The apostle Paul talks about the motions of sin that worked in us before we were born again, the deeds of the body that must be mortified in the Spirit, the sin that dwells in us (that is, in our flesh), and the manifested works of the flesh. What do these expressions mean?

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.

Romans
7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Galatians
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans
8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

The tendency to sin is genetically inherited. It has become a natural part of our "being".

Was the tendency to sin also genetically inherited by Christ in His humanity?

Absolutely.

Heb 2:14, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil..."

ZZP

Mike,

It might be useful to take a look at the original Greek to gain some insight into what Paul was talking about. The Greek word oddly translated in the KJV in Romans 7:5 as "motions" is pathema which is probably a derivative of the Greek word pathos. (I say "oddly" since this is the only time it is translated as "motions" which seems to have no correlation to the Greek word's definition.) Pathema is most frequently translated as "suffering" or "affliction". Many other translations translate it in Romans 7:5 as "passions". This is the classic meaning of "The Passion (suffering) of the Christ".

It seems that this describes the consequences of sin in us, the effects we see and know of our sinful condition, that which we cannot escape because we are born with inherited sinful degeneration. Even the present day meaning of the English word "pathos" captures an aspect of the idea: "A quality, as of an experience...that arouses feelings of pity, sympathy, tenderness, or sorrow." We are in a most pitiful and sorry condition.

But I think that a more common English word which is also derived in part from that original Greek word captures the real core meaning of what Paul is talking about - pathological. It is the pathogen of sin in us that makes us the pathological sinners that we are! That inescapable pathogenic characteristic in all of us reinforces that the pathos of Christ is our only hope. The book of Romans is Paul's defining pathology of sin and God's treatment plan to eliminate sin. The whole Biblical story is all about the pathogenesis of sin and Jesus Christ's revelation of its final and conclusive cure. He is the Alpha and Omega...

Tom

Daryl,

Jesus was born with mankind's "fallen nature" which included the "tendency to sin".

Jesus experienced a greater temptation to sin than any other human who has ever lived.

Bob, yes, the tendency to sin is inherent within all of us. In fact, unless we’re born again, we cannot not sin.

Daryl, I agree with Bob and ZZP. Jesus inherited the same sinful flesh nature all of inherit. Of course, unlike all of us, He never acted out the unholy thoughts and feelings generated and communicated by His fallen human nature. He partook of the “divine nature” the entire time He was here.

Tom, excellent insights. If we take all of Paul’s ideas and insights, regarding our sinful flesh nature, would it be safe to say that the “motions of sin” refer to the unholy thoughts and feelings generated and communicated by our fallen flesh nature?

I mean, Paul speaks of the deeds of the flesh and the motions of sin, which dwell in us, as something that can be resisted when we are born again and begin partaking of the divine nature in the same way Jesus did.

What do you all think? Is it possible to resist the motions of sin that clamor within us? like Jesus did?

I belive that it is.

See that word, "belive"? I have this weird hiccup im my typing, I can't seem to get that second "e" in believe. Every time I write believe I have to go back and write it again. After doing it so many times I finally decided it should just be a word, so I told my spell checker to add it to the dictionary, and I gave it a definition.

Here it is: To "belive" is to believe that the power of heaven is available to you, and then to act it.

The answer, I think, to your question Mike is "yes."

We have only to belive.

ZZP

ZZP, if what you say is true, that is, it is possible to resist the clamorings of our fallen flesh, then why do we continue to sin and repent? Are there any excuses that we can claim, like a promise, that accounts for why we cannot cease sinning and repenting over and over again for the same dumb things? Are we doomed to repeating the motions of sin that reside within us? in spite of all Jesus can do for us?

In my estimation the Scriptures teach that we must have three things. They are found in Revelation 3:18.

Jesus says, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."

What are these things? What is the gold tried in fire which our Lord values so?

The Scriptures tell us.

1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

It is faith, tried and turned pure.

What is this white raiment?

Revelation 19:8 teaches us about "...fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

Where do we get such righteousness?

Philipisns 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

We take Christs proffered robe of righteousness by faith don't we.

And eyesalve? John 16 teaches us that it is by the Holy Spirit that we are made to see.

My explination may lack a few points, feel free to add to it. This is the crux of the issue as I understand it. We must continue to have our faith tried. We must seek Chist and His righteousness by that faith. And we must pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to us our faults.

Zuzu's Petals