Yes, indeed. I totally agree. Thanks for those badly needed clarifications. I think sometimes the very things you mention are misunderstood. We often wrongly assume people understand those things when they don't at all. So again, many thanks.

Perhaps if I didn't need those clarifications so much myself, it wouldn't be personally felt to be so important. So you're welcome, John, however the praise is rightfully only the Lord's, of which I'm aware you're fully cognizant.
Blessings!

I have to say I really appreciate the quotes, John317. I just hate to say I'm not sure what you meant about "the man of Romans 7". It was my understanding that it was a dramatization of a common experience of anyone who comes to Christ in full humility and surrender and has put away all the deeds of the flesh that he can see.

Then he receives rest:

Romans 7:8 ...For without the law sin [was] dead.
7:9 For I was alive without the law once..

Then when he is ready the Holy Ghost shows him something else:

Romans 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. ....
7:9 ....but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
7:10 And the commandment, which [was ordained] to life, I found [to be] unto death.
7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew [me].

In this case it's covetousness:

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? [is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

There's some kind of thought or behaviour pattern he doesn't discern as wrong until he receives light on the subject. I'm not sure this would mean he's not converted.

Is he living in sin? No. It says that he's not sinning, but it's sin that's in him is sinning.

Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good.
7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.

7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

He wants to do the right thing but he can't. He has no control over it. His flesh is acting up like the spasms of a dead man.

This is a terrifying experience that perhaps all of us are familiar with. I believe the purpose is to show us how serious sin is, and without God's grace, we have no power at all to overcome sin.

That doesn't mean that "the man of Romans 7" never got the victory. I believe he eventually did, but God allowed him to suffer for a time so he'll know sin is no joke. This is ironic because some seem to get the opposite message, that sin is not so offensive to God the He can't allow us to continue in sin until we get some kind of lobotomy at the Second Coming.

Such a revelation as Romans 7 is meant for our edification and comfort and I'm glad we can agree that it's not to be twisted around to support some weird wind of doctrine.