Question 114

But can those, who are converted to God, perfectly keep these commands?

No: But even the holiest men, while in this life, have only small beginnings of this obedience;^a yet so, that with a sincere resolution, they begin to live, not only according to some, but all the commands of God.^b

1. a. Romans 7:14

   Romans 7:14

   ^7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

   ^7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

2. b. Romans 7:22, 15ff; James 3:2

   Romans 7:22; Romans 7:15–25

   ^7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ^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. ^7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ^7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ^7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. ^7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ^7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ^7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ^7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

   ^7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law. ^7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. ^7:16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good. ^7:17 In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. ^7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ^7:19 For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. ^7:20 And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. ^7:21 So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ^7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law. ^7:23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. ^7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ^7:25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

   James 3:2

   ^3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

   ^3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible