DRAWING NEAR
Would you describe yourself as a rigid “rule keeper”? Why or why not?
Ask God to show you new truths in this study about His power over sin and His love for you.
THE CONTEXT
In this doctrinal masterpiece, Paul, the consummate theologian, has first established the sad, sinful state of human beings. All are under condemnation. However, the good news includes the miracle of justification—a righteousness from God available by grace through faith. But the gospel received from God and preached by Paul doesn’t stop there. It also includes sanctification—that truth of absolute identification with Christ (in His death, burial, and resurrection), by which God transforms redeemed sinners into the very likeness of Christ.
Knowing that his readers—especially Jewish ones—would have many questions about how the Old Testament laws relate to their faith in Christ, Paul sets out to explain that law convicts unbelievers (and believers) of sin, but it cannot deliver anyone from sin. He also addresses the issue of why believers still struggle with sinful desires.
KEYS TO THE TEXT
The Law: In the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, a unique law code was established by direct revelation from God to direct His people in their worship, in their relationship to Him, and in their social relationships with one another. Israel was not the only nation to have a law code. Such collections were common among the countries of the ancient world. The biblical law code, or the Mosaic Law, was different from other ancient Near Eastern law codes in several ways. Biblical law was different, first of all, in its origin. Throughout the ancient world, the laws of most nations were believed to originate with the gods, but they were considered intensely personal and subjective in the way they were applied. By contrast, the biblical concept was that law comes from God, issues from His nature, and is holy, righteous, and good. Furthermore, at the outset of God’s ruling over Israel at Sinai, God the great King gave His laws. These laws were binding on His people, and He upheld them. Furthermore, His laws were universal and an expression of His love for His people (Exod. 19:5–6). If salvation has always been by faith and never by works, and if the covenant of promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, what purpose did the Law have? Paul’s answer is direct and sobering: The purpose of the Law was to demonstrate to man his total sinfulness, his inability to please God by his own works, and his need for mercy and grace. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
UNLEASHING THE TEXT
Read 7:1–25, noting the key words and definitions next to the passage.
Romans 7:1–25 (NKJV)
1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
dominion (v. 1)—jurisdiction
2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
become dead (v. 4)—literally “you were made to die”; in response to a sinner’s faith, God makes the sinner forever dead to the condemnation and penalty of law
married to another (v. 4)—united with Christ in a permanent relationship
fruit (v. 4)—a transformed life that manifests new attitudes and actions
5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
flesh (v. 5)—people’s unredeemed humanness, that is, that remnant of the old man that will remain with each believer until each receives his or her glorified body
sinful passions (v. 5)—the overwhelming impulses to think and do evil
aroused by the law (v. 5)—The unbeliever’s rebellious nature is awakened when restrictions are placed on him or her.
fruit to death (v. 5)—Sin brings a harvest of eternal judgment in the life of an unbeliever.
6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
delivered from the law (v. 6)—Because we died in Christ, we are no longer subject to the condemnation and penalties of the law.
oldness of the letter (v. 6)— the external, written law code that produced only condemnation
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”
Is the law sin? (v. 7)—Paul wanted to make sure his readers understood that the law was not imperfect or evil but rather only a beacon to point out evil.
8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.
opportunity (v. 8)—a starting point or base of operations
dead (v. 8)—that is, dormant
9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.
sin . . . deceived me (v. 11)—by causing people to think they could find life in keeping the law
12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
carnal (v. 14)—Literally, “of flesh”; that is, incarcerated in unredeemed humanness; Paul is not in the flesh, but the flesh is in him.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
sin that dwells in me (v. 17)—Paul’s sin flowed not from his new, redeemed nature but from his unredeemed humanness or flesh.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23 But I see 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.
law of my mind (v. 23)—equiv-alent to the new inner self
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
deliver (v. 24)—to rescue from danger, as in a soldier pulling his wounded comrade from the battlefield
25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
1) What illustration does Paul use to explain the manner in which believers are dead to the law?
2) Underline every reference to the law in this passage. Circle words and phrases that speak about sin.
3) What does Paul say we will wrestle with the rest of our lives (v. 1)?
4) How do you reconcile Paul’s discussion of the believer as an entirely new creation, dead to sin, in chapter 6 with his admission of a huge struggle with sin in chapter 7?
GOING DEEPER
Note the psalmist’s high view of God’s law in Psalm 19:7–11.
Psalm 19:7–11
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
EXPLORING THE MEANING
5) What are the benefits of knowing and obeying God’s Word?
6) Is there a contradiction between Paul’s observation that the Law is a demanding, unyielding code of condemnation and David’s obvious affection for the Law in Psalm 19? Why or why not?
7) Read 1 Peter 2:11. How does this command echo the internal struggle described by Paul in this passage?
8) Where did Paul ultimately find hope in his struggle to live as God commands?
TRUTH FOR TODAY
Sin is so wretched and powerful that, even in a redeemed person, it hangs on and contaminates his living and frustrates his inner desire to obey the will of God.
REFLECTING ON THE TEXT
9) In what areas are you frustrated by your sinful inclinations? Based on chapter 7, how effective is legalism in fighting the flesh?
10) What have you learned in this passage that convicts you? Comforts you? Why?
11) Think about one thing in your life you should be doing. Think about one thing in your life that you should not be doing. Write those items in the space below and make them a source of prayer in the week to come.
PERSONAL RESPONSE
Write out additional reflections, questions you may have, or a prayer.
ADDITIONAL NOTES