The Believer's Struggle

A. Truths we have already examined about the law:
1. It can not justify the guilty 3:20a
2. It does bring the knowledge of sin 3:20b
3. The law brings wrath 4:15
4. The law increased the trespass 5:20a
5. Believers are not under the law 6:13-15

B. How Romans 7 Has Been Interpreted in the Past
1. The earliest Church fathers saw it as Paul in his unregenerate state.
2. Augustine argued for Paul as a Christian in his “Retractions”.
3. The Reformers – almost unanimously – saw this as Paul as a Christian.
4. The Pietists of the late 17th century saw this as Paul, convicted by not reborn.
5. Wesley – Paul in an unconverted state, so as to fit his form of perfectionism that eventually would would morph into the Keswick Error.
6. Bultman saw this as Unregenerate Paul, and the bulk of modern scholarship has agreed, while the bulk of conservative Christians see this as Paul as a Christian.
7. Summation: Presuppositions factor heavily into everyone's interpretation of this text since pure exegesis does not settle the issue.

C. The Two most Prominent Views Today
1. Paul, as a Christian, and by extension our experience as Christians.
2. Unregenerate Paul – recounting his time as a religious Pharisee.

D. Two Vital Conclusions all should hold whichever view they Adopt
1. Christians still struggle with sin throughout their entire lives.
2. Christians can and must grow in sanctification.

Exegesis

I. I am Carnal 13-14

II. The On-Going Battle Paul Faces 15-23

III. The Deliverance is through the Lord Jesus Christ 24-25