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Great Chapters of the Bible: Romans 7

by | Mar 28, 2022 | Bible Brief

     Romans seven is one of the great “foundation stones of truth” for the building of a successful and Christ-honoring Christian life.

     Romans seven is a tremendous discovery for all those who have questioned, “Why does the believer sin after he is saved?” Herein are the answers and remedy to the question. 

I. FREEDOM OR INDEPENDENCE FROM THE LAW: 7:1-6

A. The independence principle needed: 7:1

B. The independence principle illustrated: 7:2-3

  (i.e., “Laws of Marriage”)

Note: In this illustration Paul goes from the known to the unknown or from the natural to the spiritual. It is a drama which consists of two  husbands, a wife and an enemy to the marriage. 

…1st husband is “the Law”

…2nd husband is “Jesus Christ”

…wife is the believer

…enemy is man’s old sinful nature.

 C. The independence principle applied: 7:4-6

  1. The believer in Jesus Christ is dead to the Law: 7:4
  2. The emancipated believer is now free to be remarried: 7:4
  3. The emancipated believer is now free to have children (fruit) from the second marriage: 7:4 … the believer is dead to the Law … being dead we bear fruit.
  1. The emancipated believer is free to build a happy second marriage: 7:5-6 … (illustrated by contrast)

a. Sad memories of an old marriage: i.e., dead children: 7:5; cf. 6:19-21

b. The happy prospects of the new marriage: 7:6 … the believer is discharged from the Law – being discharged, we serve!

II. WHY DELIVERANCE FROM THE LAW IS DESIRABLE: 7:7-24

      (What made the old marriage so bad?)

A. The old husband was a good husband: 7:7-8; cf. vs. 12   … exposing the Old Sin Nature or the OSN.

  1.     Without the Law, Paul would not have known of the OSN’s existence? Vs. 7
  1.     Without the Law, Paul would not have known of the OSN’s power:  vs. 8.
  1.     Without the Law, Paul would not have known of the deceitfulness of the OSN: vs. 11.
  1. Without the Law, Paul would not have known of the effects of the OSN: vss. 10-11.
  1. Without the Law, Paul would not have known of the OSN’s exceeding sinfulness of the OSN: vss. 12-13.
  1. Without the Law, Paul would not have known of the OSN’s bondage: vs. 23.

B. The Old Sin Nature exposed the weakness of the old husband: 7:9-13; cf. 8:3.

C. The old sin nature attacks the weakness of the wife to resist: 7:14-24 … experienced in the new marriage before the believer discovers Romans 8:2.

  1. The OSN’s first attack upon the wife: 7:14-17.
  2. The OSN’s second attack upon the wife: 7:18-20 … OSN frustrates the practice of doing good.

Note: Observing that in this section there are three different Greek words all translated by the English “do” will be helpful in making this passage easier to be understood. A little research here will be rewarding.

  1. The wife discovers by experience (after being attacked twice by the OSN), the existence of two opposing laws: 7:21-23.
  1. The new marriage left unaided, also faces failure and misery: 7:24.

 III. JESUS CHRIST DELIVERS THE BELIEVER FROM A BAD MARRIAGE (THE LAW) AND CARNALITY (OSN): 7:25.

A. The declaration of independence: 7:25a

B. The summary of the whole matter: 7:25b

C. The doctrine of the whole matter: Romans 8:2