Sinfree for 24 hrs... Possible ?
No.
14 For we have known that the law is spiritual, and I am fleshly, sold by the sin; 15for that which I work, I do not acknowledge; for not what I will, this I practise, but what I hate, this I do. 16And if what I do not will, this I do, I consent to the law that it is good, 17and now it is no longer I that work it, but the sin dwelling in me, 18for I have known that there doth not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh, good: for to will is present with me, and to work that which is right I do not find, 19for the good that I will, I do not; but the evil that I do not will, this I practise. 20And if what I do not will, this I do, it is no longer I that work it, but the sin that is dwelling in me. 21I find, then, the law, that when I desire to do what is right, with me the evil is present, 22for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man, 23and I behold another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of the sin that is in my members. 24A wretched man I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? 25I thank Godthrough Jesus Christ our Lord; so then, I myself indeed with the mind do serve the law of God, and with the flesh, the law of sin.
#_ftn1#_ftnref1Young, R. (1997).
Young's literal translation (Ro 7:14). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems.
7:1425 Some interpret this chronicle of Pauls inner conflict as describing his life before Christ. They point out that Paul describes the person as sold under sin (v. 14); as having nothing good in him (v. 18); and as a wretched man trapped in a body of death (v. 24). Those descriptions seem to contradict the way Paul describes the believer in chap. 6 (cf. vv. 2, 6, 7, 11, 17, 18, 22). However, it is correct to understand Paul here to be speaking about a believer. This person desires to obey Gods law and hates his sin (vv. 15, 19, 21); he is humble, recognizing that nothing good dwells in his humanness (v. 18); he sees sin in himself, but not as all that is there (vv. 17, 2022); and he serves Jesus Christ with his mind (v. 25). Paul has already established that none of those attitudes ever describe the unsaved (cf. 1:1821, 32; 3:1020). Pauls use of present tense verbs in vv. 1425 strongly supports the idea that he is describing his life currently as a Christian. For those reasons, it seems certain that chap. 7 describes a believer. However, of those who agree that this is a believer, there is still disagreement. Some see a carnal, fleshly Christian; others a legalistic Christian, frustrated by his feeble attempts in his own power to please God by keeping the Mosaic law. But the personal pronoun I refers to the apostle Paul, a standard of spiritual health and maturity. So, in vv. 1425 Paul must be describing all Christianseven the most spiritual and maturewho, when they honestly evaluate themselves against the righteous standard of Gods law, realize how far short they fall. He does so in a series of 4 laments (vv. 1417, 1820, 2123, 24, 25).
7:14 the law is spiritual. I.e., it reflects Gods holy character. carnal. Lit. of flesh. This means earthbound, mortal, and still incarcerated in unredeemed humanness. Paul does not say he is still in the flesh (see note on 7:5), but the flesh is in him. sold under sin. Sin no longer controls the whole man (as with an unbeliever; cf. 6:6), but it does hold captive the believers members, or his fleshly body (v. 23; cf. v. 18). Sin contaminates him and frustrates his inner desire to obey the will of God.
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7:15 understand. This refers to knowledge that goes beyond the factual and includes the idea of an intimate relationship (cf. Gal. 4:9). By extension, this word was sometimes used to express approving or accepting (cf. 1 Cor. 8:3). That is its sense here, i.e., Paul found himself doing things he did not approve of.
7:16 I agree with the law that it is good. Pauls new nature defends the divine standardthe perfectly righteous law is not responsible for his sin (v. 12). His new self longs to honor the law and keep it perfectly (v. 22).
7:17 no longer I who do it. The Gr. adverb for no longer signifies a complete and permanent change. Pauls new inner self (see note on 6:6), the new I, no longer approved of the sin that was still residing in his flesh, like his old self did (cf. v. 22; Gal. 2:20), but rather, strongly disapproved. Many have misconstrued Pauls comments as abdicating personal responsibility for his sin by embracing a form of Greek dualism (which would later spawn Gnosticism; see Introduction to 1 John). Dualism taught that the body is evil and the spirit is good, so its adherents sinned with impunity by claiming they were not responsible; their sin was entirely the product of their physical bodies, while their spirits remained untouched and unsullied. But the apostle has already acknowledged personal guilt for his sin (v. 14; cf. 1 John 1:10). sin that dwells in me. His sin does not flow out of his new redeemed innermost self (I), but from his unredeemed humanness, his flesh in me (Gal. 5:17).
7:18 in me
nothing good dwells. The flesh serves as a base camp from which sin operates in the Christians life. It is not sinful inherently (see note 6:6), but because of its fallenness, it is still subject to sin and is thoroughly contaminated. my flesh. The part of the believers present being that remains unredeemed (see notes on 6:6, 12; 7:5).
7:20 no longer I who do it, but sin. See note on v. 17.
7:21 law. Not a reference to Gods law, but to an inviolable spiritual principle.
7:22 I delight in the law of God. The believers justified, new inner self no longer sides with sin, but joyfully agrees with the law of God against sin (Pss. 1:2; 119:14, 47, 77, 105, 140; cf. 2 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 3:16).
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7:23 another law. A corresponding spiritual principle to the one in v. 21. But this principle, which Paul identifies as the law of sin, operates in the members of his bodythat is, his unredeemed and still sinful humanness (see note on 6:6)waging war against his desire to obey Gods law. law of my mind. Equivalent to the new inner self (2 Cor. 5:17; see notes on 6:6), which longs to obey the law of God (see notes on vv. 21, 22). Paul is not saying his mind is spiritual and his body is inherently evil (see note on v. 17).
7:24 wretched man. In frustration and grief, Paul laments his sin (cf. Pss. 38:14; 130:15). A believer perceives his own sinfulness in direct proportion to how clearly he sees the holiness of God and perfection of His law. deliver. This word means to rescue from danger and was used of a soldier pulling his wounded comrade from the battlefield. Paul longed to be rescued from his sinful flesh (cf. 8:23). body of death. The believers unredeemed humanness, which has its base of operation in the body (see notes on 6:6, 12; 7:5). Tradition says that an ancient tribe near Tarsus tied the corpse of a murder victim to its murderer, allowing its spreading decay to slowly infect and execute the murdererperhaps that is the image Paul has in mind.
7:25 The first half of this verse answers the question Paul just raised (v. 24)he is certain that Christ will eventually rescue him when He returns (cf. 8:18, 23; 1 Cor. 15:52, 53, 56, 57; 2 Cor. 5:4). The second half summarizes the two sides of the struggle Paul has described (vv. 1424). with the mind. See note on v. 23. I myself. Pauls new redeemed self (see note on 6:6). the flesh. See notes on 6:6, 12; 7:5. law of sin. See note on v. 23.
#_ftn1#_ftnref1MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Ro 7:23). Nashville: Word Pub.
