If a man CANNOT sin after he is forgiven would you please explain Romans 7:15-20 from noneother than the apostle Paul himself.....
" For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me."
You can conclude from Roman's 7 what Paul was speaking of, using himself a human example, like he does in much of his teaching.
It is Paul, revealing a human's struggle -
Between being spiritually made forgiven, dead in Christ, saved, born again, without sin;
Yet still having a MIND that "thinks".
Yet still having FLESH that "desires it's natural wants".
Forgiven sin, does not disappear. Man's flesh is sinful, and is sentenced to death.
Spiritually, man's flesh is forgiven.
Spiritually, man's body is crucified.
Spiritually, man's soul is restored, to everlasting life.
Spiritually, man's spirit is quickened, to everlasting life.
And that forgiven flesh body of sin, with it's carnal mind? Remains alive in it physical flesh, while spiritually dead, and justified to become changed to a glorious body.
Paul is well aware the carnal mind is where the thoughts of a natural man, are formed.
Paul is well aware the heart is where the thoughts of a spiritual man, are formed.
A natural man, who is also spiritual, contends between the MIND and the HEARTS thoughts, as Scripture teaches.
The Mind, concludes and acts on a mans desires;
The Heart, concludes and acts on Gods desires;
And The Law? The Law also comes into the mix; regarding, what is acceptable and not acceptable to God.
Paul was at a threshold of what the Law WAS; as Paul was expertly aware and steeped.
and what the LAW IS; as Paul came to know, according to Jesus.
Paul was a Pharisee; a Jew; and a Roman; a natural man; a spiritual man.
Jesus IS, the WAY.
If you read Romans 7 carefully,
Paul was struggling with his natural flesh desire and lust for a sexual encounter.
Rom 7
[
8] But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of
concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Paul goes into more detail speaking of widowed women, in verses 1-8.
Paul expounds between the old law, not knowing it, knowing it, and what Jesus presented.
Paul goes into more detail speaking of the appearance of sin.
Rom 7 [
13] Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin,
that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Rom 7 [
20] Now if I do that I would not,
it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
The sin that dwelleth in Paul, is his Flesh Mind. And IF you recall, Paul's flesh body was forgiven it's sin. But yet our body's and flesh and mind still live. And yet our body's flesh is accounted dead, thus it is not what "PAUL does", spiritually, but rather, his natural flesh body does.
If you review, Paul's consciousness, still considered, covetousness, of wanting another man's wife, which was not the case.
If you review, other scriptures, of a spiritual man lying with a NON spiritual woman, was also to be of consideration.
Jesus revealed Gods principle of law regarding God ~
Matt 12 [
30] He that is not
with me is
against me;
When has the natural carnal mind of mankind been WITH God?
Rom 8 [
7] ...
the carnal mind is enmity against God:
What then; Does God forgive? All of mans sins.
What then; Sin Disappears? No. Sin does not disappear, it is forgiven.
What then; Is Paul's struggle? Continuing in the natural flesh, while being spiritual.
Why is that a struggle?
Because man is QUICK to declare his mindful thoughts, and mindful actions ...
as that it might APPEAR sin.
WHY? Because of the old law.
By WHOM? The individual, and other men who may be aware of the actions...
But - what did Jesus declare?
Believe in God, Believe in Him, Trust God, Believe in His Works, Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and love your neighbour as thyself.
Did Paul do these things? Yes, Paul did these things.
Are these things, the principle, by which God determines a mans standing ~
With Him or Against Him? Yes.
Is a man in standing WITH God, capable of committing a sin?
Not according to God, who teaches, a man in standing WITH God, is a man He has forgiven and reconciled to Him, and accounts the man, born of God, and a son of God.
Can a man born of God sin? Not according to God.
1 John 3
[
9] Whosoever is
born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is
born of God.
But, but, but, what about that natural sinful flesh of a man and his carnal mind?
What about it? Well, doesn't individuals and other men observing decide and
account to them they are committing sin? Yes
However since Sin is Against God, and only God can forgive men, and God Himself does His own forgiving of all sin, and His own restoring, His own reconciliations, His own accounting, has His own books, AND allows man to continue living in His flesh.......
Why is
what men account, an issue to be considered? It isn't!
Rom 7 [
22] For I delight in the law of God after
the inward man:
Rom 7 [
25]
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Paul was human, and satisfied his natural flesh that is sin, while also being spiritually forgiven and kept unto God.
God Bless,
SBC