THE APOSTLE PAUL, THE SIN EXCUSE? BY STEVE FINNELL

Christians who are opposed to practicing repentance need a proof-text to support their sinful lifestyle. They open the book of Romans, skip a few chapters until they supposedly find the reason they are still practicing the same sins they were before they became a believer in Jesus the Christ.

THE PROF-TEXT OF UNREPENTANT CHRISTIANS 

Romans 7:14-17 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am  of flesh, sold into sin. 15 For what I am doing , I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but  I am doing the very thing I hate. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin dwells in me.

The apostle Paul was sold to sin when he was trying to keep the Laws  of Moses not when he was living under the grace of God.

As a Christian, Paul was not sold into sin. As a Christian, Paul could resist sinning. As a Christian, Paul was not living a sinful lifestyle and then proclaiming the devil made him do it.

Paul was not continually fornicating, stealing, practicing idolatry, engaging in homosexual activity, getting drunk, swindling others, murdering on a regular basis, he was not a member of a non-Christian cult like the Masonic Lodge? He was not living a unrepentant sinful lifestyle? 

WHAT DID PAUL SAY ABOUT CHRISTIANS AND SIN?

Romans 7:5-6 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.   

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin live in it?

The apostle Paul did not live a sinful lifestyle.

Romans 6:3-7...baptized into Christ Jesus...6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him in order that our body of sin  might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

The apostle Paul was freed from sin when he was baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. (Act 22:16 Now why do you delay?Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.)

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you,for you are not under law but under grace.

The apostle Paul could not resist sin while he was under the Law of Moses. That was what he was talking about in (Romans 7:14-17).

Romans 6:15-16 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

The apostle Paul could resist sin. The man named Saul had a sin problem; because he was living under the Law of Moses.

Christians sin by choice, not because the devil made them do it. Is there a way out? Yes! (1 John 8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.)

THE QUESTION REMAINS; WHERE WILL THE UNREPENTANT CHRISTIANS SPEND ETERNITY?