In Romans 7 Paul is describing his experience as a redeemed Christian rather than his pre-conversion state

To argue that in Romans 7 Paul is describing his experience as a redeemed Christian rather than his pre-conversion state, we can examine the text, context, and theological implications, drawing on key evidence from Romans 7 and its surrounding chapters. The argument hinges on the language, the present tense of Paul’s descriptions, the spiritual awareness he displays, and the broader context of Romans. Below is a structured case for this interpretation:

1. Use of the Present Tense

• In Romans 7:14–25, Paul uses the present tense to describe his struggle with sin: “I am carnal, sold under sin” (v. 14); “what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do” (v. 15); “I find then a law, that evil is present with me” (v. 21). This contrasts with the past tense used in Romans 7:7–13, where Paul describes his encounter with the law, likely reflecting on his pre-conversion experience (e.g., “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died,” v. 9).

• The shift to the present tense suggests Paul is speaking of his current experience as a believer, not a past state. If he were describing his pre-conversion life, we would expect consistent past-tense language throughout.

2. Spiritual Awareness and Desire for Good

• Paul expresses a deep desire to do what is right: “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man” (7:22); “I agree with the law that it is good” (7:16). This level of spiritual awareness and love for God’s law is characteristic of a redeemed person indwelt by the Holy Spirit, not an unregenerate person. In Romans 8:7, Paul states that “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” An unsaved person, dominated by the flesh, would not delight in God’s law or strive to obey it as Paul describes.

• The internal conflict between the “inward man” and the “flesh” (7:22–23) reflects the struggle of a believer who has been renewed by the Spirit but still battles the residual effects of the sinful nature. This duality aligns with the Christian experience described elsewhere, such as Galatians 5:17, where Paul notes the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh in believers.

3. Context Within Romans

• Romans 6–8 forms a cohesive section addressing the believer’s relationship to sin, the law, and the Spirit. In Romans 6, Paul explains that Christians have died to sin and are no longer slaves to it (6:6–7, 14). In Romans 8, he describes the victorious life empowered by the Spirit, free from condemnation (8:1–4). Romans 7 serves as a bridge, illustrating the ongoing tension believers face under the law’s demands despite their new identity in Christ.

• If Romans 7:14–25 described Paul’s pre-conversion state, it would disrupt the flow of the argument. Romans 6 establishes freedom from sin’s dominion, and Romans 8 builds on this with the Spirit’s empowerment. Interpreting Romans 7 as Paul’s redeemed state maintains the progression: believers are free from sin’s penalty and power (Romans 6), yet they still wrestle with the presence of sin (Romans 7), until they fully rely on the Spirit for victory (Romans 8).

4. The Cry for Deliverance and Its Answer

• In Romans 7:24, Paul cries out, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” He immediately answers, “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (7:25). This resolution points to Christ as the deliverer, which aligns with the experience of a believer who recognizes their dependence on Christ’s grace and power. An unregenerate person would not have this hope or turn to Christ for deliverance.

• The transition to Romans 8:1—“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”—further supports that Paul is describing a Christian’s struggle, as the solution (life in the Spirit) is relevant to believers, not the unsaved.

5. Theological Consistency

• The redeemed-state view aligns with the broader New Testament teaching that Christians continue to struggle with sin. For example, 1 John 1:8–9 acknowledges that believers still sin and need to confess, while Galatians 5:16–17 describes the ongoing battle between the flesh and the Spirit. Paul’s transparency about his struggle in Romans 7 reflects the reality of the Christian life, where sanctification is progressive, not instantaneous.

• Conversely, interpreting Romans 7 as Paul’s pre-conversion state would imply that an unregenerate person can delight in God’s law and earnestly desire to obey it, which contradicts Paul’s teaching about the natural man’s hostility toward God (Romans 8:7; 1 Corinthians 2:14).

6. Paul’s Personal Example

• Paul’s use of the first person (“I,” “me”) in Romans 7:14–25 suggests he is speaking autobiographically, sharing his own experience as a mature Christian. While some argue this is a rhetorical device or a reference to Israel’s experience under the law, the personal tone and vivid description of inner conflict are more consistent with Paul reflecting on his present reality as a believer.

• As an apostle and a mature Christian, Paul’s acknowledgment of his struggle with sin demonstrates humility and realism, encouraging other believers that such struggles are normal in the Christian life, even for someone of his spiritual stature.

Counterarguments and Responses

• Counterargument: Romans 7 describes the unregenerate because of the intensity of the struggle. Some argue that the description of being “sold under sin” (7:14) and the inability to do good suggest a pre-conversion state, as Christians are freed from sin’s dominion (Romans 6:14).

• Response: While Christians are no longer slaves to sin, the flesh remains a reality (Galatians 5:17). The phrase “sold under sin” can describe the lingering influence of the sinful nature, not total enslavement. Paul’s struggle reflects the tension of living in a fallen body while being renewed by the Spirit.

• Counterargument: Paul’s cry of wretchedness (7:24) seems inconsistent with a believer’s joy and freedom.

• Response: The cry reflects honest frustration with the ongoing presence of sin, not despair. Paul’s immediate turn to Christ as the deliverer (7:25) shows the hope and assurance of a believer, not the hopelessness of an unsaved person.

Conclusion

Romans 7:14–25 depicts Paul’s experience as a redeemed Christian, wrestling with the tension between his desire to obey God’s law and the ongoing influence of the flesh. The present tense, spiritual awareness, contextual flow from Romans 6 to 8, and theological consistency with the Christian struggle all support this view. Paul’s candid description serves to encourage believers that the battle with sin is a normal part of the Christian life, resolved through dependence on Christ and the empowering work of the Spirit, as elaborated in Romans 8.