I read that thread and it didnt address my problem with vs 14-25. Pilgrim mentioned what he believed briefly but i would love to hear more!
after some study here are the conclusions i have come to...
vs 7-13 are obviously about the unregenerate
but where my confusion came in is in vs 14"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin." my question is who the "I" that is carnal or fleshy is. It is obviously not paul regenerate because then his fleshy body would be crucified with Christ Rom 6:6. I want to say then that this is paul before conversion but it seems it is actually pauls sinful nature that is referred to in vs 18?
vs 16 "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." Why is it that paul chose to do carnal things that lead to death rather then things of the spirit which lead to life? it would not make sense for this to be an unregenerate person because then he wouldnt have this struggle.
vs 17 "17So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me." I guess the "I" here is pauls new regenerate self and the sin dwelling in him is the sinful nature that we should not gratify gal 5:16
vs 18 "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out." here is a battle between the 2 natures yet i dont understand why he doesnt have the ability to do good if he is no longer a slave to sin
vs 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing it is the renewed man talking here but i ask again why does he seem defeated
vs 22 "For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being" why would an unregenerate delight in the law of God
vs 23 "but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members." this seems to be a strong argument that this is paul regenerate because there are different "members" at war and he says his new man is made captive to his sinful nature this analogy can only be used with a regenerate person
vs 24 "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" body, law of sin. he is preparing for his thankfulness in vs 25 where he sums everything up
conclusion: this is paul showing his struggles as a christian
correct me where i am wrong maybe this will somehow help someone else who may of been confused God bless
