Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The book of Romans

Chapter 7

***Rom.7:1 Or don't you know, brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives? 7:2 For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband. 7:3 So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man.

In a world where a person no longer understand headship Paul's Holy Spirit lead comments above are meaningless to most. Where men and woman are considered within society having the same authority equal in power and decision making. Hence, being released by death from a husband ownership and his laws is offensive, and not understood. But, nonetheless, God has created headship not man, or because men wanted it that way. God created headship from the creation of man. Subsequently, Paul, rightfully, and truthfully uses the standards of God to explain to these brothers, and sisters a profound truth of being in Christ and not under the law.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.

The law was the headship over the nation of Israel, it was their standard, their director of their lives. The Law came from God's mind as the head of Israel, when one sinned against the law, God standards for atonement must be meant to be purchased from the transgression, or death would be administered upon the violator of God's righteous law. The wages of sin is death, so if a person died under the headship of God's law, they were freed from paying anymore wages, they were no longer under the laws power, its headship; for headship is a form of power rather we like it or not?

Now Paul states truth, once released from the laws headship, by the death of the head, the wife under that headship is released in God's eyes, not man's eyes, or a humans evaluation of ownership by courts of law. God says the woman is free to remarry to belong to another headship, she may go under another man's authority if she chooses to do so.

1 Corinthians 7:39 A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord.

Matt.19:3 Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
19:4 He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,{Genesis 1:27}
19:5 and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?'{Genesis 2:24} 19:6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart." 19:7 They asked him, "Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?"
19:8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so. 19:9 I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."

God put to death the Old Law, not man, God removed the Old Law by Christ fulfilling the contract or old covenant by his blood. That law was set aside upon it completion no longer having authority over the person, man, or woman by it headship legally placed upon the nation of Israel by covenant of marriage with God; its authority, and power removed by the laws death.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Christ die to complete it standards of perfection. In other words, the law contract must be paid off, what is the final payment? The life of a perfect man, a man who had not sinned under the law, a person God appointed to complete the Old Law, Christ Jesus. But let us remember not one human on earth since mankind's fall into sin could pay the price to complete this righteous contract. No mater how much faith a person had, no matter how much they loved God, God must provide a perfect sinless life to pay off the payment of the law.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.

Psalms 49:7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.

All those baptized into Christ are dead to the Old Law, they have a new husbandly owner Christ Jesus, they come under his headship and his righteousness, in a new covenant with God. They have been released from the law, provided they have faith in Christ completion of the law for them. Now these brothers and sisters wanted some of the new law, like an unfaithful wife, and they wanted some intercourse with the old law, they wanted to move in between to husbands getting the benefits from both.

1 Timothy 1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Galatians 5:4 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"{Deuteronomy 21:23}

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."{Deuteronomy 27:26}

Many Christ practice such adultery in their religion a little old law, a little new law of love, mixing two laws, two covenant, into a prostituted religion believing they have a legal right to do so like a presumptions harlot stealing the rightful position of a husbandly owner, being bold and proud.

Proverbs 6:32 He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.

Proverbs 9:13 The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing.

Proverbs 30:20 "So is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, 'I have done nothing wrong.'

Yes, putting adulterated yeast into the unleavened bread of Christ with the best of motives, and what are those good and righteous motives to punish sinners under the power of the old law, condemning and judging one another so they have power and authority to rule like kings upon earth in huge institution of power and wealth. The new covenant of love does not give people earthly power, authority, it strips such power giving them life in a new heavens. No! Those practicing love are trampled upon by laws created for the wicked, they have no standing in love, they have no value to the world, nothing can be gained by the law of love, it does not protect oneself, it does no build government, religion and/or commerce which takes for greed, and power, love does not take, or make demands for human rights.

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}
13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Subsequently, a yeast kingdom must be created to have the power and things of this world; how by polluting the Christ, and the new covenant with yeast from sin from the Old law, which is dead to God and Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.

Matthew 13:33 He spoke another parable to them. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures{literally, three sata. 3 sata is about 39 litres or a bit more than a bushel} of meal, until it was all leavened."

***Rom.7:4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to God.

When one takes a branch from a tree and grafts it into another tree once it is broken off it is dead for all practical purposes until it is connect again to life, in this case the life of the new tree. These brothers must come to know that they were dead to the law of Moses, they had been grafted into a new life of Christ Jesus, where all life for Christian's stem from one source, until Christ hands over his Kingdom to his Father YHWH when all things have been brought into subjection the things in heaven and earth, and death is no more.

Rom. 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn't follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; 9:31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness. 9:32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone; 9:33 even as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed."{Isaiah 8:14; 28:16}

Rom.11:16 If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches. 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree; 11:18 don't boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you. 11:19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in." 11:20 True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don't be conceited, but fear; 11:21 for if God didn't spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

There are not two trees for these Christian's to feed on for life, there is the Law where life could not be obtain through, for the law perfected nothing when it came to mankind, the law did not remove the cause of corruption from mankind - sin. It instead pointed it out yet more, showing us we needed, more, a greater righteousness that would remove our sin once for all times. These brothers were mislead, and misleading others when teaching both laws of righteousness, why?

Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

There were only two righteousness the law's righteousness, and Christ righteousness, two trees, not two trees they were attached at the same time; they were either in Christ under the new covenant, or death under the old covenant, but not both at the same time. Either they had one owner, but not two husband, committing adultery, were one adds to the marriage bed defiling both. False religion is a mixture of both the old law and the new law covenant, why? Because the new law can't be used to build our world in its greed for lust, power for, and control of other human's. What is needed for that? Laws that control by sin through guilt, so they can extract payment. However, the new covenant which is love, owes no one a single thing other than love. Love does not take or control, but instead gives freely with out payment.

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}
13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

However, these brothers and sister wanted more, they want religion where power and control are given to prominent men for sight worship seating themselves at the tops ranks in temple of God, doling out the undeserved kindness of our Lord and Savior, by rules and laws of a religion, just as all unrighteous government, and commerce uses to build and grow power and success in an unrighteous world. These Christian's were like unfaithful Israel in clamoring for a king over them, to rule over them, making them obey. They now wanted the power of the physical to rule over them protecting them from their enemies for the law of love has no bar or doors for protection!

Luke 9:46 There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest. 9:47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side, 9:48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great."

Hence, mixing yeast into the unleavened bread of Christ was the perfect deceptive tool of all times, using a perfect law, the Law of Moses, mixing it with the law of freedom calling it righteous for its control to condemns sins in our flesh, saying if a little righteousness is good than a whole lot is much better. This is the faulty thinking of the flesh mind sold under sin.

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.

1Tim.1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Galatians 2:19 For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.

Galatians 2:21 I don't make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."{Deuteronomy 27:26}

***Rom.7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.
7:6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

When were these brothers and sisters in the flesh? Now stop! Really think about this point, when were these brothers and sister in the flesh? It would be before being born again into Christ while they were under what? The law! This is the apostles Paul argument here about their released from the Law, they had died to that which held them in the fleshes judgment under the law.

Romans 2:23 You who glory in the law, through your disobedience of the law do you dishonor God?

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Romans 4:15 For the law works wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

This is a supremely powerful point, if we are fleshly we are a law person, we live by rules, and laws, and we judge others harshly, the two are cohorts, the flesh, and the law. We also impute evil to others, how? The law was for the wicked person not the righteous person, do you understand this? But why law? To stop wicked acts in our flesh, to protect us from the harm of evil people that disobey the law. In other words, if we are fleshly a law person having the mind of the flesh which is a legal minded person we see first evil in others for that what the law does.

1Tim.1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

1Cor.13:4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, 13:5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 13:6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 13:8 Love never fails.

The Law does not look for the good in others as does the law of love which these brothers and sister should have been under. No! The Law looks first for wickedness in others, it does not impute good, believing all things as does the law of love does, having no laws against it. In fact, unwittingly these brothers and sister by using the law they were released from in Christ were once again promoting sin! Yes, sin, for that is what the law did, it did not remove sin, it was for the wicked proving we are sinner, convicting us of sin in our flesh, condemning us, so it did not return good for evil it instead return evil for evil, but how? If a sinful person convict another of sin what have they done? They have judged themselves, because they are also a sinner, and the wages of sin pays is death. Subsequently, they have unwittingly return evil for evil, gaining nothing but a temporary fixes in their flesh!

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Galatians 2:18 For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.

Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men?

Here we are not saying the instrument "the law" was evil, we are saying in the hands of sinners it does not promote life or remove our sins, it simply judges sin, and it shuts the mouth of all sinner in declaring us unrighteous. However, these brothers and sisters had been released from the law, but how? They had died in Christ. So what exactly does this mean? It means they have become another, they had become a body member of Christ, not the body, but a member within the body of Christ, a very important point!

Romans 6:13 Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Romans 8:10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

When a person dies the hand on the body dies as well, but if the body in brought to life, the hand receives the life of the body, correct? Because Christ died for us so the law could be fulfilled, by a perfect man, which than completed it, at God's due time, if we are members of the body of Christ his death is accounted to us, not just his death, but his life as well! This is how Christ could truthfully state that all putting faith in him had received eternal life now, They had received his eternal life indwelling us, the life of the body which we are a fellow member in.

Ephesians 2:1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,

Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

Subsequently, when Christ tells us to stop judging this is the context of his statement, law judging law death to death, for a sinner only brings the same judgment back on self, death and condemnation. Moreover, when Paul speaks of not returning evil for good, but retuning good for evil he is speaking of those fleshly Christian's who were using the law created for the wicked against brothers and sister in Christ freed from the laws condemnation.

James 2:9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 2:11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"{Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18} also said, "Do not commit murder."{Exodus 10:13; Deuteronomy 5:17} Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
2:12 So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom. 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.

Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

Matt.7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged.
7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? 7:4 Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye? 7:5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.

Awesome!

I am convinced that the depth and breadth of His forgiveness is deeper and larger than any ocean we could ever fully comprehend. From are small perspective when looking over a vast sea there is no end, He truly is awe inspiring looking down on mankind taking notice of us extending his hand over us at great cost to Himself offering His own son of surpassing value in exchange for our lives of no value. The ultimate expression of love according to scripture is that one would surrender ones soul in behave of another He has set the example of complete humility Jesus Christ.

"His own son of (un) surpassing value"

Is the law sin?

***Rom.7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."{Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21} 7:8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.

Law is very personal, law gets personal with us judging us worthy, or not worthy, but is the law evil, or the person it is judging? Moreover, what of God's perfect law, whom did it not judge as evil as a sinner? Many Christian's find this very offensive taking God's righteous law as personal making them feel bad where they want to feel good about themselves. Than there are others, whom think that if something is completed and set aside, that is, done away with, it must have been bad, and/or evil! Have you experience any of these thoughts and feelings over God's law, or the book of Romans? Lastly, there are those Christian's who think using the law because it was righteous and good means it can't be fulfilled so they mixes the new covenant and the old covenant together thinking if its good, and from God that using both is better, thus, ensues the endless debate!

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Romans 9:31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness.

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

We human are not given too feeling bad for very long, we judge ourselves better than others, and we often judge other harshly, this is the nature of our sinful flesh. Hence, this was God's purpose in giving mankind the law, it was not to remove sin, or that they might feel superior to others because they kept some of God's law, or that they taught God's law, or even if they loved God's law. The law had but one point to show that we are sinner all of us, convicting us of not being a god, perfect enough to demand eternal life from God. Let us never forget this is what Satan tricked Eve into believing that she could be independent of God, she could chose good and evil. The law proved that wrong. With the law we condemn all people as unrighteous and as a sinner.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Romans 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

Romans 4:15 For the law works wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.

Those thinking the law is their friend, and that it pats them on the back while condemning their neighbor are fools, because the law is no ones friend not unless they are a sinless person. Furthermore, if you think you are not a sinner than the laws says you are a liar! Many Christian's are upset the law is not their friend because they uses it so much to feel above others, and judge evil of other to protect themselves, like a god! The law is a very powerful tool, no human being can stand when judged by God's righteous perfect law. But foolish people thinking God is partial that their feelings of love for God, and his law makes them exempt from the condemnation of God's law, but they are dead wrong as the apostle Paul found out when he started judging others and himself by God perfect standards which are not for a righteous man without sin, but for sinners.

1Tim.1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

Here the Christian's at Paul's time wanted their old friend the law, thinking it kissed their mouths, thinking without it how could they judge and put people into their proper place. The new covenant of Christ striped all authority from those wanting power upon earth and placed it rightly into God's hands alone. It striped every self-righteous person making them equal as brothers and sisters not holding debts of wrong like the law did in declaring all sinners.

Col.2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 2:13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 2:14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 2:15 having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,

Here at Paul's time they actually thought the law made them better, a better sinner? Can you imagine that? Well, church people do that, and those in government with laws do the same, and even those in commerce do so! So why would we think the law changes our nature? It does not, it is an illusion making a person feel righteous in their flesh by exercising self-control through rules and laws. Sadly, and unfortunately, most Christian's have no idea they can't put away the filth of their own flesh by the law, or rules of any group, it is an illusion because at the end of the day all sinful flesh perish and so does its thoughts, from the lust of its flesh!

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In other words, if your a sinner you cannot keep a perfect law it is impossible. The imperfection in us, cannot keep a perfect law. What a perfect instrument does is kill sinners, it does not say: “If you uses me, you are not a sinner and better!” For the law does not think or talk, human do in justifying their sins. The law is cold hard facts, and/or truth that judges without feelings or partiality, so if your a sinner you are dead in your sins that is what the law judges you and me as, and nothing more. Please don't be deceived by some good thought or feeling coming from your flesh, sober up to righteousness!

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

Romans 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}
13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

****Rom.7:9 I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 7:10 The commandment, which was for life, this I found to be for death.

Self-evaluation! At what point in our life do we honestly evaluate who we are in relationship to God? Many have never evaluated themselves accept against another person, but they are a religious person. Perhaps, they were born into a religion, a community, and have never really given it much thought? Later they want to become a teacher, or they had some event in their life making them take their faith more seriously only to undo themselves in their religion.

Luke 13:18 He said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it?

The apostle Paul speak of his own conversion into the law of God, that is, becoming a practicer of the law, instead of just a bystander. But when he did he found sin in himself. The greater his effort to be perfect in his religion, which was under God's law, the greater he was judged a sinner! How could that be? The law was life, it came from God, it was perfect, righteous, and good, but Paul like many of us had an erroneous evaluation of himself in relationship to the truth of God's laws.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; 1:24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

All human impute their feeling into the Law, and the commandments, they become self-judges of what applies to them by their feelings, instead of what the law actually states without human emotions.

When a person stops making an exception of themselves because they were born into a religion, or they just feel they are better than others, the law is shocking! It condemns them as it does all humans whom are sinners, without human emotions.

Romans 2:13 For it isn't the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified

Romans 3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.

Paul stop being partial, he became honest judge, a real truth seeking, looking first to God, and his evaluation of him by God's righteous law. Those not seeking truth they look first to the approval of flesh, other humans, to validate themselves as approved or disapproved human religious standard. But when we seek truth evaluating ourselves against perfection we find one of the most important truth we will ever find in our lives, which all other truths of God will be built upon in Christ, they see where we stand with God, and how we stand, which is undeserved kindness, what it actually is!

Rom.7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good. 7:19 For the good which I desire, I don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice.

Many Christian's find themselves in this position wanting more than anything to be accepted into a group. The group is set up with an approval system, just as all hierarchy are set up from business, to government, so goes religion, for without this system there can be no institution. Approval comes from flesh, from other man, and/or woman approving us, and our relationship with God, as an mediator so to speak, designed by the hierarchy.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

Once approved the quest for truth stops, because the approval of flesh means we have arrived, and we have crossed the finished line, and so we go into a way of life a pattern we have been taught by our religion in comparing oneself against another human inside and outside of our religion for validation that we are in a better position than those not practicing our faith. But the apostle Paul found out when he removed the approval system, and went straight to the source of truth, God, he was no better off than anyone else on earth, he was condemned, not validated by God's laws.

Luke 18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 18:12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.' 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Flesh, all sinful flesh distorts the truth, it veils it, it waters it down, it puts yeast into the truth corrupting it so it is more palatable, no sinner likes unleavened bread, it is almost tasteless! However, when a Christian's measure themselves against sin, that is, another human which is a sinner for their approval they fall short of the glory of God, deceiving themselves they don't! This is something God does not do, that is, measure us against sin, He measure us against truth- life. But we human measure ourselves against death another human, and not life. We can make a stand with man, but not with God, we may even compete with another sinful human thinking we are better than them, or their religion, but we are a fool to God's judgment of us against truth and life!

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2 Timothy 3:8 Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth; men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.

However, when Paul measured himself against life, the law, he can came up dead to his surprise?

Rom.7:10 The commandment, which was for life, this I found to be for death;

The Law, or Christ commandments for that matter never brought life to anyone as a sinner without the blood of both covenants. In fact, without the redeeming blood of Christ we are condemned in the law of love, because we can't measure up to God's love if we actually measure ourselves against life, that is, God YHWH love!

1Cor.3:4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, 13:5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 13:6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 13:8 Love never fails.

This one most important step Satan hates, for if a person cannot be that honest in evaluating themselves against truth of God they are deceived adding yeast by human goodness (self-evaluation) into God's salvation for mankind. The deception during Paul's time was organized religion where religious leaders approval of a person faith was far greater than God's approval. This system of hierarchy was creeping into the congregation of the living God, God's anointed children.

Matthew 13:33 He spoke another parable to them. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures{literally, three sata. 3 sata is about 39 litres or a bit more than a bushel} of meal, until it was all leavened."

Matthew 16:6 Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

Paul was transparent, he went into an honesty about the truth of himself that few people could ever find the real courage to do. Paul came up short, he was deceived, he thought by his personal efforts he could overcome sin, he thought that he was above the law, he thought as we all do what we thinking and say makes us righteous, but he found he was dead wrong, a sinner, and accounted such by an impartial law of God. He found that his feeling, his power, his position, and/or education did not make a difference, not even our charming personality that everyone likes. Truth is brutal to all sinners; not one is righteous by God's perfect law. Our entire salvation depends upon God being perfect in love, and providing us a life that has enough merit to save us from our sins. We must sober up to righteousness, not human self-righteousness, but God's righteousness to be saved!

1Cor. 1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

Hebrews 4:1 Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.

Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it.

***Rom.7:16 But if what I don't desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good. 7:17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.

This is a very hard subject for some Christian's, and it certainly was for the Jews, why? Because like all human we judge from the outside instead from the inside! So just what does that mean? It means as humans if we are honest what are real feelings are we hid them from others. We learn in a sinful state trained, and educated from birth in that what on the inside is kept hid, and/or quiet while what we speak to others most of the time is to please them.

Matt.5:27 "You have heard that it was said, {TR adds "to the ancients,"} 'You shall not commit adultery;'{Exodus 20:14}
5:28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

This can be tested simply - when someone we don't like comes into our present we will change hiding the truth, can we as human handle that truth? This is the point Paul was making, law tricks people into judgment of others. It allows a person to hate someone else sins, while thinking ours are OK because we can judge others. However, Paul went beyond the normal response of most human, which it hard to accept. Paul found if he was honest he could not keep the law truthfully on the inside, not the outside!

Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Paul found if he planted the law like a stake in the ground he was moving, and not the stake. He was like a ever changing light from a tree as the Sun's passes over head casting shadows on the ground. He was not as consistence in his feeling, emotions, and judgments as he once thought himself to be.

James 1:14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 1:15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. 1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers. 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

Paul found the truth, he was not a pillar of it, because he judged others with it. The law was the pillar and support of truth not him. Paul found on the inside Paul was like all human under sins. Ever changing while living a lie on the inside for an appearance on the outside to keep from admitting he could not keep the law in the most important place God looks into, the secret person of the heart. There in that spot, not from his mouth excusing, and justifying his actions before others was the truth God's sees and is found! Now he says: “I can't stop sinning, I thought I could, how could I have been so stupid, what was I thinking, the law condemns me from my heart not by outward appearance to others!”

Jer.17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it? 17:10 I, Yahweh, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

What level of truth do you seek? Do you says, like so many: “I am in the truth!” But live a lie, or are you deceived because you have some doctrinal truth, and don't even realize the truth God in seeking for all mankind through his Son Christ Jesus? Do you know why God kills our flesh in his son? Do you know why the flesh is against the Spirit of God? Do you know why you cannot please God in your sinful flesh? And do you know that you cannot put away the filth of your flesh or are you like so many living the lie of false religion?

Rom.8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be. 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3:16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man.

***Rom.7:20 But if what I don't desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. 7:21 I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present.

Nobody likes people that makes excuses except the one making the excuses. Is Paul here making excuses for sinning? No! He is not, he stating a truth that offends many Christian's. Peter under the same will, and/or originality of Holy Spirit stated that no person could put away the filth of their flesh, was he being harsh, and/or excusing his sin, or telling us the truth of sin past on by Adam?

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Truth is we are subjected to many things in our life that are out of our control. Such as a disease that makes us feel and often act in away we would not normally be. We may become offended, or we can state the truth helping to live within our limitations, which brings us peace and soundness of mind. Its only when we deny through an ideology, a religious doctrine, and/or dogma that we find discognitive emotions and thoughts, hurting ourselves, and others, causing addictions, and mental illness.

James 1:19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
1:20 for the anger of man doesn't produce the righteousness of God. 1:21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls{or, preserve your life.}. 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; 1:24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

We all have a sickness called sin, and it will eventually take us into death. Paul found out as we can to that when we measured ourselves against perfect health without sin we only see how many things we do out of our control because of the power of sin. What is the power of sin, it is the law. In this case, the Law given to Moses from the perfect sinless mind of God, YHWH. Paul hadn't truly measure himself by God's law, why? Because like so many of us whom deceive ourselves because of our sin, doing so, by applying the law to someone else while justifying our sins as not so serious. Hence, we have unwittingly, measured ourselves by ourselves and not God's perfect sinless law.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does. 1:26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Here then we find the truth of the power of sin here than we will need the assistance of a great physician. Here then we will openly cry out as Paul cried out; “who can help me?” The God of love, the God of great mercy and kindness. Yes! Amen! He is there for us, we must come to this point and than he will pick us up he will extend us comfort beyond human understanding. He will be found in everything we do and say. This is the marvelous God of undeserved kindness waiting for us to see the truth of ourselves so he can give us a new life, a better life, and eternal life, through the power of life Christ Jesus.

Romans 14:4 Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.

John 7:24 Don't judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

***Rom.7:22 For I delight in God's law after the inward man,
7:23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.

Some people spend their whole life living a lie! They are in a constant state of denial telling themselves and others how wonderful their good feeling are, never able to admit they are human like the rest of us with love and hates, giving, and then having jealousy! People believe if they say something long enough it will change them, and in some part that can be true, but what is changed? Their fleshly thinking, but it does not change them as Paul found out here from being a sinner.

Matt.12:36 I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

When one introduces their feeling into truth they will come up short every time, when one makes God a man having the same feeling we do from our sinful flesh they are mislead. Sinner are captive to sins laws rather God's law or human laws. They find themselves where the law puts them for the reason laws of the flesh are created in the first place, they find themselves under judgment!

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Man's laws say: “As long as you don't break a certain law you are not a criminal!” But God's laws say: “You are found a sinner first even if you think you keep the law, you can't because you are a sinner, condemned!”

Rom. 5:12 Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.

Rom. 5:16 The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification.

The feelings as Paul spoke to here of loving God's law is normal if you love God, but it did not change the truth of Paul being a sinner, he could not change his birth from a sinner to a non-sinner, it was impossible, feeling did not matter, his love of law did not matter, his wanting to keep God's laws did not matter, the end results of God's law was to cast him into a mold from birth as a sinner! Born into sin, and dying in sin. Christian's often cannot accept this simple truth Paul speak to here. They wanted to believe their good feelings of love for God atones their sins. They want to believes their hates, loves and jealousy are understood by God, they are not!

Gal.5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
5:21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,{or, faithfulness} 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let's also walk by the Spirit. 5:26 Let's not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

Why? Because God is sinless, when God has wrath it is perfect without sin, can any human say that without being a liar? No! God does not condone our lust of our flesh, we do by lying about God's righteous laws, but not God! What does God do with our sins of our flesh, he judges them as evil, and kills them giving us a new birth, from sin! Now we stand corrected, now we find this whole subject is not a Sunday walk in the park, we see the seriousness of sin, and its everlasting effects on all human race without God's intervention into our lives.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Now we find as Paul found no hope in himself, no good feelings that could change his standing with God by some work because he loved God's law. He stood completely and soundly defeated in sin, he must look up in truth this time and not in his feelings of what he thought to be God's truth. He must like all human accept a gift from God in faith of God's goodness and not their own, which is called undeserved kindness.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 1:14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 1:15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.
1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers. 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 1:19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 1:20 for the anger of man doesn't produce the righteousness of God. 1:21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls{or, preserve your life.}. 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; 1:24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does. 1:26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

***Rom.7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God's law, but with the flesh, the sin's law.

The apostle Paul now states the bottom line, he is proven to be by God's righteous law a wretched man! The answer is not what he wanted he would rather prove himself righteous by meeting the laws demands, which he loved, but truth is, the law cannot be meant by Paul a sinner.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

To make matter worst the power of sin is the law! In other words, the greater the effort to obey the law perfectly the greater the sin was found in Paul. When perfection examines imperfection it can only expose flaws in the object, in this case the apostle Paul. Paul now finds himself in truth, not what he wanted to believe about his good feelings towards God. But rather nothing good dwelt in his flesh, and because of that he was wretch, he could not even change himself enough to fix the problem, he was dead to God by all righteous judgment of the law.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

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

Paul stood condemned on every point! Here many Christian's in our times and Paul's time find themselves not fully grasping what Paul was speaking about under the power of Holy Spirit. They simply don't get it? Why was Paul being so negative about himself, didn't he know God loved him? Hadn't Christ himself converted Paul? But that's not the point of Paul's words here, or why the letter of Roman's was written!

Romans 11:14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.

1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men?

Do you understand that the entire nation of Israel failed in understanding what Paul wrote here? Yes! Only a small group were saved out of Israel after thousand's of years of training and education by God's law. How shocking! There was nothing more powerful in mankind's life than God's law, nothing could be more perfect to bring mankind up in moral, health, power than God's law, it was superior compared to any laws of the nations. But still Israel failed, and now many of God's anointed at Paul's times were also failing, those freed from the judgment of the law by failing to understand one thing, do we understand what that is?

Rom.9:31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness. 9:32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone; 9:33 even as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed."{Isaiah 8:14; 28:16}

The law failed mankind, why? Because it was not the law of God, it was a law punishing the sins of the flesh created for the wicked not the righteous. God's law for the righteous is the law love God is but one law, the Royal law, love, without judgment of sins of the flesh. Love cannot fail, because God is love, and he can't fail! Israel, and some of God's children, his anointed, are proving themselves righteous by trying to keep the law, impossible! Did they not see the blood of an innocent victim, millions of animals slaughter over the years upon God's altar, how could one miss the witnesses of blood? Now Christian's themselves purchased by the precious blood of the pass-over-lamb, Christ Jesus, were trying to prove themselves righteous by meeting laws for sin, how shocking!

1Tim. 1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

Hebrews 9:22 According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Hebrews 7:28 For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.

Blood made all Israel righteous, not works of law, did they not know the law was unlawful without the blood atoning sins for them against God's law. Do Christian's not know they have no standing, no law, no hope without Christ righteousness? No! Sadly many do not, they are convincing themselves, their good works towards God is righteousness, as if they had a self-righteousness gained by something they produced from their own efforts, how have they gotten onto the wide road leading into destruction?

Ephesians 2:9 not of works, that no one would boast.

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."{Deuteronomy 27:26}

How could they be so blinded that Paul had to speak so bluntly here in Roman's the seventh chapter to offend, even incite hate and jealousy for Christian's and Jew's alike? Simply put, it is the nature of sin to prove itself righteous, to make itself look better, to brag and boast about some good thing we have done. To state, as Paul did not one good thing is found in his flesh, insults anyone that is proud of themselves in their flesh, does it not? It kills any hope for reformation of their flesh, does it not? Paul words here puts all hope for any salvation squarely in God's hands, mankind or individual cannot deliver themselves by some good work done in their flesh upon this earth, how shocking!

Romans 9:32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

This is why Paul words are still hated; Christianity is about in our world making one better in the flesh redeeming it into an acceptable person upon earth, by works of religion, which brag about it wonderful works, selling itself to other person in the flesh. God does change people with his Holy Spirit, he does make us better parents, better workers, better people, but that not the point of redeeming us. He does these things for his Kingdom, not the worlds kingdoms, Christ Kingdom is not part of this world.

John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn't be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here."

1 John 3:13 Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

Here Christian's at Paul time wanted more than the law of love, they needed laws to build upon like the world for position and power, which Christ stripped from the congregation of God by his resurrection into the power and image of God. He took the laws of the flesh, and killed them, he than put his body members under the law of love, which has no power in this world. One has to be ruthless to build an empire, even a religious empire requiring strong leadership laws condemning others of not obeying the rule of those in power. One must have a hierarchy of power by position for the flesh to lust for and climb the ladder of success, holding out honor and glory for those doing works of law to gain a high position above others.

Col.2:13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 2:14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 2:15 having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, 2:17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.

Eph.1:19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
1:20 which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
1:21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. 1:22 He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
1:23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

None of this impossible in the law of love, it is powerless to taking rights and position. The law of love says God gives gifts freely, so one cannot earn them, love says this: “I am a body member, placed in the body for God's glory, by nothing I have done, but God has chose to do. I accept that position resting in it because that is precisely what God created me to do as a gift to other body members. I give all glory to none other but God, because I was created for his glory.”

Ephesians 4:8 Therefore he says, "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."{Psalm 68:18}

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

This truth Paul speaks here is painful for many stripping them of godship in their flesh, and boasting in their flesh, just as our world practices from its creation by the Devil's lie stealing glory, power, and position that God rightly gives too humans by gifts of his love, not competition in dog-eat-dog tactic the world uses and was created from.

James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth.
3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

When Christian's and Jews alike understand the power of the witnessed of blood, in putting their feet aright before God by his undeserved kindness, the power of Christ blood will bring them to the hope and peace which comes from resting in Christ righteousness as their merit, their life, and foundation that cannot be shaken by corrupt men and their creation of religion, government, and commerce by laws of sin!

Ephesians 2:15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace;

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"}

Romans 8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;

Romans 8:4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.