Romans 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.

For {G1063} when {G3753} we were {G2258} in {G1722} the flesh {G4561}, the motions {G3804} of sins {G266}, which {G3588} were by {G1223} the law {G3551}, did work {G1754} in {G1722} our {G2257} members {G3196} to bring {G1519} forth fruit {G2592} unto death {G2288}.

For when we were living according to our old nature, the passions connected with sins worked through the Torah in our various parts, with the result that we bore fruit for death.

For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.

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.

Romans 7:5 (KJV) provides a foundational insight into the human condition before salvation, specifically highlighting the relationship between the Law, sin, and the fallen human nature.

Context

This verse is part of Paul's intricate argument in Romans 7, where he explains the role of the Mosaic Law. Paul is addressing a common misunderstanding: if the Law reveals sin, is the Law itself sinful? He emphatically denies this, explaining that the Law is holy and good, but the fallen human nature, referred to as "the flesh," exploits the Law to reveal and even amplify sin. Before conversion, individuals are "married" to the Law in a way that exposes their inability to perfectly keep it, leading to condemnation. This passage sets the stage for the glorious freedom found in Christ, which Paul elaborates on in Romans 8.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Power of Sin in the Unregenerate: Paul describes a state where human beings, living "in the flesh," are dominated by sinful impulses. This isn't just about physical acts but the inner inclinations and desires that lead to transgression.
  • The Law's Unintended Effect: The Law, though good, did not provide power over sin. Instead, by defining sin, it paradoxically stirred up or made evident the "motions of sins" (sinful passions) in the fallen nature. It exposed humanity's inability to achieve righteousness through self-effort. The Law reveals sin but cannot remove it.
  • Fruit Unto Death: The inevitable outcome of living under the dominion of sin, without the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, is spiritual death. This "fruit" signifies the ultimate consequence and result of such a life, leading away from God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "motions of sins" translates the Greek word pathēmatōn (πάθημα), which can mean "sufferings" or "passions." In this context, it refers to the sinful passions, desires, or impulses that stir within the unregenerate person. It emphasizes the active, compelling nature of sin when one is "in the flesh" (en tē sarki), signifying a life governed by human nature apart from divine grace.

Practical Application

Romans 7:5 serves as a crucial reminder of our former state and the profound transformation brought by Christ. It helps us understand:

  • The Necessity of Grace: We cannot overcome sin through willpower or adherence to rules alone. This verse underscores the need for God's grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to empower us to live righteously.
  • Appreciation for Redemption: By understanding the "fruit unto death" that was our destiny, we can more deeply appreciate the liberation and new life offered through Jesus Christ, as detailed in Romans 6:23, where the gift of God is eternal life.
  • Ongoing Spiritual Warfare: While believers are no longer "in the flesh" in the same damning sense, the passage illuminates the ongoing struggle against sinful desires that Paul further discusses in Romans 7:15-25, emphasizing our reliance on Christ for victory.

Reflection

This verse highlights the stark reality of life apart from Christ, where the very commands designed to lead to life instead expose and amplify our fallen nature's propensity for sin, leading to spiritual death. It sets the stage for Paul's triumphant declaration of freedom in Christ, underscoring that true righteousness and life come not through human effort under the Law, but through faith in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ephesians 2:3

    Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

  • Galatians 5:16

    [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

  • Galatians 5:17

    For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

  • Galatians 5:24

    And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

  • Galatians 3:10

    For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

  • Romans 6:13

    Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.

  • Romans 6:21

    What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death.

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