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Under Law
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In Romans 6, Paul says to believers, "you are not under law, but under grace"
(6:14b). The believer has been freed from "the law" (as it functioned
in the Old Testament era), and is now in the realm of grace (in Jesus Christ).
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Paul continues this thought in 7:1-6. Believers have "died to the law"
(7:4); thus "we have been released from the law" (7:6). We "have
been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and
not in old way of the written code" (7:6, NIV). The
Law is Good, But…
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In Romans, the "realm of law" and the "realm of sin" are related.
In Romans 5, Paul says, "the law was added so that the trespass might increase"
(5:20a, NIV). He later says that our sinful passions were "aroused by the
law" (7:5). This might provoke some questions. For example, "Is the
law sin?" (7:7a); or "Is the law responsible for people's sin?"
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Paul answers, "Certainly not!" From Paul's experience, he knows that
the law reveals sin (7:7b). It "was intended to bring life" (7:10).
It is "holy, righteous, and good" (7:12).
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However, the law provided opportunity for sin to attack, and sin seized (took
advantage of) the opportunity (7:8, 11). When the commandment said, "Do not
do this or you will die," sin seized the opportunity and said, "Do this.
It's worth it!" And Paul says, "sin…deceived me, and through the
commandment put me to death" (7:11b). Sin is "utterly sinful!"
(7:13)
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The law is not responsible for sin and death. The law is good, but the law is
not able to make us right with God. The law is not able to make us holy and pure,
because sinful people are not able to obey the law. The
Struggle
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Paul continues to talk about life under the law in Romans 7:14-25. Read 7:14-25.
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The problem is not the law, which is spiritual (from God). The problem is "I,"
for I am unspiritual, under the control of sin (7:14).
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Paul describes a conflict between what he "wants to do" and what he
actually does. 1.
What does he want to do? Why does he want to do it? (7:18-19, 22, 25b)
2.
Why does he fail to do the good that he wants to do? (7:17-18, 20, 23, 25c)
3.
Paul says, "Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do
it, but it is sin living in me that does it" (7:20, NIV; cf. 7:16-17). Do
you think this means that "I" am not responsible for sin because I am
a victim to sin? Explain. 4.
What are the main lessons you learn from Romans 7:14-24?
After
talking about the struggle with sin, Paul says, "What a wretched man I am!
Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (7:24, NIV) 5.
What is the answer to Paul's question? (7:25a)
Reflection/Application
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Do you want to do good? How do you determine what is good and evil? What is the
basis for human ethics? The Bible says God is the ultimate Lawgiver. Without God
there is no real basis for ethics. If you don't believe this, consider the arguments
of Christian philosophers.
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Do you want to do good, but struggle in attempting to do it? Do you relate to
the person in Romans 7:14-24? What particular struggles with sin are you currently
facing? What are you doing to overcome these struggles? Are you attempting to
do it in your own strength?
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If you attempting to overcome sin in your own strength, you will only become more
frustrated. If you want to be freed from the controlling power of sin, you need
to be rescued from it. You need the Savior. You need to constantly live "under
grace." This week, read Romans 6-8, and make notes that specifically address
the struggles you are facing.
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