"Believers today are
not under law, either as a means of justification or as a rule of life,
but are justified by grace and are called upon to walk in grace...
Primarily here [Rom. 7:14-25] we have a believing Jew struggling to
obtain holiness by using the law as a rule of life and resolutely
attempting to compel his old nature to be subject to it. In Christendom
now the average Gentile believer goes through the same experience; for
legality is commonly taught almost everywhere. Therefore when one is
converted it is but natural to reason that now one has been born of God
it is only a matter of determination and persistent endeavor to subject
oneself to the law, and one will achieve a life of holiness. And God
Himself permits the test to be made in order that His people may learn
experimentally that the flesh in a believer is no better than the flesh
in an unbeliever. When he ceases from self-effort he finds deliverance
through the Spirit by occupation with the risen Christ."
--H.A. Ironside
