"For when we were IN THE FLESH" (7:5),
i.e. BEFORE HAVING RECEIVED "the Spirit of God" (8:8-9) BY HAVING BELIEVED "the Word of Truth, the gospel of ... salvation"
(Ephesians 1:13 cf. I Corinthians 15:1-4)
Those who are "IN THE FLESH" are SLAVES TO its
"MOTIONS (PASSIONS) OF SINS" (7:5
cf. Ephesians 2:2-3)
These "MOTIONS (PASSIONS) ... were BY THE LAW"
(7:5)
- thus, "the STRENGTH OF SIN is THE LAW" (I Corinthians 15:56) - "for BY THE LAW is THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN" (3:20)
The LAW was the "MINISTRATION" of "DEATH"
and "CONDEMNATION" (II Corinthians 3:7,9)
The SPIRIT is the "MINISTRATION" of "LIFE"
and "RIGHTEOUSNESS" (II Corinthians 3:8-9)
Thus, the GENTILES being made PARTAKERS OF ISRAEL'S "SPIRITUAL
THINGS" (7:6;
15:27) -
are said to be "ABLE MINISTERS OF THE NEW COVENANT" (II Corinthians 3:6 cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34)
It is the GENTILES who are the CUSTODIANS OF "the
DISPENSATION OF the GRACE of God" (Ephesians 3:1-2) - UNDER WHICH ADMINISTRATION - the GREATER PART OF ISRAEL REMAINS BLINDED
(11:25-27 cf. 11:1-5)