Brother Moe,
The problem with that theory is that it infers that as
New Covenant believers we no longer have the situation
that Paul speaks of (doing what we are against and
not doing what we are for). What believer in his right
mind can say that?
1. The core of the issue is the importance of good biblical
anthropology, which includes the concepts of
"one-naturism" and "trichotomy".
2. The reason Paul, and we, love the Law is because we have
been given a new nature (spirit), REPLACING the old nature,
and that new nature loves Christ, hates sin, and is "one with"
the Spirit of God.
3. The reason we sometimes (even often, sometimes) do
the opposite of our new nature is because of "sin" which
is IN us, but IS NOT US. When we are deceived by the
world, flesh and devil, CONTRARY to the truths of
Romans 6, we "walk according to the flesh" instead of
"walk according to the spirit/Spirit, and we sin.
4. The NIV does a terrible disservice to correct biblical
anthropology by translating "flesh" as "sinful nature". The
untold misery caused by that alone is heartbreaking,
bringing millions of believers back to the old "black dog --
white dog" theory of two natures. (If you feed the one, so
the theory goes, he grows strong...if you feed the other,
he grows strong...pure UNBIBLICAL balderdash!)
5 Man does not have two natures...never did. Unregenerate
man has a nature that loves sin and hates God --- no matter
how he appears! Regenerate man has a nature that loves
God and hates sin --- no matter how he appears!
6 Lastly, Romans 6 has the keys, which forgetting (through
the deception of the world, flesh and devil) causes the
Romans 7 "problem". Some of the keys are:
a. our "old man" was crucified with Christ and made new
(cf. 2 Cor. 5:17, where he who is in Christ is a new
creation, old thing have passed away, new things have
come)
b. we have died to sin and are alive to God, and must
"reckon" (choose to believe) this is so,
c. sin shall not have dominion over us...why?...because
we are no longer under law, but under grace. (Even
NC'ers wimp out on this revolutionary truth, by saying
things like, "We aren't under Old Covenant law, but we
are under New Covenant law. Obviously "under" has to
be defined, but one thing is for sure: There is now NO
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, and
we are not "under" ANY law...Grace is absolute, not
just for INITIAL salvation, as any good Reformed guy
will emphasize, but for LIVING, as far too few will
emphasize). Of course this prompts the question,
"Then can't we live just any ol' sinful way we want,
since we're covered by grace?" Paul anticipated
the question, and answered it by saying [loosely],
"What a stupid question! How can you who have
DIED to sin, think sinning is OK?"
So the point is to STAND on those truths, draw near
to God (and He will draw near to you), concentrate on
our RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, and "walk according
to the Spirit". If we are deceived again, and fail (and
we will), we need to get back up, in the JOY of
grace and forgiveness, and repeat the process. The
law has NO claim on us, but to express the mind
and will of Him Whom we LOVE!
Then a mighty thing happens: "If we walk according
to the Spirit, we WILL NOT fulfill the lust of the flesh."
The Law, when applied as "The Rules", does two
things: (1) Inflames sin, and (2) quenches the Holy
Spirit.
True antinomianism says, "Eat, drink, and sin...who
cares?...grace covers all." This is heresy.
But we need to have courage and risk the
ACCUSATION of antinomianism (like Paul), in
saying, "Grace DOES cover all...and so we
love our Savior...and so we DO care."
Don't hold back the Gospel of Grace, because
"The sheep will go wild". We won't go wild. We love
Him. We hate sin. We just need to learn of Him.
Feed the sheep...with Him, and His Grace.
Carpe Gratiam,
Terry Rayburn
Clarksville, Tennessee
moe.bergeron@... wrote:
This is what I suspect is going on. The guy in Romans 7 is a pre-New Covenant Pentecost era brother. He's regenerate and loves the law but he is powerless to walk in it as he would desire, at least not until the event that defines Romans 8 comes along.
With Romans 8 there's a newness brought to that same man through the Spirit Indwelling Inscription accompanied by all of the dynamics resulting from such a new relationship. He experiences a shift that is brought to pass through the ushering in of the New Covenant era by the indwelling Spirit of Christ or better yet, the Triune God. It's the very relationship the prophets and Jesus had predicted (John's Gospel - The Book of Glory).
So then,,,, Chapters 7 and 8 are not about who was that man. It's all about an event that has radically changed the dynamics of holy living for that man. It's the IN CHRIST relationship we as New Covenant believers are to walk in.
There is therefore NOW no condemnation to those who are IN Christ Jesus, who do NOT walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom 8:1-2)
C'mon guys this is New Covenant stuff and it transforms!
Moe
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