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I mean your statement combined the slavery to sin as an existential state with the slavery to sin as individual actions. They're related, but not the same thing.
I think St Paul's passage with regard to slaves to sin or God are more of the existential nature, with our actions as consequences.
I agree with your last statement. Bottom line is that slavery to a sin nature will have as its end the commission of sins in our lives. Don't know of a biblical example where it didn't.
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And I don't agree that human conscience is not formed by God. All men are created in His image. If we are purely products of our environment as you suggest then no one needs an excuse for sin, but the Bible contradicts this.
First, I never suggested we are purely products of our environment. Your belief that our conscience is purely formed by God is not an accurate representation of scripture (unless you are strictly referring to the biological creation of it in which case I would agree). If that were true, we would not be exhorted and taught to renew our minds with the Word and to think on certain things and not others. Clearly there is more than one avenue by which our conscience can be formed and impacted. Some avenues God is for and others He exhorts us not to be conformed to.
Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what
is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Philippians 4:8-9
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things
are noble, whatever things
are just, whatever things
are pure, whatever things
are lovely, whatever things
are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if
there is anything praiseworthymeditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
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I'm not sure what you mean when you say unregenerated spirit when you include mind, will, emotions, and intellect/soul as things that are not the spirit.
Soul and spirit are not the same.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Romans 816 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirsheirs of God and joint heirs with ChristThe un-regenerated spirit is the condition of our human spirit prior to the new birth.
Ephesians 2:1-5 - And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ JesusQuote:
I don't think we gain knowledge of Good and Evil when we become Christians. I think our understanding is refined in His terms, but no one has an excuse for sin or ignorance (cf Romans 1 etc).
I never indicated that the fact that we had a sinful nature was an excuse on our part for sin. Whose fault was the sinful nature's reality in the first place? Ours.
When we become Christians, our spirit begins to bear witness with the Holy Spirit in a way it never did before. So we may not gain detailed informational knowledge per se, but we definitely gain a witness from the Holy Spirit who leads and guides and that leadership and guidance certainly concerns good and evil among other things.