06/30/2024 – Day 028 – Romans 7 – 8 / “Never, never let us despise [the Law}. It is the symptom of an ignorant ministry, and unhealthy state of religion, when the Law is reckoned unimportant. The true Christian delights in the God’s Law.” J.C. Ryle. (see 7:22)
Last cycle, our posting for this reading is dated: “03/27/2022”, covering Chapter 8.
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells, for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” Romans 7: 18 – 19
Here is my footnote commentary for these two verses in “The Evidence Bible”, covering at least what I see as two of three parts:
- “There is disagreement about whether Paul is speaking of his pre-conversion experience or the battle the Christian has with sin. It would seem that both interpretations may be applied.”
I agree that both can be applied. With respect to his pre-conversion: Pharisees were experts in the “law” , and Paul was one of them. He indeed “could not find how to perform what is good” , but without Christ, he did not recognize that nor did he acknowledge that “nothing good dwells”. Pharisees became arrogant through the Law, thinking they were better than other souls.
As a Christian with an indwelling Holy Spirit, he recognizes it, even preaches acknowledgement of that fact.
I’ll share the 2nd part in order, that I didn’t plan on covering. The commentator loses me on this one: “God bless the Christian who is able to obtain ‘sinless perfection.’ He is a better man than most Christians.” This is commentary, not the Word itself of course. Is the commentator mimicking a deluded attitude? It doesn’t make sense to me…
And 3rd part, a quote from a christian warrior over three centuries past:
“After we are renewed, yet we are renewed but in part, indwelling sin continues in us, there is a mixture of corruption in every one of our duties,; so that after we are converted, were Christ to accept us only on our works, our works would damn us, for we cannot put up a prayer but it is far from that perfection which the moral Law requireth. I do not know what you may think, but I can say that I cannot pray but sin, cannot preach to you or others but I sin — I can do nothing without sin; and, as one expresses it, my repentance wants to be repented of, and my tears to be washed in the precious blood of my dear Redeemer.” George Whitfield. (biography link below)
https://www.whitefieldcenter.org/george-whitefield
Can you imagine heaven?: Being able to love everyone perfectly!
Soli Deo Gloria!