What does Paul mean by the motions of sins in Romans 7:5 that brought forth fruit unto death?
The motions of sins are the sinful activities and impulses at work in the members, such as putting people to death and blaspheming Christ, which the law stirred up and which produced fruit unto death—guilt leading to the great white throne judgment and separation from Christ.
Les explains that when Paul writes of “the motions of sins,” he means acts such as putting these people to death, blaspheming the name of Christ, and whatever else he may have been guilty of. Those motions of sins which were by the law did work in their members to bring forth fruit unto death. Saul the religious fanatic was no different; every day of his life he was piling guilt upon guilt, heading toward the day when he would hear, “Depart from me, you religious fanatic; I never knew you.” Old Adam had kept him blind to the true purpose of the law, which was to convict him, for the law gives the knowledge of sin. Yet the law, the Ten Commandments, is holy, just, and good.
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.
More Questions
What sins was Paul referring to when he said he had “motions of sins” in Romans 7:5?
Paul’s pre-conversion ‘motions of sins’ were concrete acts of persecuting believers and blaspheming the name of Christ.
What does 'motions of sins' mean in Romans 7:5?
The phrase 'motions of sins' refers to the activity of what the Law would condemn us for.
What are the motions of sins in Romans 7:5?
The 'motions of sins' in Romans 7:5 are the activity of what the Law would condemn a person for.