Romans 7:5, The Motions of Sin Arrested

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.

Before our conversion, we live in the flesh in a life plagued by the ravages of sin. The fruit or consequent of it is death. The motions of sin were energized by a reprobate mind as highlighted by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:29-31 beginning with “all unrighteousness”, a total disregard for the laws of God and the way of God to expiate sin. It is filled with immorality, evil, greed, evil intent to harm, full of jealousy, killing, quarrelsome, deceit, propensity to inflict harm, gossiping, slandering, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, foolish, untrustworthy, heartless, irreconcilable, unmerciful. All these heartily done in a wilful and habitual manner.

The Apostle Paul presents once again the contrast in the born again Christian with a restored mind that bears God’s image and spiritual fruit to a reprobate mind in Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

When we come to accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour, He has by the finished work on the cross set us free from the bondage of sin. In the sight of God, we are free men. Sin no longer binds us. We have the power to say “no” to sin and bear spiritual fruit in our lives. This, the Christian, shall see in his life, as he abides in Christ. Amen.