What did Paul mean when he called himself 'carnal, sold under sin' in Romans 7:14?
Paul meant that although the law is spiritual, he was still a son of Adam, sold under the old Adamic nature or sin. Adam's fall plunged the whole human race into that condition, so all his offspring inherit the sin nature, and Christ had to die to bring fallen mankind back.
Les teaches that in Romans 7:14 Paul contrasts the spiritual law with his own carnal condition. Paul calls himself a son of Adam, sold under the old Adamic nature, or under sin. Les connects this to Adam's fall, which plunged the whole human race into that condition. Because Adam sinned, all his offspring inherit the sin nature, so Christ had to die to bring fallen mankind back to Himself. Les also notes that God sovereignly set this in motion by placing Adam and Eve in the garden and testing their obedience; when Adam flunked, the sovereign God declared that his offspring would inherit that 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.
What does Les say Paul is doing in Romans 7:14?
In Romans 7, beginning around verse 14, Paul is reconstructing how he had to deal with the old Adam after he met Christ on the road to Damascus.