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In Romans 7, Paul was describing an earlier state he had found himself in, not his current state at the time of writing.

Whaaaaat? Paul wasn't writing in the present tense, when he wrote to the Roman church? Just where is this bit of ignorance found?

Paul was writing in his "here and now". It wasn't a retrospective tome, but instead was talking about his state at the time of writing to a contemporary group of believers, looking astray from the Truth. John was speaking theory, not immediacy. His writing is conceptual, not reality. Indeed, he speaks of our future state like Christ, not as we exist while alive. But, we are part of God's family, grafted into the True Vine...

1 John 3: 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. ...

But, I haven't found many Roman Catholics who even read much of Paul's letters, much less understand them. They mostly prefer talking to dead people and play with beads, and hoping to at least make it to some intermediate state where lit candles can help them down the road...!

Romans 8: 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

1 John 1 2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. ...