Romans teaches us that there is a choice set before us, with our natural tendency to urge toward one direction. There is the oldness of the letter manner of living that governs our lives or the newness of the Spirit.
I'd like to get into some discussion about this with folks here.
Paul described the failure of trying to obey a commandment from the law in
Romans 7 when he was commanded to not covet. He noted when that commandment went forth to him, he suddenly could not stop coveting. A weird reaction occurred in his life.
Romans 7:7-11 KJV What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (8) But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. (9) For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (10) And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. (11) For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
He said that sin actually took advantage of that commandment, and when Paul tried to make himself obey it, sin revived inside his flesh and defeated his attempts. He referred to that defeat as being slain.
Is there anyone who'd like to share your thoughts on this, who also sees that passage in this way?
Look forward to your input.