They like to misquote and misapply Paul’s words as chief of sinners
"misquote"... Please provide evidence for this accusation.
"misapply" .. Who gets to determination which is. the correct "application"? If two people disagree, it seems the charitable and Christian response is to "agree to disagree", rather than arrogantly claim yourself as "right" as an excuse to attack others.
being present rather than past life.
1Tim. 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did
it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This
is a faithful saying, and worthy
of all acceptation, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
"of whom I
AM chief".
"AM" - "eimi" - PRESENT tense.
It seems you're going to have to do a great deal of twisting and mental gymnastics to try to change "present" to "past".
Rom. 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am
[present] carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do
[present] I allow not: for what I would, that do
[present] I not; but what I hate, that do
[present] I.
16 If then I do
[present] that which I would not, I consent
[present] unto the law that
it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do
[present] it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth
[present] no good thing: for to will is
present [present] with me; but
how to perform that which is good I find
[present] not.
19 For the good that I would I do
[present] not: but the evil which I would not, that I do
[present].
20 Now if I do
[present] that I would not, it is no more I that do
[present] it, but sin that dwelleth
[present] in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do
[present] good, evil is present
[present] with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see
[present] another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am
[present]! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve
[present] the law of God; but with the flesh [serve;
present] the law of sin.
