4286—DOES IT REFER TO THE CHRISTIAN?
By Editor
Please explain Rom. 7:15-19. Do these texts refer to the converted, or to the unconverted person? E. H. L. This scripture is outlining ordinary human experience, and of course especially refers to those who are seeking to break away from the lusts of the flesh and of sin in general, and to enter into the liberty of the gospel of Christ. The unconverted person may know from experience that this scripture is true; and the individual who has accepted Christ knows that he has to combat these same tendencies. We make a mistake when we believe that the converted person passes beyond the place where he has to war against the flesh. The same apostle who wrote this letter to the Romans says in his letter to the Philippians: "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you." Phil. 3:12-15. Paul does not claim perfection, except as is indicated in the fifteenth verse of this last quotation. That is the perfection that consists in being "thus minded," and his mind was that he had not attained to perfection, but must "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God." In one of his letters to the Corinthians Paul says: "Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1 Cor. 9:25-27. In this scripture, Paul recognizes that the Christian race is a struggle. We are to strive for the mastery. We are to be temperate in all things. We are to fight, not as one that is beating the air, that is fighting imaginary foes. The works of the flesh against which we contend are real foes. Then he says he was under the necessity of keeping under his body, and bringing it into subjection, so that he might not be a castaway, even after he had preached to others. This striving that Paul speaks of is in perfect harmony with the Master's instruction, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Luke 13:24. The whole tenor of the Word is to the effect that the Christian warfare is a constant battle; but it is God's plan, and it may be our experience, that every one of these battles is an assured victory. God's word to us is: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1, 2. So God sends His word to us in order that we may "sin not." But "like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." Ps. 103:13, 14. Hence He makes the provision to give us more than one opportunity. "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The gospel provides against our falling under discouragement in the battle with sin; we are also admonished against the exaltation of the self-righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.