Salvation

The 7th chapter of Romans is the testimony of Paul before he met the Lord. It is not the description of a saved individual. Nevertheless, there are some key words here that are noteworthy in this discussion.

Romans 7:14-17, 22-25

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me…..

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

This is the testimony of a man who does not know the Lord. But this fact is also controversial in many schools of thought. Nevertheless, we are able to substantiate the validity of our accusation. In the same chapter, focus on the 5th verse. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work (Romans 7:5). This phrase also describes the writer’s state of being as well as ours.

When we were in the flesh . . . What does that mean? Are we not in the flesh now? Is he speaking concerning the spiritual man being inside the body of flesh and blood? Yes and more. He is declaring the placing the soul and spirit in the human body without the presence of God or the Holy Ghost.

Consider this.

Colossians 3:1-7

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

These are all works of the flesh and were easily accomplished in us as we once lived in the flesh. But the life that kept the body alive is now hid with Christ in God. Our life (being) has literally been placed in the Holy Ghost. The life of the old man has been taken away from the flesh and hidden in the Spirit; I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

We are instructed to mortify the members of the flesh because they are dead to sin. Furthermore, Romans 7:5 says, For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work. But if we go to Romans 8:9, it reads, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. This verse denotes a positional change. Therefore, How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:2).

Now compare this verse with Colossians 3:5-7; Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry; For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience, In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But why were we so captivated by sin?

Well Jesus proclaimed, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do (St. John 8:44). According to this verse the devil became the Father of the human race. In order for him to be our father, we had to be of his kind or of his seed. Every seed produces after its own kind. Therefore, it was easy for his unholy lusts to manifest in us. Paul said, I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me (Romans 7:21).

But how did Satan become the father of the human race? For that answer we will have to go to Romans 5. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12).

It was by Adam’s transgression that the human race was thrown into darkness. But we must understand that this was a literal darkness. The spirit of Satan or the devil actually lived in mankind. This is why Jesus called Satan the father of the lost. Satan simply used Eve to get to Adam. He wanted to occupy the seed of man. Why? So that he could pass his seed down to every generation after Adam. He accomplished this. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come (Romans 5:14).

Oh, don’t get dismayed or huffy about this. Why is it so hard to believe that the spirit of Satan could have lived in us, when we are ready to believe that we have the Spirit of God living in these earthen vessels? The creation was held captive by the power of the devil. His influence and presence in our human bodies produced lust upon lust.

Paul writes to the church at Ephesus about this captivity. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:1-2).

The bottom-line here is that many do not want to accept the theology that Satan once actually lived in the saints. They want to regard the spirit of Satan as an idea or an abstract influence. But that is simply not what the scriptures teach. If it is not possible for Satan to have once possessed the saints then is it correct to say that none of the people from whom demons were cast out became born-again? The spirit of Satan is real and it is able to live in those who do not know the Lord. We once lived in the flesh thus we lived in sin.

But thank God for Jesus. We are now free from the law of sin that worked in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit. We are able to live free from the power of sin. We have been set free by the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. The old man is dead, the spirit of Satan has been cast out and we are new creatures, made in the express image of God. There is no more captivity thus if we sin we do so by choice. Beloved, be strong in the Lord!