Rom 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. ASV

Rom 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. KJV

Rom 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sin were working in our members through the Law for the bearing of fruit unto death. LITV
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                                                                                       COMMENTARY

The motions, or passions of sins which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. This is what verses 14-25 are describing.

When we -were- in the flesh were we so Objectively; Positionally? Or were we so Subjectively.. Practically and Conditionally?

When we were, past tense......... Sin no longer works in my members to bring forth fruit unto death! Because I am no longer in the flesh.

Many Professing Christians believe they are still in the flesh... and many are which would mean they are still unsaved!

What does the term "Flesh" mean? It has several connotations in Scripture & does not always mean something bad. The Word became Flesh; Joh_1:14. In this context it cannot mean the physical body because that would mean that the physical body is sinful. See Rom_12:1 et al...

"Flesh" is used in this passage in a Negative manner which relates to Sin. In this manner Flesh is  anything that is of sin.

What does it mean to be  -in the flesh-?   It means to be in a state or condition of unregeneracy. In such a condition a person is in his essential Character, a sinner. The result is that his Conduct is all sin.

To be -in the flesh- then means to be unregenerate. As Rom_8:8-9  Says, those in the flesh cannot please God which means they are unsaved; unregenerate.

This is what Paul is describing in vss 14ff... a person who is in the flesh and trying to find acceptance with God by the works of the law. He is describing an unregenerate legalist; A perfect description of a Pharisee... and Paul himself applies this very thing to his own self in Php_3:4-6!

Paul, in speaking in the past tense shows that he is giving an account here of what is was to be unregenerate. Christians  ~were~  in the flesh. They  ~were~  under the law and as such sin working in their members brought forth fruit unto Death!... vss 14ff. But Christians are  ~no longer~  in the flesh. They are in the Spirit and under grace which works in them to bring forth fruit unto everlasting life. Romans 8:9

Romans

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