Joshua-777

I practice and see spiritual gifts operating on regular basis. Here's some examples from this week. Earlier today, I took a team from Bethel to Saturday market to and set up tables with signs saying free spiritual readings and free healing. We saw many people healed, arthritis, bad backs, knees, shoulders. I was praying over a girl and the Lord revealed who she was, what age she gave her life to the Lord, and that she was in a situation where she needed to find a house quick without her saying anything. We were able to bless her and comfort her through her housing situation and affirm God's love for her. There was some Asian foreign exchange students that came up for a spiritual reading and the Lord revealed what kind of person one of the guys was, what he was studying, and what he wanted to do for a career. We prayed over him, and he encountered the Holy Spirit. While this was going on, my friend Dem was a few blocks away and he ran into a girl who was an atheist. He prophesied over her and told her what God thought of her, and then she got healed of something, I forgot what, but that encounter caused her to give her life to the Lord. Towards the end, before we packed up to leave my friend Michael and I walked up to a group, one guy was an athiest but let Michael pray over his knee. He felt the pain lessen and then heat. Before I could find out if he was completely healed, he walked away while I was praying over another guy. His shoulder popped out of joint when ever he would move it, and Jesus healed him. His girlfriend was in the background laughing and making fun of us to her friends, but we got to pray over her because she was pregnant and we asked to bless her pregnancy. The Lord revealed a lot of things about her including why she had a hard time believing in Him. Thursday, we went to a street fair and my wife and two friends, Michael and Amira prayed over two lesbian girls. They prophesied over them and told them about how God made them. They both admitted it was freaky accurate and then left. After that one of them came back and asked if she could hang out with them because she loved the positive presence they give. As she hung out, she finally let them pray for her. When they prayed, she started manifesting a demon and got delivered and set free. After that she was asking them for Churches she could get plugged into. Wednesday, I was training a youth group in supernatural evangelism. We took a team out to the mall and got many prophetic words over people. I walked up to three guys and a girl standing around and asked if I could bless them. The girl walked off as soon as she realized it was Christian. I asked if they had any pain and they all said no, then two of them pointed to their friend and said, "You pulled you hip out of joint, lets see if this works" He let me pray and then was walking normal without pain. After that, one of the guys showed me his arm and said he broke it and it didn't heal right, it was in alot of pain. After a few times praying he was healed, and then the Lord revealed things about how He made them and they were blown away. One of the guys, the Lord revealed alot of things about honestly and loyalty on him and his back was injured. Turns out he had a leg a little under an inch shorter than the other. Jesus healed him and then Michael came up and said the same exact word over the guy I just prophesied over. We explained the Gospel to them and all three of them gave their lives to the Lord. For me, this is normal.

Has anyone read Pilgrims Progress? This seems like it would be an awesome movie. I haven't read the book, but I've heard a lot of good things about it. Info about the film . **Link removed** HeavenQuest is based on the original work of John Bunyan and his 1678 allegorical masterpiece, The Pilgrim’s Progress. The movie will be directed by Matt Bilen, written and produced by Darren Wilson and the team at WP Films. It will be a highly stylistic, fantastical, and beautiful story with themes of hope, sacrifice, and ultimately salvation. Like Bunyan’s original work, HeavenQuest will feature exotic creatures, eccentric characters and beautiful locations as the story follows a man desperate to escape his dark past and the impending doom that will befall him. He undertakes a dangerous journey filled with peril in hope of finding his freedom. Although reimagined, you’ll still find yourself overlooking the city of Destruction, caught in the Slough of Despond, escaping the caverns of Mt. Sinai, and traveling to the Wicket Gate in this epic retelling. The 300-year-old book that inspired the likes of C.S. Lewis will become an all-new ambitious, heart-warming, action-packed, and inspiring film as it reaches the big screen in 2016. You were disappointed with Exodus. You were upset with Noah. As Hollywood has tried to make films about faith-filled stories, they have too often forgotten that faith also needs to be a part of the story itself. Our goal with this film is to change things. We want to make the Christian film you’ve always wanted to see--one that is exciting, entertaining, with high production values, but that doesn’t shy away from faith, struggle, and redemption. For years now, people have been asking us when we are going to make a feature film that isn’t a documentary. Well, the time is now. While we will continue to make God-honoring documentaries, we have always had a heart for narrative film, and are excited to begin that journey with one of the most iconic and beloved stories in literary history. As we began to look at doing this story, we delved into some of the reasons other Christian films with lower budgets didn’t fare so well, and we’ve built both a story and a style that will allow us the kind of flexibility that you need to be able to make a movie with more limited resources. While $1.2 million may sound like a lot, it is a low-budget amount in the world of narrative feature films. So we’ve made the tough decision to make HeavenQuest only about the beginning of the overall journey. The focus, obviously, will be on the main character, Christian. As with any adaptation, we have had to change certain elements and reshape others, but we have tried hard to stay true to the core story and message of the book. One of the trickier aspects to deal with was the fact that the original story is a blatant allegory (where everything has a very literal and obvious meaning), whereas modern audiences are not used to this kind of storytelling. To that end, we’ve kept some of the core allegorical elements of the characters (Christian, Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Mr. Legality, etc…) but we’ve set the action in a more realistic world--albeit a fantastical one. Matt Bilen came to us with a very singular, fascinating vision for this film, and it was one that appealed to us artistically, but also was very pragmatic in its approach. The film will have a visceral, stylistic, and realistic feel. Our experience making documentaries has taught us many techniques in creating a hand-held “you are there” approach, and we will use lighting and negative space in creative ways to create various moods, but also to avoid expensive details in the background. Matt has done great work in gathering a first rate team together, from award-winning special effects artists to amazingly talented post-production personnel. We are working hard to make this not only a powerful film, but one that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Good answer, wow!

I believe it means what it says, sickness. The term heal the sick is used through out the bible, especially the Gospels for physical healing. To say that it's only spiritual, or emotional healing is to completely ignore the biblical context of praying for the sick. I've seen many people healed physically through the application of this verse in many Churches now. The fact that James contrasts Elijah shutting off the heavens with the power of a righteous mans prayer also points to supernatural power. Emotional healing would be in the context of suffering not sickness. James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

She said she had a compound fracture, and when I prayed it was swollen. The pain and swelling left and she was able to walk pain free. She brought some friends to get prayer the next night, and they were healed of various stuff, "A crack (not only a break) in the bone is also known as a fracture. Fractures can occur in any bone in the body. There are several different ways in which a bone can fracture; for example a clean break to the bone that does not damage surrounding tissue or tear through the skin is known as a closed fracture or a simple fracture. On the other hand, one that damages surrounding skin or tissue is known as a compound fracture or an open fracture. Compound or open fractures are generally more serious than simple fractures, with a much higher risk of infection." http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173312.php

I've been speaking in tongues for 11 years now, what questions do you have?

Hi Alan, with this theology, it is a difference in understanding of what the flesh is. I believe that the flesh isn't an internal nature, like a broken compass that always points the wrong direction. I believe it is the carnal mind. Before we come to the Lord, we have a mindset that is bent on sin and selfishness. We have a lifetime of thinking like the devil, we've accumulated habbits, memory muscles, and mindsets of an old man who is dead and gone. When we come to the Lord, we are a new man, created in true righteousness and holiness, therefore we need to put off the old man. Ephesians 4:20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Before we came to the Lord, we have been cultivated by the enemy with a carnal mind. 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. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But now we have the Spirit, we no longer have to live according to the flesh. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. SO the unrenewed (Carnal) mind is the flesh that needs to be renewed. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Our mind needs renewed to the reality of who we are in Him and who He is in us. This was also the meaning of repentance when Jesus announced "Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" The word repent in strongs is μετανοέω metanoeō met-an-o-eh'-o From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent. Total KJV occurrences: 34 To repent means to change your way of thinking, when the way you think changes, so will your actions. With being born again, to repent means to turn from the old man and change your way of thinking to the reality your a new creation in Christ. The Kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17), is also not a matter of talk, but of power (1 Cor 4:20). We are a new creation and citizens right now of the Kingdom of heaven, we need our minds renewed to the reality of that. The word repent in english I believe has caused much damage to the understanding of true repentance. From WikI - Repentance is the activity of reviewing one's actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs. It generally [citation needed] involves a commitment to personal change and resolving to live a more responsible and humane life. Online Dictionary - the action of repenting; sincere regret or remorse. Biblical Repentance means changing the way you think, embracing the new man and putting off the old, and turning away from sin rather than just feeling bad for it. Many view repentance as beating yourself up for the old man and sorrow and remorse for the past, and then say excuse sin because they believe it's just their nature. Brother, I do understand what you are saying and agree that we do become a new creation in Christ, but, unlike you, I also know, for a fact, that if we are not careful, we can slip back in the flesh. If this were not true, scripture would not be full of warnings about not continuing in Him, which are delivered to the believers, not the world. Do what I did once. Go through the NT and highlight every warning about returning to sin, the old man, the flesh, or neglecting biblical instructions and see how many times we are warned about it. I totally agree with you we can slip back in the flesh if we are not grounded in Him. I believe all those warnings, the difference is that if we stumble in the flesh, we are acting out of character to who we are as opposed to, when we fall, that is who we naturally are because our nature is to sin. James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. It says the word is our natural face, but when we are not a doer of the word, we forget who we are.

Amen

Hi Alan, with this theology, it is a difference in understanding of what the flesh is. I believe that the flesh isn't an internal nature, like a broken compass that always points the wrong direction. I believe it is the carnal mind. Before we come to the Lord, we have a mindset that is bent on sin and selfishness. We have a lifetime of thinking like the devil, we've accumulated habbits, memory muscles, and mindsets of an old man who is dead and gone. When we come to the Lord, we are a new man, created in true righteousness and holiness, therefore we need to put off the old man. Ephesians 4:20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Before we came to the Lord, we have been cultivated by the enemy with a carnal mind. 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. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But now we have the Spirit, we no longer have to live according to the flesh. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. SO the unrenewed (Carnal) mind is the flesh that needs to be renewed. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Our mind needs renewed to the reality of who we are in Him and who He is in us. This was also the meaning of repentance when Jesus announced "Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" The word repent in strongs is μετανοέω metanoeō met-an-o-eh'-o From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent. Total KJV occurrences: 34 To repent means to change your way of thinking, when the way you think changes, so will your actions. With being born again, to repent means to turn from the old man and change your way of thinking to the reality your a new creation in Christ. The Kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17), is also not a matter of talk, but of power (1 Cor 4:20). We are a new creation and citizens right now of the Kingdom of heaven, we need our minds renewed to the reality of that. The word repent in english I believe has caused much damage to the understanding of true repentance. From WikI - Repentance is the activity of reviewing one's actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs. It generally [citation needed] involves a commitment to personal change and resolving to live a more responsible and humane life. Online Dictionary - the action of repenting; sincere regret or remorse. Biblical Repentance means changing the way you think, embracing the new man and putting off the old, and turning away from sin rather than just feeling bad for it. Many view repentance as beating yourself up for the old man and sorrow and remorse for the past, and then say excuse sin because they believe it's just their nature.

Actually I'm just agreeing with scripture. Romans 5:17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. I'm saying I'm righteous by His righteousness and not my own. If I were to say I worked for my righteousness, that would be heresy, but the truth is Jesus became our sin on the cross that we may become His righteousness. Philippians 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Galatians 2:21 do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Faith in Jesus brings us into righteousness. Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. By faith in Christ we've been made righteous, " in Right Standing with God" He also gave us a new nature through His Spirit living in us. We are a new man created in Righteousness and Holiness. Ephesians 4:20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

That is where I joyfully disagree, who I am is who i am born again, not the old man. My body will be restored when Christ returns, and it will die as a result from the fall, I agree with you there, but there is something about His Spirit living in us that changes us, it changes our nature, it changes our hearts.That is who we are, a new creation. We died, our lives are hidden in Him. If God says we are righteous, how dare we say we are not. I am righteous because of Him and not of myself. I believe that. Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Exactly. If we have to wait until we die to be free from sin, then Jesus is not our savior, death is. I believe when Jesus gives us His righteousness, that makes us righteous. He gave us His Spirit to live in us and empower us to live it out. If someone gives you a gift, it's yours. Jesus gave us the gift of righteousness, it's ours. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Romans 5:17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) We were sinners, we all fell short of the glory, Jesus came to restore us back into the image we were created to be, to bring us back into that glory (John 17). He is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! He paid for my sins and gave e His righteousness so I can be righteous. I have potential to sin, but that is not who I am, I am born again, a new creation in Him. The old man is dead, who I am is hidden completely in Him. Romans 6, Col 3:3. I have permission from God to believe that I am dead to sin and alive in Him. (Rom 6:11). Our capacity to sin does not make us a sinner, Adam and Eve sinned and they were not created sinners. They had free will and the ability to believe a lie. We have free will and we can believe the lies that we are still the old man, or believe what God says about us, put to death the deeds of the old man and live as the new man to demonstrate what His righteousness looks like to the world around us.

I agree. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

So, Paul was in a constant state of willing to do, and not practicing, and falling in what he hates, sin, and doing it? That is the normal Christian life? The fact alone he is referring to the Law, which we are no longer under if we are lead by the Spirit shows that this isn't a Spirit filled believer but trying to do the law in the flesh. The Spirit gives the will do do good and empowers us to put to death the deeds of the flesh. Romans 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. Romans 8 is referring to our empowerment, the escape from the law of sin, the Holy Spirit empowering us contrasting the flesh and the Spirit. Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. What the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did. I believe it really is simple, and the conclusion I came to is not one of glossing over, but of years of studying and praying over that passage. I've held both sides of the argument, and for about 6 years of my Christian life, I would have fought the Romans 7 man is the normal Christian experience because that is what I was experiencing. The more I search the scripture and see what it says,the more I experience the joy and freedom of it. To be brutally honest, as I live in the Spirit, that wallet scenario wouldn't have happened. I've been in situations like that, and living in the place of intimacy with Him, my desire is for Him so those thoughts didn't cross my mind. If they do, I'm neglecting to live in the Spirit. As I live to seek His face, I don't struggle with my flesh anymore. When I neglect intimacy with Him, I do. The more I fall in love with Him, the more my heart is for Him. Jesus makes it really easy. His Presence empowers us. We can desire the things of the Lord, we really don't have to be in a constant struggle of flesh and Spirit. He won, we can live in Him with a clear conscience. We can really have a pure heart in following the Lord. the issue with the Romans 7 man being the Christian experience is it gives excuse for sin, which I have heard from countless people who interpret Romans 7 as the believers struggle, as I did. They use it to justify sin in their lives. The bible gives no excuse to live in sin.

Here's the issue though, in Romans 7, Paul was talking about being dominated by the law of sin. Romans 8, he's talking about being free from it. Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Are we captive or free? The Romans 7 man is captive by law of sin sin, unable to follow God because of sin in him. The Romans 8 man can put to death the deeds of the flesh, Live according to the Spirit and not the flesh, and is free from the law of sin. Paul is still talking about being under the law, in the flesh, and cannot figure out how to do good. First, we are not under the law and we are no longer sold under sin. Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin Here, Paul is talking about the law he thought to bring life only brought death, (Torah). We are no longer under the law. Romans 7:16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. It looks more clear that Paul is going into explaining what he just said. Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Sinful passions aroused by the law (Romans 7:7-24) Newness of the Spirit (Romans 8:1-17). Thus Paul is talking about sinful passions aroused by the law, and not the average believers experience and his own struggle in the Christian life. Now, we were in a discussion about how this couldn't be a Jew under the law because they don't believe in sin. First, they have God's law to define what sin is as Paul said. Second, yes they did see themselves with sin. Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Or the woman caught in adultery? John 8:7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Just for clarity sake, I do believe we have flesh, but where we differ is what we believe our flesh is. Our soul was programed to the old man, the old way of thinking, we have habits and unhealthy dependencies, attitudes, emotional attachments of the old man. We are a new creation and have a new nature, but we still think like the old. It's kind of like having a new computure with a new operating system but an old hardrive, that needs it be formatted.

Romans 7:What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”[a] 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. Law Cannot Save from Sin (Header note in the NKJV) 13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! Here's two laws at war - Commandments (Moses law) and the law of sin. If we are not under the law. Paul cries out, who can save me from this mess? Jesus - the answer, We're under a new law, a new commandment, a new covenant. The law of life in the Spirit. What the law, couldn't do, God did by sending His son. RIghteousness is apart from the law. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, Yes and amen! Our identity is completely wrapped in Christ, it's who we are. The deeds of the old man need to be put to death because that is no longer who you are. If you take your hands off the wheel, you will go to what your used to, the deeds of the flesh. Do you believe that there is nothing in you that is good? If your born again and your spirit is alive, joined with the Holy Spirit, is that spirit good and in you?

So believers are under the law? The Romans 7 man is a man under the system of the law and not a man under the influence of the Spirit. I don't believe Paul switched topics to his struggle as a believer, he was making a point about how the Law couldn't stop sin. Romans 5, death reigned through one, gift of righteousness and grace through the One/ Romans 6, we died, crucified with Christ, no longer slaves to sin, Romans 7, Die to the law to be married to Christ, Under the law produces death, under the Spirit produces life and fruit to God. The law Paul thought to bring life brings only death. Sin in him rose up and he lacks the will to do good. Who can deliver him from this? Jesus. Romans 8, What the law couldn't do, God did, by sending Jesus. Now we can live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Did Adam and Eve have a sin nature? They sinned so that shows that you don't need a sin nature to sin. You need free will and the ability to believe a lie. Our minds need renewed to the truth of who we are in Him. The flesh I believe is the residue of the old man, the previous way of thinking, habits, memory muscles, etc. We have a lifetime of thinking like the devil, that needs renewed.

Now that alot of that confusion is out of the way. I do disagree with your assessment on what the Jews of that day believed and the Romans 7 man. The law which Paul thought was to bring life only brought condemnation. Paul was a devout Jew who delighted in the law. A believer is not under the law. When Paul was talking about the sin in himself, he was referring to being under the law and not being able to keep it because the sin in Him took advantage of the law. Romans 7:13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. We now have His Spirit and can follow Him under the law of the Spirit of life. What the law, "Commandments," couldn't do, 'deal with our sin,' God did by sending our own Son. In Christ we are free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, What is the law of sin and death? Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. The sin that took advantage of the law producing evil desire in us. We are free from that. We no longer have to live bound to it. You said the Jews had a difference of opinion of sin, but the sacrifices were a reminder of sin. They knew what sin was because of the law, and sacrifices were made year after year reminding them that they missed it. Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Paul knew what sin was because of the law, and realized the law lacked what he needed to keep it. Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. To say that the Romans 7 man is a believer struggling with the flesh is to say that we are under the law, but we are not. The Romans 7 man was under the law. We died to the law so we can be married to Christ. Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Do you see what that passage is talking about? We become dead to the law to be married to Christ so we can bear fruit to God. It says, "When we were in the flesh" pointing back to being under the law. But now we've been delivered from the law so we can serve in the newness of the Spirit! The Spirit produces fruit to God. Again, Paul says, we are not under the law. The flesh and the Spirit are contrary to one another. Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. When we come to Christ the flesh is crucified with Him and it's desires. Galatians 5:24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. Such a glorious Gospel! That the blood of Jesus frees me from who I was. That old man is dead, there is no resurrecting him. A big issue is when we try to make the old man look like Jesus instead of letting him go. Colossians 3:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord Colossians 3:1 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, Colossians 1:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 3:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Here is where we differ in our theology. I believe I am who God says I am, that the Born again me is the real me, the old man is dead, who I was in the flesh, now I need to renew my mind to the reality of Christ and put off the residue of the former life. If I sin, that is not who I am, I'm acting out of character to who I really am in Christ. God made me righteous so that righteousness can manifest through my life and now I am free to fully follow the Lord with everything we are. You believe, please correct me if I'm wrong, that you are born again, and your spirit doesn't sin, but you have an evil in your body that will always be driven to sin and are waiting for Jesus to return to give you a new nature with a new body. If you sin, that's just because your a sinner whose saved by the mercy of God. God legally says your righteous but your not really righteous because we lack the ability to fully follow after God because of the sin that dwells in us.