Lesson 89

Romans Chapter 7                             

Freedom from the Law's domination                

or the total failure of the law to sanctify.

Ø      Intro:

 

 

 

- Key word in ch-6 was "sin" 17 times

- Key word in ch-7 is "law" 23 times

 

- There are 6 interesting parallels between the 2 chapters;

#1  ch 6

                 ch 7

#2  ch 6

       ch 7

#3  ch 6

                  ch 7

#4  ch6

                  ch7

#5  ch 6

                  ch 7

Parallel #6 is seen in both chapters:

 

 

-  The antecedent to ch-7 and the premise for the arguments given here really goes back to 6:14.

 

    Now with vs:1 of ch-7 picks up with the next expected objection.

See this with the "Or" that begins 7:1.

 

 

Chapter 6 emphasized 3 critical things.

#1 We need to know

 

 

#2 We need to consider

 

 

#3 We are to present

 

 

-   Key here is faith in the finished work of Christ; being responsive to Grace!  What Christ accomplished on our behalf at the cross!

 

 

- The law does not give the desire nor the power to obey its precepts.    But grace does!   It motivates and instructs us!

 

 

 We need to remember that we as believers have 2 natures. 

 

- The Old man we saw in 6:6 was crucified with Christ!

 

- The new man is all that we are, having been regenerated by H/S,  a new creation in Christ; having the Indwelling H/S plus a F/O/R of truth being built.

 

 

 

Ø      What goes on?  What is present in the Believer?

1.  Have 2 separate entities resident in every believer.

 

 

2.  These 2 entities are separate; as separate as they can be!   Totally opposite/antithetical to one another.

 

 

3.  There is no sharing of control!  Its one or the other!

 

4.  All of our actions are the result of which is influencing at the moment!

           

5.  The manifestations of the sin nature are not stereotypical!


Chapter 7 Outline

  7:1-6    Authority of the Law / Liberation from the Law

  7:7-13   Ministry of the Law or production of the Law

  7:14-25  Inability of the Law to Sanctify;  reason = power of old nature

 

First section breaks down into 3 sections.

7:1-6   Authority of the Law / Liberation from the Law

  7:1 principle

  7:2-3 Illustration  from marriage

  7:4-6 Application

 

7:1 The principle

Or, do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?

 

 

- Principle stated, the characteristic of law in view, being pointed out is that the law rules, has jurisdiction as long as the individual lives;  

 

 

If we fail to understand that the law has no jurisdiction over us, we are not going to turn to the new dynamic and motivator for our life grace!