Romans 7
Observations Respecting the LawIn this section, Paul continues his discussion about the relationship between believers and the law. He explains that through our union with Christ, we are freed from the law's power to condemn us and provoke our sin. This freedom allows us to serve God in a new way, no longer bound to the old letter of the law but empowered by the Spirit to live for God.v. 1: Paul addresses those who "know the law", meaning his Jewish Christian readers who were familiar with the Mosaic law. He reminds them that the law only has authority over a person as long as they are alive (Romans 7:1 a). Just as a marriage is only binding until one spouse dies, the law's power over us ends when we die. v. 2-3: Paul uses the example of marriage to illustrate this principle. A married woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry another man without being considered an adulteress (Romans 7:2-3 b). – v. 4-6: This is how it is with believers and the law. When we were "in the flesh", meaning in our sinful state, the law stirred up our sinful desires, leading to "fruit unto death" (Romans 7:5 c). But now, through our union with Christ's death, we have been "delivered from the law" (Romans 7:6 d). We are no longer bound to the law as a covenant of works, but have been joined to Christ in a new covenant of grace. – This frees us to "serve in newness of Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (Romans 7:6 e). We no longer have to rely on our own efforts to keep the law, but can serve God from a renewed heart, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is a much better way to live than being bound to the letter of the law, which only brings condemnation. Excellency of the Law; Usefulness of the LawIn this section, Paul addresses a potential misunderstanding about the law. Some might think that because the law stirs up sin, it must be sinful itself. Paul firmly rejects this idea and demonstrates the excellence and usefulness of the law. He explains how the law reveals sin and prepares us to turn to Christ for salvation, even as our sinful nature tries to misuse the law.v. 7: Paul asks, What shall we say then? Is the law sin? He immediately answers, God forbid. The law is not sinful; instead, it helps us understand what sin is. Paul says, I had not known sin but by the law. For example, he did not fully understand the sinfulness of coveting until the law said, Thou shalt not covet (Romans 7:7 f). The law acts like a mirror, showing us the sin in our hearts that we might not have recognized otherwise. v. 8: Paul explains how sin uses the law to provoke disobedience. He says, Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence (sinful desires) (Romans 7:8 g). Our sinful nature often desires what is forbidden. Without the law, sin remains "dead" in the sense that it is not fully visible or active. But the law brings sin to light, and our corrupt nature rebels against its restrictions. v. 9: Paul reflects on his own experience. He says, I was alive without the law once, meaning he once thought he was righteous and in good standing with God. But when the commandment came—in its full spiritual meaning—sin revived, and I died . The law showed him the true depth of his sinfulness, and he realized he was spiritually dead. v. 10-11: Paul explains that the commandment, which was meant to bring life, brought death instead because of sin. He says, Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me (Romans 7:10-11 h). Sin twists the law's good purpose and uses it to bring guilt and condemnation. This shows how deceitful and destructive sin is. – v. 12: Despite sin’s misuse of the law, Paul affirms its goodness. He says, The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12 i). The problem is not with the law, but with sin, which corrupts our hearts and twists God’s commands. v. 13: Paul concludes by saying that the law reveals the true nature of sin. He writes, Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good (Romans 7:13 j). The law exposes sin for what it truly is: exceedingly sinful. By revealing sin’s corruption, the law prepares us to see our need for a Savior.In summary, the law is not the problem. It is holy, just, and good. Its purpose is to reveal sin and bring us to repentance. But sin uses the law to provoke rebellion and bring guilt. This shows the depth of our need for God’s grace through Jesus Christ. – The Struggle with Sin In this section, Paul describes the internal struggle that every Christian faces. Even though believers want to do what is right, they often find themselves doing the opposite. Paul is honest about how difficult it is to overcome sin by our own strength. He explains that the law is good, but there is something within us—our sinful nature—that makes us weak. Paul shows that we need God's grace through Jesus Christ to deliver us from this struggle. v. 15: Paul says, “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” (Romans 7:15 k). He admits that he often ends up doing the very things he does not want to do. This shows the deep conflict between his desire to do good and the power of sin inside him. v. 16: “If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good” (Romans 7:16 l). Paul knows that the law is right and good, because he wants to follow it, even though he fails. v. 17: “But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me” (Romans 7:17 m). He explains that when he sins, it is not his true self that wants to do wrong, but the sinful nature that lives within him. v. 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” (Romans 7:18 n). Paul admits that, by himself, he cannot do what is good. He has the desire, but not the power. v. 19: “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” . He repeats how hard it is to overcome sin, showing this struggle happens again and again. v. 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” (Romans 7:20 o). Sin still has power inside him, even though he does not want to obey it. v. 21: “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good” . Paul recognizes a “law” or principle: even when he wants to do good, evil is always close by. v. 22: “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man” (Romans 7:22 p). In his heart, Paul truly loves God’s law and wants to obey it. v. 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” (Romans 7:23 q). He describes a battle inside himself: his mind wants to please God, but his body is pulled toward sin. v. 24: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24 r). Paul cries out for help, feeling desperate because of the struggle with sin. v. 25: “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25 s). Paul finally gives thanks to God, because through Jesus Christ, he can have victory. He then sums up the conflict: “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” This means that, even as a believer, he still faces this struggle, but his hope and deliverance are found in Jesus Christ.
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