Bible Study Romans 7-8

[I_love_Springtime]

I struggle with lust. It's a tough one for me. But there's something I don't get about Romans 7 and 8. When I read Romans 7:14-25, I can definitely identify with Paul - not being able to do the things I want to do, and practicing the very evil I don't want to do, and not understanding myself when this happens. So you get the idea that it's ok to struggle in sin - as long as you get back up (repent). I believe there has to be a true desire somewhere in us to not displease God, to delight in His law.

But then Romans 8 comes out and verses 12 & 13 make it sound like there is no reason to struggle in sin, walking in the Spirit.

So why is Paul saying one thing and a different thing in the next chapter? The only thing I can think is that Romans 7 is possibly an early experience with besetting sins, and Romans 8 is something you eventually learn to do better and better as time goes by.

Does anyone have any views on this?

 

[KevinK]

Very simple: there's a difference between "OK" and "Best". It may be OK to get by with the struggle-and-repent cycle, if that's the best you can manage. It is best, however, to live as Paul suggested, living in Christ and not dealing with the struggle in the first place.

I think inevitably, with humans, that it will be as you say: you will struggle at first, probably for a while, and then with time live more and more in the Spirit.

Wouldn't it be best of all to completely forego the struggle and just live in Christ from the beginning? Absolutely, but show me a human being, other than Jesus, who manages to do that. I think not many, if any.

 

[for_his_glory]

Romans 8: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

I know you are familar with these scriptures and this is what Paul was speaking about in Romans 7-8. We will always struggle with our sin nature as we are still housed in this flesh where the sin nature of man resides. The true desire is to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the things of this sinful flesh, but being yet flesh and yet mortal that is corruptible and there will always be a struggle until we are changed into our new incorruptible body when Christ returns, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57.

We all struggle with certain things and the more you walk in the Spirit the less these desires will become. I really like reading Colossians chapter 3 when I am struggling as it brings that struggle into submission to that of the Spirit.