The seventh chapter to the Romans
It is because they experience this that so many serious people read the latter part of Romans 7 as a picture of those who are justified, of those who are under grace, freely justified through the redemption that is in Christ. That is undoubtedly not the apostle's meaning. The apostle means those who are under the law, those who are convinced of sin.
They are right only in this. Sin does still remain in those who are justified. There does still remain, even in them, a mind which is in some measure carnal. A mind in some measure carnal remains. The apostle tells even the believers at Corinth, You are carnal. A heart bent to backsliding remains, a heart still ever ready to depart from the living God. There remains a leaning toward pride, self-will, anger, revenge, love of the world, and all evil. A root of bitterness remains, which, if the restraint were taken off for a moment, would instantly spring up. A depth of corruption remains, such a depth that, without clear light from God, we cannot possibly conceive it. And a conviction of all this sin remaining in their hearts is the repentance which belongs to those who are justified.
1771 text
10. It is their experiencing this which has inclined so many serious persons, to understand the latter part of the seventh chapter to the Romans, not of them that are under the law, that are convinced of sin, which is undoubtedly the meaning of the apostle, but of them that are under grace, that are justified freely through the redemption that is in Christ. And it is most certain, they are thus far right: there does still remain even in them that are justified, a mind which is in some measure carnal; (so the apostle tells even the believers at Corinth, Ye are carnal:) an heart bent to backsliding, still ever ready to depart from the living God: a propensity to pride, self-will, anger, revenge, love of the world, yea and all evil; a root of bitterness, which if the restraint were taken off for a moment, would instantly spring up: yea, such a depth of corruption, as without clear light from God, we cannot possibly conceive. And a conviction of all this sin remaining in their hearts, is the repentance which belongs to them that are justified.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 14 in the 1771 Works. Mark 1:15. Dated at Londonderry, 24 April 1767.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.