the contrast between flesh and spirit. The Greek word used for members is “Melos” which is a limb as connected to the human body. The law in his members is waging war against the law of his mind and making him captive to the law of sin. This is the remnant of sin that remained in him as a believer. Remember (Romans 6:23) for the wages of sin is death. Death is twofold. There is spiritual death and physical death. When Adam sinned in the garden he died spiritual first and physically second. When born again we are awakened to newness of life. Once we become spiritually alive we are alive forever in Christ, but the death of our bodies is a result of sin. The curse for Adam’s disobedience was death both spiritually and physically. Although we get spiritual resurrection instantaneously at regeneration we must wait patiently for our physical resurrection at glorification.  Once we become alive in Christ we are now aware of the battle that’s going on inside of us (Gal 5:16-17). There is no difference between the battle in (R7) and that of (G5). If you are going to take the unbeliever approach to (R7) you have to take that same approach to (Gal 5:16-17). My proponents would like to have their cake and eat it too, but I’m not going to let them.
   
    It’s important to note that Paul makes it clear that he’s captive to sin in his members, not his mind. His mind has obviously been liberated, because in (Romans 8:7) it states that the natural mind is hostile to God. The war cannot exist unless the flesh and the spirit oppose one another. Prior to his mind being freed there wasn’t a war going on, because the mind and flesh were in sync. No where in scriptures does it speak of an internal war within the life of an unbeliever.  Members in this verse refer to the body of death. It’s the body of death, because the body dies.
 
Romans 7:24

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

    It’s obvious from the preceding verse(s) that the wretched man that Paul is talking about is that of his human body with its physical limitation and the remnant of sin remaining in it. He is not referring to his inner being as addressed in (Romans 7:22) where he delights in God law. Keep in mind as I have previously stated Inner Man is referring to the soul/conscience which is synonymous with spirit. Paul is longing for his future deliverance just as we are. Important note: After verse 13 the tense of the chapter changes from verses 14-25 and stay in that same tense throughout the chapter. If this is the pre-conversion experience going on in (R7) how is that Paul asked who would deliver him and then answer his own question by saying Jesus Christ.  Prior to Paul’s conversion, he persecuted all those who believed in Jesus. Why would he call of the name of Christ for whom he did not believe? With the passage being in the present tense from verse (14-25) if you took the unbelievers approach to (R7) you would have to say Paul called on the name of Jesus from whom he was persecuting. This would most definitely be a contradiction.
 
Romans 7:25
 
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
 
    Because the tense changes in (Rom 7:14) it would be odd for Paul to segue from a pre-conversion experience to a doxology in the first part of the verse in which he thanks Jesus Christ and calls him Lord.  The tense change in the chapter starting at verses (14-25) wouldn’t allow for such a shift. The reason I say this is because the “old wretched man” is depicted as an unbeliever with those who take the unbeliever position of (R7). It would completely destroy the flow of the passage since Paul never changes tenses after verse (14). It would be hard to see verses (14-24) as being pre-conversion and verse (25) as post conversion without Paul changing tenses.
 
    The latter part of verse (25) shows again the contrast and conflict that is going on in the life of a believer. Paul says that with his mind he serves the law of God. If this is an unbeliever we would have to say that all unbelievers serve the law of God with their minds but the scripture completely bashes that notion. Paul states that in his members (flesh) he serves the law of sin, for he is trapped in the body until his future deliverance as are we.

The contrast between the flesh and the spirit are explicit in (R7). I pray that this has been an encouragement to you in your faith. I also pray that you may glean hope from the Apostle Paul in light of your struggle with sin as you patiently wait for your deliverance.

Grace and Peace
Derrye “Bo” Randall