Romans 7

Vs 1 - Paul knows that his audience were men who knew the law of God.  They grew up with it.  They knew the priesthood, sacrifices and rituals that go with it.  They also knew that the law had authority over a person as long as they live.

Vs 2 – Paul uses the example of marriage.  In Paul’s day, a couple were bound together in marriage until one of the two died. 

Vs 3 - Then after that they were free to marry another otherwise it was considered adultery.  In Paul’s day a person who married another when their original spouse was alive was considered an adulterer.  Adultery is so devastating because it is more than sexual it is an issue of trust.  Trust has been broken.  Death is the only bond that breaks a marriage vow.

Vs 4 – When a person comes to Christ they die to the law and they belong to Him who was raised from the dead.  Jesus put the power and effects of the law to death on the Christ and He rose to bring a new life and era based on grace and love.  The results of this new life are fruitfulness to God.

Vv 5 – When we were controlled by sin and the passions it creates.  The law which was at work in our bodies brought only one thing and that was sinful death.

Vs 6 – By becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ we died to that which once bound us and now we are free or released from the law of sin and death.  We can serve in a new way God through the Holy Spirit.  The way of the Spirit is not of any written code.

Vs 7 – Paul then answers his critics and detractors by answering a question they had.  Is the law sin?  Paul says of course not.  The law revealed what sin was.  We would not have known about coveting if not for the law when it said, do not say do not covet. 

Vs 8 – But sin like any living force seized upon an opportunity and produced in Paul every kind of covetous desire.  When you know what is wrong, it produces a desire to do it, to prove you are not a prude.  Paul says, “For apart from the law sin dead.”

Vs 9 – Paul says that once he was alive apart from the law but when the commandments came sin became alive.  Mankind then knew what was wrong and sin sprang to life and mankind died.  Some would then argue then, why did God bring the law?  Sin was always present but it needed to be revealed for the sinister thing is was, so it could be dealt with once and for all.

Vs 10 – The paradox of the law was that even though is was intended to bring life because of human weakness and sin, it actually brought death.

Vs 11 – Sin seized the moment afforded to it by the commandments. It deceived Paul and through the commandments put him to death.  Sin blinds us to our real soul condition and robs us of a clear vision of our true condition.  Sin deceives, blind and leads us to death.

Vs 12 – Paul then reveals three things about the law.  First, it is holy.  Next, the commandments themselves are holy.  They were given by a holy God to His holy people.

The commandments are righteous and are designed to bring righteous living.  Lastly, the law is good.  The law was given by a good God to create a good and godly people.

Vs 13 – Paul then answers another question his critics presented.  Was that which is good become death to me?   Sin needs to be recognized as sin.  It cannot be excused, ignored or pandered with.  It will kill, rob and destroy.  It takes what is good and produces death.  The commandment showed what sin was and proved that is was utterly sinful.

Vs 14 – Paul then begins what is known as the great internal debate.  The law is spiritual.  Mankind is however unspiritual and a slave to sin.  We are dead in our trespasses and sin until we come to Christ.

Vs 15 – Paul says, we do not understand what we do.  What we want to do we cannot, will not or do not do.  We do what we hate.

Vs 16 – If we do what we do not want to do, we have to agree that the law is good.  The law shows us that we are sinners incapable of doing good, even if we wanted too.

Vs 17 – A paradox of life is that it is not us but sin living in us that causes us to do bad things.  This however is not an excuse but the cause of sinful thoughts, words and actions.

Vs 18 – There is nothing good that dwells in us.  Our sinful nature prevents that.  Man is under the delusion that we are getting better but in reality we are not.  We have a desire to do good, but it is impossible for us to do as long as sin rules our hearts.

Vs 19 – Whatever we do is not good even though we have a desire to do good.  Evil desires, and thoughts is what we do and we keep on doing.

Vs 20 – It is not us who are doing these things but sin and evil that dwell in us.  Paul is not excusing anyone he is just explaining that mankind is slaves to sin and the evil that dwells in us.

Vs 21 –The law Paul finds working in him is this, when he wants to good the reality is that sin is right there with him.  This is the same thing Cain faced when God told Him that sin was standing at the door of his heart and it was looking to master him but he could master it.  Cain’s greatest fault was that he allowed sin to perpetuate through him and be passed onto man.  That was a defining moment in the history of man.

Vs 22 – Paul says that he desired in his inner man to do what God wanted.  He saw the value and the beauty of the law.

Vs 23 – But he saw something else working in his members.  This created a war between what he wanted to do in his mind and heart.  He was a prisoner and slave to the law that was working in his members even though in his mind and heart he wanted to do God’s law and will.

Vs 24 – Paul saw the he was a wretched man.  In that moment he saw what he was.  He then cried out, “Who can save me from this body of death?”  That is a question every person has to answer.

Vs 25 – Paul however does leave himself, his audience or us in a hopeless or helpless position.  “Thank God”, he says for Jesus Christ our Lord.  He has rescued us from sin, it’s slavery and death it brings.  He has helped us to pass from death unto life.  Jesus is God’s answer and man’s remedy for sin.  Paul is a slave to God’s law in His mind but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.  Fortunately for Paul and us, who the Son sets free, is free indeed.