(1)
Context:
Paul is writing to Jewish converts in Rome. A major problem at that time early in the history of the church was Jewish converts to Christianity would often times slide back into Judaism and the Law of Moses. Paul's point in Romans 7 to them is that the OT law of Moses cannot justify you, it will only condemn you. Paul is demonstrating in the latter part of Romans 7 the struggle and impossibility the non-Christian Jew faced under the OT law in attempting to keep that law perfectly so he could stand before God totally justified. Paul uses the present tense to make his point, a narrative present tense:
Historical present - Wikiped
Paul is not saying that he, as a Christian, is impenitently, continuing to live in sin. Paul speaks of NOW being in Christ as opposed to back THEN living under the OT law of Moses.
Contradictions in attempt to make Paul a "carnal Christian":
--In Romans 6:1-6 shows that the Christian is one who is dead to sin. Paul could not be both dead to sin and alive to sin at the same time. One cannot be a Christian and not a Christian at the same time. If one is not dead to sin, then one is not a Christian.
--Romans 7:5-6 "
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 ." Paul speaks of being in the flesh in the past tense. Again, one cannot be both in the flesh(carnal) and not in the flesh at the same time. Romans 8:9 there cannot be mixing of both flesh and Spirit at the same time.
--Romans 7:24 "
O wretched man that I am! who shall (future tense) deliver me from the body of this death?" Yet in Romans 7:4-6 Christ already (past tense) rescued them from death. verse 6 "..
But now we are delivered from the law.." One cannot be both delivered and not delivered at the same time. If Paul is NOW in Christ, then has already been delivered and needs no deliverance now or in the future.
(2)
There is no such person found in the NT gospel who is Christian but presently lives carnally in sin yet maintains his salvation without repenting of his sin.
(a) In Romans 6, Paul's says "God forbid" to the idea that the Christian is saved by 'grace alone'. For being saved by grace does not give the Christian a license to live in sin/live carnally and still be saved while remaining impenitent. The Bible shows that God's grace is conditional, and those who conditionally obey the will of God are the only ones who receive God's grace. All disobedient people will be eternally punished.
(b) The Bible gives us only two eternal destinies, we will either be eternally saved or eternally lost and Paul lists these two destinies in Romans 6:16. Paul points out that each one of us is serving one of two masters, we each are serving either:
1) sin unto death (eternal condemnation separation from God)
or
2) obedience unto righteousness (eternal life with God in Heaven)
If a Christian is presently living carnally/living in sin:
-- then he is
serving sin unto death (spiritual death).
--He certainly is not serving obedience unto righteousness.
--And it is not possible to serve both masters at the same time.
--And there is no 3rd option of "serving sin unto salvation/righteousness"
Therefore 'grace only" will not, cannot save those who continue to serve sin unto death, who continue impenitently in disobeying the will of God.
Luther's faith only denies Paul's "
obedience unto righteousness". So which master does that leave faith only proponents to serve?
(3)
1 Tim 1:12 "
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;"
1 Tim 1:13 "
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."
1 Tim 1:14 "
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."
1 Tim 1:15 "
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save (to rescue, set free) sinners (from their sins); of whom I am chief."
1 Tim 1:16 "
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."
A few thoughts on this passage:
a) in verse 13 Paul speaks of his sins as something he did before, not committing those sins presently.
b) if Paul is presently a sinner living carnally in sin, then Paul is serving "
sin unto death" Romans 6:16. He would
NOT be serving obedience unto righteousness and again there is NO 3rd option of "serving sin unto salvation". (see also 1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18)
c) in verse 15 Paul speaks of sinners who have been rescued by Christ from their sins.
d) the Greek word translated "chief in the KJV is protos. Paul is saying he is a first, a prototype of a sinner whom Christ came into the world to rescue, set free, to save. Verse 16 Paul is also a an example/pattern for those hereafter that believe whom Christ was longsuffering towards. Paul once was a blasphemer, persecutor and injurious but is presently now a prototype, a example, a pattern of a sinner whom Jesus was longsuffering towards. Paul owns up to his sins. If one today thinks they are such a vile sinner where they could not be saved, then they can look to Paul as a prototype, an example of a sinner whom Christ was patient with and saved when Paul obediently obeyed, (Acts 22:16).
e) are we to imitate Paul 1 Corinthians 11:1 if he was carnally living in sin? No. Was Paul imitating Christ if he was impenitently living carnally in sin? No.