Distinction Betweenm Subjectivity and Objectivity

A subjective concept apart from objective proof is false. For example, the statement, “For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin” (Rom. 7:14), has caused as many debates as any other verse of Scripture. Nothing in this verse is contrary to a Christian, but there is much which cannot apply to an unregenerate person. Here we see the struggle between the indwelling Spirit and indwelling sin. Paul is not the only person who has experienced what he is talking about.

Paul, like Job and Isaiah, was subjected to a power alien to the new man. “Then Job answered the LORD and said, I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now My eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:1-6). Isaiah said, “Then I said, Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips, For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven” (Is. 6:5-7).

As stated earlier, nothing in Romans 7 is contrary to a Christian, but there is much which cannot apply to an unregenerate person. Here we see the struggle between the indwelling Spirit and indwelling sin. In Romans 7:14, “sold” is a perfect passive participle of piprasko, meaning to sell as a slave to sin. This goes back to Adam, because all have been sold under sin by the fall. As long as we have any part of Adam’s nature, we will be classified as “sold under sin.” The old nature has not changed, but all the elect that have been regenerated have a new nature.

Paul was subjected to a power alien in the new man. Indwelling sin is in every person who has been regenerated. Paul said, “But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me” (Rom. 7:20). There is nothing about Paul delivering himself. The old nature has not changed, but all the elect who have been born of the Spirit have a new nature.

The Holy Spirit is designated three ways: (1) He is contrasted with the flesh. Paul said, “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please” (Gal. 5:17). (2) The Spirit in Christians does not stand connected with the flesh in any of its improvement, but with the conditions brought about by grace. He never leads us to regard ourselves in the flesh, but always maintains us in a spirit of self-judgment. Thus, He delivers us from the power of sin. (3) The completion of deliverance will take place in the resurrection of the body.

There is nothing Romans 7:14-25 that is contrary to a sheep that has been regenerated. There is much that cannot apply to an unregenerate person. Paul’s struggle with indwelling sin would continue because progressive sanctification is not an act but a process.

Christians must not regard the old nature or the new nature as the man himself, anymore than regarding the Divine nature or the human nature as Christ Jesus. Nature and person are different terms. The same person who was dead in sin has become, by the grace of regeneration, dead to sin. The old man who was dead in sin was crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6); the result of that death is a new man in Christ.

In order to understand the term “nature,” one must distinguish between the Divine, human, and Theanthropic persons—one, two, and three (Divine essence, human body, and a human soul). Arminians say, “In every man there are two men. One is evil, but the other is susceptible to the appeal of loving suffering.” This is why most religionists say that Romans 7:14-25 refers to a lost man.

The subject of Romans 7 is a continuation of progressive sanctification which began in Chapter 6. Sanctification begins with opposition (Rom. 6-8), grows with confidence (Gal. 2:20), and concludes with a crown (II Tim. 4:1-8). Furthermore, in principle, we are dead to sin—“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). In practice, sin does not reign over the redeemed—“For sin shall not be master over you…” (Rom 6:14). In the power of grace, sin is conquered—“For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14).

The “therefore” in Romans 6:12 proves that doctrine must be understood before practice. To know, to calculate, and to yield are three essential ingredients of progressive sanctification. To some, doctrine is nothing more than an intellectual hobby. They do not know that apart from the desire to be doing, they are not really learning. Christ said, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:17).

Expositionally, the law is a mirror which leads the elect one to seek his all in Christ, if he has been regenerated. When the Spirit applies the law to the soul of a person made alive to spiritual things, the following things happen: (1) Secret things are brought to light. (2) What he thought were “little sins” are magnified to their true size. (3) He sees how black he really is (S. of Sol. 1:5). (4) It revealed to him the depravity of his old nature. Thus, he can no longer say, “The devil made me do it, or it was bad influence that caused me to do it, or it was bad timing.” (5) He has now discovered that Arminianism is false. He could not repent and believe any time he chose. (6) He realizes that sin must be made to abound before grace superabounds. (7) He experiences the irresistible grace of God and says—Adam’s sin did not stop the overflow of grace. The broken law did not stop the grace that abounded above measure and gives fearlessness in the time of death. God’s holy law has a different effect on the unregenerate and reprobate persons.

Paul said, “I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died” (Rom. 7:9). Saul of Tarsus was never without the Law—the letter of the Law which exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees. The spirituality of the Law was made void by the human traditions (Mark 7). It is one thing to have the Law in the hand, and another thing to have it in the heart. The regenerated person has been awakened by the principle of life to the spirituality of the Law. The nature of the Law is not changed, but the nature of the Christian is changed—God-like. Peter said, “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature [God-like nature], having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust” (II Pet.1:3-4).

“I was once alive” is a relative statement. Saul’s living apart from the Law means he was ignorant of the Law’s nature and purpose. In his letter to Timothy, Paul said, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life” (I Tim. 1:12-16). Believing on Christ is the manifestation of eternal life.

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The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE—UPDATED EDITION is the source of all Scripture quotations in this message, unless otherwise noted.