Romans 7:9

[da525382]

I have noted that many non-Calvinists use this verse to establish the fact that we are not born dead, that there is no imputed sin from Adam. This verse says:

"I was once alive apart from the Law, but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died"

Their argument is that Paul was "alive" early in his life, therefore he was not born dead in sin prior to his "coming of age" and learning about the law....just as everyone is today before their age of accountability. So the argument then goes that Paul only became dead in sin after he learned the difference between good and evil as all of us do today, that is, we are all born like Adam and Eve, not with a sin nature, then we die because sin takes root in us when we learn right vs wrong.

Any thoughts?

Don

 

[heymikey80]

I have noted that many non-Calvinists use this verse to establish the fact that we are not born dead, that there is no imputed sin from Adam. This verse says:

"I was once alive apart from the Law, but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died"

Their argument is that Paul was "alive" early in his life, therefore he was not born dead in sin prior to his "coming of age" and learning about the law....just as everyone is today before their age of accountability. So the argument then goes that Paul only became dead in sin after he learned the difference between good and evil as all of us do today, that is, we are all born like Adam and Eve, not with a sin nature, then we die because sin takes root in us when we learn right vs wrong.

It would seem to me that Paul doesn't start there. He's already talking in a figurative sense about being dead and alive (Rom 7:1).

So what's Paul saying in this context?

First, his awareness of his status before God. Becoming aware of the Law doesn't itself kill us. It simply makes us aware we're dead.

Second, the mention of sins in the Law awakens our sinful nature, attracting us to the sins it declares evil. That itself can kill us because it awakens evil desires in us that weren't there before. Before that, we were naive, or simple. But being naive doesn't mean your sinful nature didn't exist. It simply lets you think you're sinless, when you're not.

Btw, an age of accountability isn't rejected across the board by Calvinists. It's just too artificial a view for most of us to accept credulously.

 

[da525382]

Thanks, Heymikey!