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| Chapter 7 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ Know ye not, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), how the law hath dominion over man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman who hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then, if while her husband liveth she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, ye also have become dead to the law by the body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, being dead wherein we were held, that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7 ¶ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid! Nay, I would not have known sin, but through the law; for I would not have known lust, except that the law had said, "Thou shalt not covet." 8 But sin, taking occasion through the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence; for without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died; 10 and the commandment which was ordained to bring life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me and by it slew me. 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid! But sin, that it might appear as sin, was 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 approve not. For what I would do, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do. 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 dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not. 19 For the good that I would do, I do not; but the evil which I would not do, that I do. 20 Now if I do that which I would not do, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 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. 24 O wretched man that I am! 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 the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. |
7:1-25 Victory through delivery from the Law. Romans 7 deals with "We are not under the Law." The word "Law" appears many times in chapter 7, these are referring to the Old Testament Law. The wrong way of life (Sinful) and the Law are closely connected 1 Cor 15:56. The Law sets the limits we must not pass, but the Law gives no power to obey the Law, so we can only receive condemnation. Note how many times "I, me, my, myself" appear in this chapter. It is a "personal chapter," all about ‘self.’ The word "law" appears over 18 times in this chapter. v1 seems to conflict with Rom 6:14. 7:1-6 The Law and the Christian, we have died to the Law. v2-6 Paul uses an illustration from the Old Testament to show how a Christian’s life relates to the Law. In a marriage the two people become one, the laws of marriage will control until one of the people die’s. The woman represents a person who was born under the condemnation of the Law (officially said to be unfit for use by the Law), this is like her first husband. The only way she could escape the marriage law was for her first husband to die. This is a picture of a Christian being made free through the death of Christ, the ‘first life’ has died and allowed marriage to Christ. Many people try to become holy in the Christian life by keeping the Law, this is spiritual adultery. We died to the Law with Christ. If it was a "divorce" then the "Old Husband" would still be alive and keep affecting their life. But it was "death," total separation from the Law, now we are raised to a new life, able to put Christ first in every way. If we want to live our lives in the shadow of the Law then we must live under the condemnation of the Law. When God joined us to Christ He cut us loose from the Law because Jesus has taken the condemnation upon Himself. Rom 8:1. It is good to note that "we can bring ‘fruit’ unto God," v4, showing we are not physically dead and that we are still able to work and live for God. 7:7-25 The Law and wrong(sin), how to correct errors. 7:7-14 Grace and the Law. v1 Perhaps it may look to you as if sin and the Law are the same thing, this cannot be true. The Law tells us when we have done wrong things (sinned). Paul said that he would not have felt guilty of wanting things (lusting) except the Law said "do not covet (desire or want other peoples property." Without the Law I was alive but as soon as I heard the Law I came under its condemnation, I died. The Law does not cause sin, but when we know God’s standard, the Law, then because by our nature we do not wish to obey Him we break His Law. The Law shows sin’s true nature, disobedience of God. Our sin nature may be "a sleep" until we hear and know of the Law, then it makes us "wake up" and act, this is why Paul said in v9 "when the commandment came, sin revived and I died." 7:14-25 The Law and our nature. v12 Paul now points out that because of the source of the Law, God, the effect of the law is spiritual. This makes us ask "if the law is spiritual why does it not make a person holy who obey it? "It is not the fault of the Law; it is due to our nature v14, "we are ‘carnal’ sold under sin." 1 Cor 2:14; 1 Cor 3:1-3; Rom 6:11-13; 1 Cor 2:15,16. v15 Paul has found that he is unable to do the right things, the ‘new man’ is for ever being stopped by the old ‘I’ Gal 5:17. We died to the old nature, it should not still control us, but the old nature has not died, we will have it until we go to be with the Lord. Read Rom 6:1-10, note v11, "is it true for you?" God’s law is holy and perfect, v12. v13 Does this mean that something which is holy, the law, is dangerous. No, sin is doing just what it was meant to do, using the apparent holiness of the law, it cause me to know what was sin and do it. v18-23 We all still have this wrong (sinful) nature, we do not have the power to win on our own. Just because we are dead to the Law and sin does not mean we will not be tempted, sin and temptation are still very much alive. Please note that God may test us to make us grow, these may appear as temptations but are specially setup just for you by God. 7:25 Victory through Jesus. v24 Paul asks "what’s the use?" Note Paul asks "who" not "what" can save me?). v25 Paul knows the answer, "Jesus can help me" We can have victory through Jesus. This Paul had already explained in Romans 6. This now leads us onto the wonderful hope explained in Romans chapter 8. |
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