What does Paul mean in Romans 7:14 when he says the law is spiritual but he is carnal and sold under sin?
The law is spiritual because it reflects the very mind of God, but Paul calls himself carnal as a son of Adam, sold under the old Adamic nature or sin. Adam's fall plunged the whole human race into that condition, so fallen mankind needs Christ's death to be brought back to God.
Les explains that the law is spiritual—it is the very mind of God so far as mankind is concerned—but Paul, as a son of Adam, is carnal and sold under the old Adamic nature, or under sin. Les ties this to Adam's fall: when Adam sinned, he plunged the whole human race into that condition, and consequently Christ had to die to bring fallen mankind back to Himself. Les also notes that people may become judgmental toward God, asking how God could call them sinners because of what Adam did, but God's mind and thoughts are higher than ours. God sovereignly set it in motion: He put Adam and Eve in the garden, gave them one simple responsibility not to eat of that one tree as a test of obedience, and Adam flunked totally. A sovereign God then declared that all Adam's offspring would inherit the sin nature.
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
More Questions
What did Paul mean by "I am carnal" in Romans 7:14?
In Romans 7:14, Paul's statement "I am carnal" describes his pre-saved condition: fleshly, sold under old Adam, under the curse and result of the fall.