Romans, Part 20
Romans 7:1-6
Introduction
- Romans 6:23 recap …
- The pleasure and profit of sin do not deserve to be called fruit
- Sinners are ones who continuously repeat the same negative actions.
- Shame came into the world with sin, and is still the certain effect of it linger on
- The end of sin is death
- Though sin may seem appealing; the end is constantly bitter, and so …
- From this condemnation the believer is set at liberty, when made free from sin
- The gift of God is eternal life
- And this gift is through Jesus Christ our Lord
- Christ purchased it, prepared it, prepares us for it, preserves us to it; he is the All in all in our salvation
- Read Romans 7:1- 6 / Pray
Point 1 – Dead to the Law (1-3)
- Paul is picturing himself as one who desires (wants) to live righteously
-- His desire to live righteously is forever on his mind; hence his calling to teach
- Romans 7 gives us a very unique insight to humans; to our current condition
- Prayerfully, these few verses will give us additional insight into our own witness
- APP: We are going through Romans to be able to proclaim Christ to others
- Prayerfully, the Lord has been teaching us and speaking to each on this very issue
- If we are free from sin – we now have a very important confession to realize
- You and I – and all sinners who’ve confessed Christ – are now DEAD to the Law
- We not only have no more bonds to sin, but the Law is behind us as well
- Another way: If we are no longer alive to ourselves, then we are dead to SIN!
- Interestingly enough, Paul uses the act of marriage to identify this for us
-- Why? Romans 6:19 – Using human explanations we can grasp and apply
- Understandably, the marriage covenant is broken if one of the spouses dies;
- But his explanation is to bring us to a better understanding of who we are
- All things are temporary; even our lives; but to God we should be focused forever
- The death to sin, and our fellowship in that, happened only at the cross
- Galatians 2:19-20, “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
- Since we are eternally joined to Christ, He becomes the husband of the bride
- VERY IMP: Our loyalty must always be to Jesus; and then everything else
- TRANS: So, if we are no longer bonded to sin; what shall we do now?
Point 2 – Bearing Fruit (4-6)
- Notice in verse 4 the use of the term “bear fruit”; very central theme in Bible
- Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
- Go to John 15:1-4 – (Expound on fruit, responsibility, who’s in charge, etc.)
- Bearing fruit has been commanded since the very beginning, and it’s our mission
- We spent so much time bearing fruit for the world that we need to look spiritually
- Paul reminds us that we are to die to what used to control us
- That is, to put off the things of this world and focus only on Kingdom issues
- This will raise up in us a newness of Spirit, and allow us to serve Christ
- Not in the old ways (animal sacrifice, Law, etc.) – but persevering for Him
Conclusion
- All that separates us from living a life for God and today is our current choices
- Will we take the time to repent, and focus on Him; or live the way we are
- The sinful natures are gone; and a new life has been given to all of us
- Pray
