From Romans 7:15ff, Paul confesses his struggle with sin in the old man or sin nature that is still alive though he is saved and has a new inner man. He prays for deliverance from this "body of death." It sounds like he may be confessing his sin before being saved, but this is a present condition that he is admitting he has not defeated sin in his life yet; this is good and an encouragement to us who struggle. He is confused, discouraged, frustrated, and even disgusted with himself. He concurs that the Law is good and the right thing to do and has the impulse to accomplish all the do's and avoid all the don'ts but he finds no power to do this in his own strength. But Paul doesn't despair because he doesn't trust in himself but the finished work of Christ on the cross and knows that there is no condemnation for those in Christ.
It is a dilemma when you feel convicted and know the right thing to do and don't do it and feel condemned or guilty. He says that nothing good dwells in him--what a confession. By the way, he later admits he is the chief of sinners and this is not just before salvation. What is it like when you don't meet your own expectations? You feel like a failure! But the fact is that we are all born this way: we are not sinners because we sin, but sin because we are sinners. Christians are not called sinners, but they are called saints. But that doesn't mean we are not sinners at heart and in action. Luther said we are justified sinners or at the same time just and sinners referring to Gal. 2:17.
The point is that our struggle with sin will last till glory and we are to grow in the battle, knowing the battle is the Lord's. He fights for us and gives us the victory one step in faith at a time. The law of sin and death no longer applies! All whom the Lord justifies, He sanctifies and we are all holy in His sight. The point to see here is that when we are justified, we do not become just, especially in man's eyes, but are declared just in God's eyes. As far as He is concerned, we are just. We are freed from the power of sin so that we do not have to sin or be enslaved by it anymore.
Shall we continue in sin? There were two views that were both wrongs at the time of Luther. The Antinomians thought that since they were saved, it didn't matter if they sinned: "freed from the Law, O blessed condition; now I can sin all I want and still have remission." They saw no obligation to live holy lives of obedience or that their lives must produce fruits worthy of repentance. The other enemy idea was that of the semi-Pelagians going back to the monk Pelagius who debated Augustine about the issue that because God expects perfection and that is the goal, we must have the inherent ability to achieve perfection. This came to be known as entire sanctification or perfectionism in Catholic or some Arminian circles.
We must keep our eyes on the goal of holiness and confess our known and convicted sins so as to keep short accounts. Jeus said to be perfect even as our heavenly Father is perfect, meaning that perfection is the goal but direction is the test. Which way are we going? Note that going nowhere is somewhere if you go that direction long enough you will get there. For all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. We continue pursuing God, though realizing we are not perfect and will not be till heaven. But we must remain assured that we are forgiven and not trust in our own achievement or performance but in the persona and work of Christ.
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