Man is spirit, soul, and body (Genesis 2:7), a responsible being.

Sin was introduced into him at the fall, as a distinct thing, an evil principle. (Genesis. 3; Romans. 5: 12.) Sins were the evil fruits as the result. Coming under the power of sin, the fleshly tendency became predominant.

Now the Epistle to the Romans brings out the threefold thought distinctly.

There is the responsible man, the sins he commits, the sin that entered into him at the fall.

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Man, then, ever remains in his distinct personality —

First, seen in Romans 1,2 & 3:20, as an object of judgment, and directly responsible to God;

Secondly, finding justification from his sins, reconciliation from his enmity, deliverance from the power of sin in God through Christ,

Finally to be delivered, as to his body, from the presence of sin when the Lord comes.

But it is the same person justified, reconciled, delivered, and redeemed, though entirely newly created, and made like the Lord Jesus at the end, when He comes. His sins, looked at as debts, are forgiven the moment he trusts in the blood of Christ, not because he has died with Christ, but because Christ died for him. His sin he is delivered from through his having died with Christ, and Christ risen and glorified being God's gift of eternal life to him. The word of God, through the death of Christ, purifies his soul from sin, he has died to it; besides it produces a distinct new nature in him, so that "I'' is now distinct from the flesh; he has two natures.

Besides, by the communication of Christ glorified to him he is set free in spirit now; the full deliverance will be applied to his body (Rom. 8: 11, 23–25) when the Lord Jesus comes. He will then be delivered from the presence of sin. Then, thank God, there will be the full shout, O, death, where is thy sting? O, grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law, but thanks be unto God that grivet us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.