Principle of Evil

So I discover then the principle; I the one willing to do good, evil lies near me.*

Is our battle over the flesh or over evil? it is both, as we find that evil has taken opportunity through the weakness of the flesh. Therefore there exists the concept of "working out our salvation," of the inward new creation becoming outward reality, and there is something that opposes this, evil, that is working out the same. So I write not to dictate that you believe as I do but that the word of God be alive and active in working out His divine nature, within the children of God. Let us begin with the one principle; "I will to do good, evil lies near me."*

also seen, another principle, in sight of my members, opposing the principle of my mind leading me captive to the principle of sin existing in sight of my members.^

"Also seen," states that Paul builds on the first principle existing, which is "I will to do good, evil lies near me," and he sees another principle, "in sight of my members, opposing..." This word for in sight could mean spatially: in, inside, at, among, with" or logically "by means of, with, because of." We have more insight in that Paul uses members elsewhere to mean a limb or any part of the body, so this principle exists in a member of the body, or "in sight of my members." Here we see the "principle of sin" is "in sight of my member" and there is another principle that wars against "the principle of my mind" leading me into captivity to sin. Is the principle of sin opposing my mind and leading me captive to itself? or perhaps it is evil opposing my mind and leading me captive to the principle of sin?

so then it is no longer myself working out the same but sin inhabiting me, for I know that nothing good inhabits in me, that exists in the flesh of me, for I have the desire, the right, also however not working it out.*

I become a child of God, born of Spirit, I am a new creation but do I receive a new body?  No, as the old covenant temple was in a corrupt body, the earth, the new covenant temple is within a corrupt body, the flesh, as the Spirit of God dwells within the believer. Because we are left in this world, there exists a principle, "I will to do good, evil lies near me." To reign over evil is to rule over sin in the flesh, this is the weakness of our carnality, the knowledge of evil, and through the desires of the flesh the devil deceives us. Paul "discovers" these principles after he teaches a righteousness by faith according to grace, the teachings of baptism, and before teaching of the Spirit of Life, so we see a process. Having been established in faith and grace these principles lead us unto something that will deliver us from this wretched state, propelling us into newness of Life. Paul writes there is fruit that leads us into sanctification and its end is Life.

in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.^

Having established that the child is born of Spirit, having received the gift of righteousness by faith according to grace, not by works, and that grace reigns through righteousness, we have understanding that to rule over or reign over sin this will be under grace not the Mosaic Law. Such is important in regard to many things, but in context it is in regard to understanding that the child is not bound to the covenant of the Law but in covenant with Christ, the child doesn't receive a spirit of fear and condemnation. The Mosaic Law had power in the fear of punishment, bringing judgment and condemnation. In the new Christ nailed the handwriting adverse to us to the cross and we are being perfected in love. Without understanding, Satan would use these spirits of fear and condemnation, against the principle of the mind, causing great stumbling.

I approve the laws of God through the inner man.*

"Evil lies near..." Cain was told sin was crouching near, that he must rule over it. Paul had a "will to do good," but he found the same principle that evil lies near. Notice the word approve, earlier Paul speaks of a mind unapproved and we see in the new covenant a new heart, the will to do good in inner man, which approves of God's laws, and later we see of an approved mind that accepts God's principles. So we see both, a heart and a mind that approves God's principles. God judges right, he begins inward and works outward, unlike legalism which cleanses the outward, judging by appearances. How can a person approve of God's principles inward? only by having a new heart and Spirit within him, this is what Jesus said, one must be born of Spirit, and this is what the prophets foresaw. Later, Paul writes the carnal mind is hostile toward God, and that the immature believer is tossed to and fro as they can't approve of the principles of God.

also seen, another principle, in sight of my members, opposing the principle of my mind leading me captive to the principle of sin existing in sight of my members.^

A member is a part of the body, not the whole, and it would seem this "member" or part of the body is the mind. The principle of the mind states I must subject the mind to God's principles. We are given a new heart but the mind must be renewed. We are to subject the mind and the principle of sin in the flesh to the laws of God. First, we are renewed inward, then we must subject the mind to God's laws, which is not done adhering to rules and regulations but by having an approved mind and this mind is by a Spirit of renewal, to be the mind of Christ. Truly, evil is present with us and there is exists a principle "opposing the principle of my mind leading me captive."

so then I at the same time subject, to the principles of God, the mind and also the other, flesh, the principle of sin.* 

Closely examining this verse in Greek, as many translations differ, we have better understanding. We subject the mind to the principles of God and also subject the principle of sin, which is in the flesh, to the laws of God.^ But I can't do the one without first doing the other. The principle of the mind is that I need to subject at the same time the mind and the principle of sin to the principles of God. So we define that the principle of sin exists in the flesh, in sight of the member, the mind, which must be subjected to the principles of God. So putting the deeds of the flesh to death is to subject the principle of sin and the mind to the principles of God. Later we will see how to. Romans 8:5-6

on account of the mind of the flesh, enmity to God, not placing submission the principles of God, in fact it has no power^  

The principle of the mind is that I subject it to the principles of God. However, the carnal mind can't subject itself to the principles of God. So here is where confusion enters, and possibly where men fall from grace, going back to a works justification and forms of self-abasement of the flesh. But "Thanks be to to God through Jesus Christ, the Lord of us," we can overcome! How? The one justified by works would say he did it through elemental principles of "do not touch, taste, and handle" but the man of grace has found His grace is sufficient as His power is perfected in this weakness of the flesh.

For the principle of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus frees you away from the principle of sin and death.* 

Another principle, yeah! This principle accomplishes what the Mosaic Law could not. "For the other,  the Law was powerless, weak through the flesh, the one God sending the one His Son in sight of likeness of sinful flesh and in place of sin condemned sin in the flesh."* God did not send His Son to condemn, man was already condemned under the Law, but Jesus came to save, condemning sin in the flesh. How did he condemn sin in the flesh? well, He gave us a means to be obedient to the laws of God, a new heart a "will to do good," and the means to subject the mind to the principles of God through the power of the Spirit and Truth, therefore breaking the hold on us, the dominion Satan had through the weakness. So we reign over evil that took advantage through the weakness, this is done under grace, not the Law.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself in like manner partook the same, that through the one death render powerless the one holding the dominion of death, that is, the devil,* 

We see Jesus took dominion over death away from Satan, and in Him we die to the flesh but also we receive Life thus have dominion over death. The fear of punishment and death was the power the Law had to deter sin, but through the weakness of the flesh, sin did abound. Perhaps, this is the principle Paul is saying that wars against the principle of the mind; evil taking advantage through the weakness of the flesh, through the carnal mind to subject the child of God to the principle of sin? The Mosaic Law also brought judgement and condemnation, but in Christ we are justified by His blood, thus there is no condemnation to those in Christ. Fear and condemnation are cruel tools of the devil that destroy the fruit of righteousness sown in peace, which is needed during transformation, the renewing of the carnal mind.

The one also existing in sight of the flesh, power not able to please God.*

We know that our victory is through faith, without faith we can't please God, and faith is increased by the word of God, and it is the Spirit that gives Life, therefore we see the double edge sword of Spirit and Truth in this battle. It is a spiritual battle, it is through this weakness of the flesh that there is an opportunity for evil to rule. The principle of evil wages war against the principles of God, "another principle, in sight of my members, opposing the law of my mind leading me captive..." It is like a tug a war between the heart and mind where the carnal mind has no power to overcome, so one is brought into captivity to the principle of sin.

The wage of sin is death, thus the wretched state of the child of God is that he has this newness of life in him but finds not the ability, "power not able to please God." The solution is in transformation by the renewal of the mind, the child finds God's laws, that already approved in his heart, he now finds acceptable in the mind. The one born of Spirit has God's divine nature, no longer defined by sinful nature thus inwardly delights in God's laws. We find meditating on the teachings of baptism helpful in renewal, as abiding in truth is our sanctification in truth, glorification, holiness. As written in the teachings of baptism we die to sin, having participated in the likeness of the death of Christ.

For those guided by the Spirit of God, who exist Sons of God.*

It is the Spirit that guides us into all truth, it is the Truth that sanctifies the child of God, the young person in Christ know this, as John writes, he abides in the Word of Life and has overcome the evil one. "The mind of the flesh is hostile toward God it doesn't subject to the laws of God, in fact it has no power to do so."* This overcoming is through transformation by the renewal of the mind, so that the principle of the mind, that it subjects to the laws of God is accomplished, thus the mind approves of God's laws. "Thanks be to to God through Jesus Christ, the Lord of us, so then I at the same time subject to the principles of God the mind, also the flesh, the principle of sin." We can only subject the mind to the principles of God through renewal. 

Ezekiel states sin was conceived in Satan's heart. We tend to blame Adam and Eve but if it had been us we would have fallen to the devil's temptation, God knew this. Creation was subjected to futility for a purpose, which speaks of the eternal purpose in Christ, that we are a new creation, like nothing else, being transformed into His image. Man received the knowledge of good and evil, but did not Satan choose to sin before? Without such a creation that chooses His goodness over evil God is left with a creation subject to do evil. How does He solve such a issue? well He has children, He adopts, he creates a new creation, of His Spirit. He loves and instructs His children in His ways. He establishes a heavenly body, a family, called the household of faith. Evil opposes such a creation. 

We see principle of evil, "opposing the law of my mind leading me captive," and we see other  principles:
A Principle of good or of God, pertaining to the child of God who is a new creation, approving God's laws in the inner man, having a will to do good.

A Principle of the mind, it must be subjected to God's principles. 

A Principle of sin, existing in sight of a member (weakness of the flesh) 

A Principle of evil, evil lies near me, in sight of a member, exploiting the weakness.
A Principle of the Spirit of Life, a new heart and Spirit inwardly, renewing my mind so that its approves God's laws.