A man in a plain wool tunic sits on a stone step at night, seen from behind, his head in his hands.

The Book of

Romans 7

Paul knows what it is to want what is good and still not do it. He also knows who rescues.

25 verses≈ 5 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3:20The problemEveryone needs the gospel
3:21–5The answerRight with God by faith
6–8New lifeFree in Christ, led by the SpiritChapter 7
9–11God and IsraelHis promises stand
12–16Living itLove in a church of Jews and Gentiles

Release from the Law

Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?

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For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead

Romans 7:4

For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.

we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code

Romans 7:6

Bound while alive

Whiteboard

Paul’s picture is simple. The law has authority over a person “as long as he lives.” A death ends the claim. Believers have “died to the law through the body of Christ,” so that they belong to “Him who was raised from the dead” and bear fruit to God, serving “in the new way of the Spirit.”

Reflect

The new way

Paul says believers now serve “in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” Do you relate to God more like someone keeping a list, or like someone who belongs to “Him who was raised from the dead”? What would serving Him out of belonging look like this week?

God’s Law Is Holy

Someone might ask

What then shall we say? Is the law sin?

Paul

Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law.

For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead.

Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death.

the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good

Romans 7:12

Question

Quick question

Paul asks, “Is the law sin?” and answers at once. Then he says what the law did for him.

What does Paul say the law did for him?

Struggling with Sin

Someone might ask

Did that which is good, then, become death to me?

Paul

Certainly not! But in order that sin might be exposed as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

Paul

A dark, tangled thorn bush on a hillside against a night sky, with a thin line of dawn along the horizon.

So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.

0:09

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.

Romans 7:24–25

So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Pray

Who will rescue me?

Bring God the struggle you know best, the good you want to do and don’t, the thing you hate and still do. Be honest with Him, as Paul was: “What a wretched man I am!” Then give Him thanks with Paul’s own words: “Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

You’ve experienced

Romans 7

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A verse to carry with you

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romans 7:24–25

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