Romans 7

Illustrations

The Thief on the Cross One of the most poignant examples of acknowledging the need for Christ is seen in the story of the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43). As he hung next to Jesus, he was initially scornful but soon recognized his own sinful condition and the innocence of Christ. In a desperate, last-minute cry, he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." This simple yet profound acknowledgment of his need for Jesus led to the assurance of paradise. The thief had no time for works or self-justification; he only had time to recognize his need for Christ, and that was enough.

The Woman Caught in Adultery In John 8:1-11, the woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus as a test case to trap Him. Instead of condemning her, Jesus confronted her accusers, eventually leading them to disperse. She was left alone with Jesus, who did not condemn her but told her to "go and sin no more." The woman, in her most vulnerable state, had her need laid bare before the crowd and before God. Jesus, the embodiment of grace, met her need. She had no righteousness of her own to plead, only the mercy of Christ.

King David After His Sin with Bathsheba In 2 Samuel 11-12, we find King David, a man after God's own heart, fall disastrously into sin with Bathsheba. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David could have become defensive, justifying himself with his previous good deeds or his position as king. Instead, he wrote Psalm 51, a deep, heartfelt confession to God. He acknowledged his sin and pleaded for mercy, saying, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). David recognized that only God could deliver him from his sinful condition.

These examples illustrate individuals at different walks of life and different situations, yet all acknowledging their desperate need for Christ for salvation and restoration. This is the crux of Romans 7, driving home the point that self-effort is futile in achieving righteousness; only through Christ can one find deliverance and peace.

Context

Romans 7 is situated within the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans, a theological treatise written to a predominantly Gentile audience in Rome. The overarching theme of the book is the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The earlier chapters build a case for the universal sinfulness of humanity and the necessity of faith in Christ for justification. By the time we reach Romans 7, Paul has already explained that believers are no longer under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14). The chapter delves into the internal struggle that believers experience with sin, despite being justified by faith. It serves to accentuate the tension between the law, sin, and the newfound freedom in Christ, laying the groundwork for the triumphant affirmations in Romans 8 about the life in the Spirit.

Overview

The Law and Sin (Romans 7:1-6) This section begins by using the analogy of marriage to explain the believer's relationship with the law. Paul argues that just as a wife is bound to her husband until he dies, people are bound to the law until they die. However, in Christ, believers have died to the law, allowing them to belong to Christ and bear fruit for God. The passage underscores the insufficiency of the law to bring about righteousness and highlights the new way of the Spirit.

The Law is Holy but Powerless Against Sin (Romans 7:7-12) Paul clarifies that the law is not sinful; rather, it reveals sin. Using the example of coveting, Paul shows how the law illuminated his sinful desires. The law is holy, righteous, and good, but it has no power to free someone from sin. It serves to expose sin for what it truly is.

The Struggle with Sin (Romans 7:13-20) In this segment, Paul describes the internal conflict between wanting to do good yet finding himself doing what he hates. He attests that it is sin living in him that causes this discord. Despite his desire to obey God’s law, he finds another law at work within him, warring against his mind and making him a prisoner of the law of sin.

The Wretchedness and Deliverance (Romans 7:21-25) Paul concludes the chapter by expressing his wretchedness due to the ongoing battle with sin. He questions who will deliver him from this state, answering emphatically that it is Jesus Christ our Lord. The tension between the law of his mind and the law of sin is resolved in Christ, setting the stage for the declarations of freedom and victory in Romans 8.

Main Idea

Romans 7 delves into the complex relationship between the law and sin, illustrating the internal struggle that believers face, while pointing to the deliverance and freedom that come through Jesus Christ.

Proposition

You Must Seek Deliverance Through Christ.

The struggle with sin depicted in Romans 7 is one that resonates with every believer. Despite our best intentions and efforts, we find ourselves failing to meet God's holy standards. Paul highlights that the law, while good and holy, is powerless to save us from this wretched state. His anguished cry, "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24), finds its answer only in Jesus Christ. This acknowledgement is not merely an intellectual exercise but an existential reality. In doing so, we come to the end of ourselves and our attempts at self-salvation, turning to Christ as the only source of deliverance and righteousness.

Transition

There Are Several Reasons You Must Seek Deliverance Through Christ.

1. Because Christ Freed You (Romans 7:1-6) Paul uses the metaphor of marriage to describe our relationship to the law. In this section, the word "law" is repeated several times, but it's particularly interesting to examine the Greek term "nomos" (νόμος). The term is used to describe a range of concepts related to law and order. For example, "nomos" appears in Romans 2:12, where Paul talks about those who have sinned without the law and will perish without the law. In Romans 7, Paul argues that the believer has "died" to the law through Christ and is therefore no longer bound to it for justification. Understanding that the law cannot save us, but that we are now bound to Christ, helps us to fully acknowledge our need for Christ alone for salvation.

2. Because Law Only Exposes Sin (Romans 7:7-20) Paul clearly states that the law itself is not sinful, but it serves to reveal sin. The Greek term "hamartia" (ἁμαρτία) for sin is also used in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This term implies missing the mark, erring, or straying from the path of righteousness. The law's function, then, is to expose this missing of the mark, illuminating our need for a Savior. Paul lays bare the internal moral struggle experienced even by believers. The term "sarx" (σάρξ), meaning flesh, is used to describe the human propensity towards sin. This term is also used in Romans 8:8, where Paul claims that those controlled by the sinful nature ("sarx") cannot please God. This internal struggle is a sobering reminder of our inability to achieve righteousness on our own and drives us to acknowledge our need for Christ, who alone can deliver us.

3. Because Christ Delivers From Wretchedness (Romans 7:21-25)

Finally, Paul uses the term "rhuomai" (ῥύομαι) when he asks, "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" This Greek term is also used in Romans 11:26, where it is said that "the Deliverer will come from Zion." The term implies to draw or snatch from danger, to preserve or rescue. The chapter ends with an emphatic claim that this deliverance comes through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 8). This realization is the final and most critical step in fully acknowledging our need for Christ.

Pointing To Christ

The themes in Romans 7 revolve around the law, sin, and the internal struggle of the believer, all leading to the ultimate need for deliverance through Jesus Christ. In the larger narrative of the Bible, we see that the law (Torah) was given to the Israelites as a standard of righteousness, yet no one could fully keep it. This inability to keep the law pointed to the need for a Savior, a need that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ goes beyond the external acts that the law addresses, highlighting the internal aspects of sin like anger and lust (Matthew 5:21-30). He fulfills the law not by abolishing it but by completing it, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, something the law could never do (Matthew 5:17).

Paul’s struggle with sin in Romans 7 reflects the Old Testament examples of human failure to uphold the law. This is a universal struggle, depicted in many Old Testament characters who fell short of God’s standard (David in his adultery, Moses in his disobedience, etc.). Christ is portrayed as the second Adam in Romans 5, succeeding where the first Adam failed. Jesus was tempted in all ways yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15), becoming the perfect substitutionary atonement for us. His death and resurrection not only fulfill the Old Testament prophecies but also address the themes of sin, law, and human limitations elaborated in Romans 7.

The Apostle Paul concludes Romans 7 by pointing to Jesus Christ as the ultimate deliverer from the body of death and the power of sin. Christ's atonement provides what the law could never offer: complete righteousness and reconciliation with God. The internal moral struggle Paul describes is reconciled through the work of Christ, who delivers us from the wretchedness of sin and grants us eternal life. Therefore, Christ is the fulfillment of all the themes laid out in Romans 7, offering freedom from the law, victory over sin, and deliverance from death.

Invitation

Romans 7 lays bare the human condition: a ceaseless struggle against sin, an innate inability to meet the righteous demands of the law, and a heartrending cry for deliverance from a body of death. If you find yourself worn and torn by the same struggle, know that you're not alone, and more importantly, know that there is a solution—a Deliverer.

According to the gospel proclaimed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, all according to the Scriptures. This is the good news, the way out of the wretched condition that Romans 7 so vividly portrays. Christ’s death serves as a substitutionary atonement for our sins, fulfilling the righteous requirements that we could never meet. His resurrection assures us of new life, both now and eternally.

Here's your invitation: Stop striving to meet the unmeetable standards of righteousness through your own futile efforts. Let go of the notion that you can somehow "do better next time" or "make up for it" with good deeds. Instead, turn your eyes upon Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith, the only One who can deliver you from this body of death.

Trust in Christ today. Believe that He died for your sins and rose again, conquering death for you. When you place your trust in Him, you are freed from the penalty and power of sin, just as Romans 7 concludes, "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Bibliography

"The Struggle with Sin and the Deliverance through Christ: An Exegetical Exploration of Romans 7." ChatGPT, OpenAI, 26 Oct. 2023.