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Where is truth?

“…me IN CAPTIVITY to the law of sin.” {Romans 7:23}

“…me FREE from the law of sin.” {Romans 8:2}

Once again, as when comparing Romans 6 with Romans 7, we find Paul’s testimony in Romans 8:2 the exact opposite of his testimony in Romans 7:23; with both passages using the same terminology. But what makes this comparison even more significant is the statement Paul makes in-between those two verses. Note closely his words:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are…” {Romans 8:1}

He then goes on to describe, in the rest of verse one and verse two, the person who is now no longer condemned. The person is

#1—“in Christ Jesus”
#2—“walks not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”
#3—“made free from the law of sin”

His use of the word “now” in verse one would certainly seem to indicate that there was condemnation, or is condemnation, to the person who is in the opposite condition from that which he goes on to describe, part of which is being “made free from the law of sin.” So, if “there is therefore now no condemnation” to the person that is “free from the law of sin,” then it would seem to be equally true that there is condemnation to the person that is not “free from the law of sin,” which is how Paul describes his condition in Romans 7:23—”me in captivity to the law of sin.”

Here are two more thoughts to consider:

  • One of the fruits of being “in Christ Jesus,” is being made “free from the law of sin.” Conversely, if one has not been “made free from the law of sin,” but instead is in “captivity to the law of sin,” then the opposite would seem to be true: he is not “in Christ Jesus.”

  • Similarly, Romans 8:2 says, “the Spirit…hath made free from the law of sin.” Conversely, the person who is not “free from the law of sin,” but instead is in “captivity to the law of sin,” must not have “the Spirit.” (Paul goes on to say, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9)

  • Once again, no matter which of Paul’s writing you compare with Romans 7, whether it’s Romans 8, or Romans 6, or any of his other letters, the conclusion seems unavoidable, the Paul of Romans 7 has a completely different testimony than the Paul of any other part of the Bible.