Romans chapter 7
Introduction
In chapter 6, Paul taught that believers are dead to Sin and alive to God through their union with Christ. However, an important question remains: what is the role of the law in the believer’s life? Chapter 7 addresses this tension, explaining the Christian’s relationship to the Mosaic Law, the limits of the law in dealing with Sin, and the inner conflict that believers experience in their struggle against sin.
Text Summary
1. Freed from the Law Through Death with Christ (Romans 7:1-6)
Paul uses an analogy from marriage to show that death ends the authority of the law. Similarly, believers have died to the law through their union with Christ in His death. This enables them to serve God « in the new way of the Spirit » and not « in the old way of the written code. »
2. The Function of the Law: Revealing Sin (7:7-13)
Paul asks an important question: is the law sinful? He answers by affirming that the law is not bad but reveals sin. For example, without the law, he would not have understood that coveting was sinful. However, sin exploits the law to produce death, demonstrating its power and corruption.
3. The Inner Conflict of the Believer (7:14-25)
Paul describes a deep inner struggle. While he acknowledges that the law is good, he admits that sin still dwells within him. He wants to do good but often finds himself doing evil. This struggle demonstrates how sin continues to inhabit his human nature. He concludes by crying out, « Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? » before thanking God for deliverance through Jesus Christ.
Doctrinal Development
The Law and Grace
Paul teaches that the law is not bad (v. 12), but it is incapable of saving. It reveals sin and highlights its seriousness. Jesus also affirmed in the Gospels that the law exposes the human heart (Matthew 5:21-28). The solution to the condemnation of the law is found in the Grace offered through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
The Sinful Nature
The inner conflict described by Paul is the experience of a believer living between Justification and glorification. While freed from sin’s slavery (chapter 6), believers still feel the tension of their sinful nature. This struggle is also addressed in Galatians 5:17, where Paul speaks of the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit.
The Hope of Deliverance
Ultimate deliverance from sin comes through Jesus Christ (v. 25). This truth is affirmed in the Old Testament: in Isaiah 53:5, the Suffering Servant bears the sins of His people, and in Jeremiah 31:33-34, the promise of the new covenant includes the law written on hearts and total forgiveness.
Key Verse
Romans 7:24-25: « Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?… Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! »
This verse captures the cry of despair in the face of sin and the recognition that deliverance comes from God through Jesus Christ. It highlights humanity’s inability to save itself and the necessity of grace.
Difficult Words to Explain
- Coveting (v. 7): An intense desire for something bad or forbidden. The law reveals this desire, which might otherwise go unnoticed.
- Fruit for death (v. 5): Actions or thoughts influenced by sin that lead to spiritual separation from God.
- The flesh (v. 18): In biblical terms, this refers to the sinful human nature, opposed to God’s Spirit.
Reflection Points for Sanctification
- How can I better understand that the law reveals my sin but that only the grace of Christ delivers me?
- What inner struggles should I bring to God in prayer and Faith ?
- How can I live « in the new way of the Spirit » in my daily decisions ?