Romans 7:5

“For when we were in the flesh, etc..] This respects not their being under the legal dispensation, the Mosaic economy; which lay greatly in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, such as regarded the flesh chiefly; so their meats and drinks concerned the body; their ablutions and washings sanctified to the purifying of the flesh; their circumcision was outward in the flesh; the several rituals of the law consisted in outward things, though typical of internal and spiritual ones; hence those that trusted in them trusted in the flesh: but to be “in the flesh” stands opposed, (<450708>Romans 7:8:9); to a being “in the spirit”; whereas there were many under that legal and…”

“For when we were in the flesh--in our unregenerate state, as we came into the world. See on Joh 3:6 and Rom 8:5-9. the motions--"passions" (Margin), "affections" (as in Gal 5:24), or "stirrings." of sins--that is, "prompting to the commission of sins." which were by the law--by occasion of the law, which fretted, irritated our inward corruption by its prohibitions. See on Rom 7:7-9. did work in our members--the members of the body, as the instruments by which these inward stirrings find vent in action, and become facts of the life. See on Rom 6:6. to bring forth fruit unto death--death in the sense of Rom 6:21. Thus hopeless is all holy fruit before union to Christ.”

“For when ... - The illustration in this verse and the following is designed to show more at length the effect of the Law, whenever and whereever applied; whether in a state of nature or of grace. It was always the same. It was the occasion of agitation and conflict in a man’s own mind. This was true when a sinner was under conviction; and it was true when a man was a Christian. In all circumstances where the Law was applied to the corrupt mind of man, it produced this agitation and conflict. Even in the Christian’s mind it produced this agitation Romans 7:14-24, as it had done and would do in the mind of a sinner under conviction Romans 7:7-12, and consequently there was no hope of release…”

“When ye were in the flesh - Carnally minded, in a state of nature; before we believed in Christ. Our sins which were by the law - Accidentally occasioned, or irritated thereby. Wrought in our members - Spread themselves all over the whole man. Romans 7:6”

“7:5 old nature (literally flesh): Although “flesh” can refer to the human body in a neutral sense (see 8:3, which speaks of Christ coming “in the flesh”), Paul more often uses the word negatively, to denote human existence apart from God. To be “in the flesh” is to be dominated by sin and its hostility to God. • the law aroused these evil desires: The law of God is a good thing in itself (see 7:12), but it arouses sinful tendencies by provoking the rebellion that is in people’s hearts. When we are in rebellion against God, his commands spark in us a desire to do the exact opposite of what he commands.”

“in the flesh: Rom 8:8, Rom 8:9; Joh 3:6; Gal 5:16, Gal 5:17, Gal 5:24; Eph 2:3, Eph 2:11; Tit 3:3 motions: Gr. passions, Rom 1:26 \*Gr. which: Rom 3:20, Rom 4:15, Rom 5:20; Co1 15:56; Co2 3:6-9; Gal 3:10; Jam 2:9, Jam 2:10; Jo1 3:4 did work: Rom 7:8-13; Mat 15:19; Gal 5:19-21; Jam 1:15 members: Rom 7:23, Rom 6:13, Rom 6:19; Col 3:5; Jam 4:1 bring: Rom 6:21 Romans 7:6”