Romans Chapter 7:1-23 (Lesson)

10-09-2011 Lesson Romans7:1-23 It's all about the victory

In the first 6 verses of Romans 7 Paul gives a great illustration of how we were before Christ came into our life.

About how a woman in marriage to her husband is bonded with him and his law but, only if he dies will she have the freedom from that bondage.

If she marries someone else while he lives..she is an adulterous and under the law of the Jews she was to be stoned to death.

Her husband must die to be in marriage to another.

We all were identified with Adam and Eve...because of the sinful nature of Adam and Eve we were identified with them...we were married to their nature so to speak. But, now we have Christ and we have a new identity...our names have been changed because our first husband has died...we have a new identity in Christ Jesus...old things have passed away behold all things have become new. 2 Cor:5-17

Sin is like trying to live with a straight jacket on but, we are set free because we now have a new relationship ...but, before we can be really free from our first nature...it must be dead..we must accept our new from Christ. Lay the old to rest to be really free.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What does Paul mean in when he says we are not “under law but under grace”?

To be “under law” means that we must do something for God; to be “under grace” means that God does something for us.

Too many Christians are burdened with religious rules and regulations and good resolutions, not realizing that it is impossible to find holiness through their own efforts.

It's sad to see Christians living “under law,” striving in their own efforts to please God, when the new position they have in Christ and the new power in the Spirit make it possible for them to enjoy victory and blessing by grace.

Paul explains this in chapter 7...giving us both sides

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

What shall we say then? Is the Law sin?

How would we have known sin if it were not for the law?

Paul says on the On the contrary, I would not have been conscious of sin, except through law.

Paul knew that some would think that the law was sin because of the way he was presenting it here.

Paul will now show that the Law is good; it reveals God’s will. The difficulty is not with the Law; the difficulty is with us. The flesh is at fault.

Paul becomes very personal in the remainder of this chapter. Notice that he uses.... I, me and myself; they are used forty-seven times in this section.

The experience is the struggle Paul had within himself.

He tried to live for God in the power of his new nature.

He found it was impossible....so where does that leave us?

The Law was an X-ray of his heart.

That is what the Law does for you and me.

The Word of God is called a mirror; it reveals what we are.

If you have a spot on your face, the mirror will show it to you, but it can’t remove the spot. But, God has a place to remove it

Romans 7:13-20

13 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; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.