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A MAGNIFYING GLASS ON ROMANS 7
HAVING A CLOSER LOOK.
Romans seven is often taken as indisputable evidence that Christian’s have a sin nature, cohabiting with their born-again self. After all, Paul uses the words “sin that dwells in me” twice in the chapter. He also says, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me”, and “evil is present with me”. End of story, right? Well...actually no. The truth is, the two natures idea does not hold water after a close inspection of chapter seven, and a comparison with Paul’s other writing in the New Testament.
Previous to Romans seven Paul has covered in detail the just judgment of God upon sinners, the inadequacy of the law, justification by faith, the crucifixion of the old sinful self with Christ, and our rising with Him to a new Spiritual life. One aspect of our Christian life remains, and that is our experience with the body, which has the memory of our previous life, and is dead or corrupt because of sin. The Apostle begins with that subject in Romans six, focuses on it in Romans seven, and adds more detail in Romans eight.
A careful reading of the chapter, makes it clear Paul is speaking about his body each time says ‘me’. Verse eighteen puts it beyond question when he says, ‘For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells…We could be excused for having some doubt as to his meaning if he had not added that small…
