Lesson 8—Free from Law (Chapter 7)
for October 29, 2000

Introduction

Why is so much of Romans written to the Jewish Christians of Rome when the church was predominantly Gentile Christians? The Jews had more “religious baggage” to overcome in truly understanding the gospel. Their attitude toward the law was a huge hurdle; the legalistic mindset skewed their thinking.

In chapter 7, Paul continues speaking to the Jews, reminding them that in their immersion into Christ they have not only died to sin (see chapter 6), but have also died to the law.

Dead to the law

Paul acknowledges that he is speaking to those who know the law, so he uses an easily understood example from law to make a point. A woman is no longer bound in marriage to a man once he dies. If she were to marry another man while her husband lives, she would be breaking the law as an adulteress. After her husband dies, she is no longer under that law and is free to marry another. In the same way, when one has died with Christ (6:8), he is no longer under law (died to the law, 7:4). The Christian then belongs to Christ for the purpose of bearing fruit.

Under the law, the argument goes, our tendency to sin was amplified. Perhaps it is like the child who, while playing, is told not to get into the cookies. The child had been satisfied until then, but now, when reminded, cannot get his mind off the cookie jar. The law reminds us of sin and “stirs up” our interest. The result is the breaking of law and death. Now, having been released from the law, we are freed to do what is good and right, bearing fruit for God.

Law and sin

The previous arguments make the law look bad. Hence, the inevitable question, “Is the law sin?” (see 7:7). Paul’s emphatic answer is that it is not. The law makes us aware of sin. In fact, there is no sin without law. But the law does “stir up” or provoke sin within us, and that brings law-breaking, which brings death.

John Stott gives a good example to illustrate: “Take a criminal today. A man is caught red-handed breaking the law. He is arrested, brought to trial, found guilty, and sentenced to prison. He cannot blame the law for his imprisonment. True, it is the law which convicted and sentenced him. But he has no one to blame but himself and his own criminal behavior.”

Paul calls the law holy, righteous, good, and spiritual. People are unspiritual, with a weakness to sin. Under the law, we become slaves to sin. The problem is not the law, but sinning against the law.

The internal struggle that all Christians face is highlighted in verses 15-23. The inner man (v. 22) wants to do right, but the flesh (or sinful nature) does not. Paul personalizes the difficulties, but it is true for all of us. This part of the picture is bleak unless we know the end of the story. Where is our deliverance from the struggle? In Jesus Christ! This sets the stage for a victorious chapter 8.

For advanced study—flesh v. sinful nature

There is a great debate over the meaning of the Greek word, sarx. The NIV translates it as “sinful nature”, meaning the whole of man in his sinful state before conversion. Others, including Cottrell
, take the more literal and simple meaning of the physical body, the flesh, as it is translated in some versions. He says that even though the “flesh” is described in very negative terms both in Romans and other places in the New Testament, it is not because the body is inherently evil, but it is under the influence of sin and death.

A full discussion of the point is beyond the scope of this lesson. However, some of you may want to investigate it more fully.

Questions

1. What is the main point of the illustration about the married woman whose husband dies?
2. How do Christians die to the law?
3. How do we serve God since we have been released from the law (7:6)?
4. Of what value is the law today (see 7:7)?

Application

Paul often speaks of sin as very powerful. How does sin show its power in your life, even as a Christian?

Which attitude toward the law do you have: legalistic (it is the power to save), against the law because it brings about sin (though this is untrue according to Paul), or loving God’s laws and wanting to follow as much as possible?