Living In Victory
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we looked at Romans chapter 6. Today, we are continuing our study in Romans as we look at chapter 7.
Throughout chapter 6, Paul has been building his case that believers have died to sin. Clearly it is one thing for a believer to understand that his identification with Jesus Christ means that he has died to sin (Romans 6:2 “By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”) and to count that to be true (Romans 6:11 “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”).
But it is something else for the believer to deal with the sin nature that remains inside each of us.
Not only that, but we have to deal with sin’s efforts to show itself in the believer’s thoughts and actions. All this internal conflict falls into the area of sanctification. And the area of sanctification is faced by every believer.
When we come to chapter 7, Paul is going work at helping us understand why we struggle with sin’s overbearing control on our lives. Now, I’m betting every person in this room has trouble with sin’s overbearing control.
So if you have your Bibles, and I hope that you do, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Romans chapter 7, and we’ll begin looking at verse 1.
Believer & the Law
Believer & the Law
The Limit of Sin’s Power (v. 1)
The Limit of Sin’s Power (v. 1)
Do you not know, brothers and sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives?
Paul assumes that the reader understands something about God’s law. That’s why he begins with “Do you not know. . .” In the passage he states, “for I am speaking to those who know the law.”
Paul reminds the reader that the law’s authority over a person, only applies as long as the person is alive.
A Practical Example from Marriage (vv. 2-3)
A Practical Example from Marriage (vv. 2-3)
For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.
Example: A married woman. According to the law, she is bound to her husband by marriage as long as he is alive.
But, if her husband dies, then the says the woman is released from the constraints of the marriage covenant.
If she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is alive, then according to the law she is called (seen as) an adulteress (Luke 16:8; Matt. 5:31-32).
But if her husband is dead then under the law, she is free to marry another man and is NOT committing adultery.
Dead to the Law (v. 4)
Dead to the Law (v. 4)
So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
So = in the same way, or likewise
We too died--lit. been put to death just like Jesus.
This put to death also means we died to the law.
Since we no longer belong to (or are controlled by) the law--we now belong to another (we are remarried, so to speak).
The one we belong to now is the same one that was raised from the dead (Jesus!).
And we belong to Him so that we might bear fruit for God.
Old & New Contrast (v. 5)
Old & New Contrast (v. 5)
For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.
Living in the realm of the flesh (v. 5):
Our sinful passions were aroused.
They were aroused by the law that was working in us.
Acting on our sinful passions bore the fruit of death--physically and spiritually (cf. Rom. 6:23).
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
Now we are dead to sin (v. 6):
We have died--or dying--to what used to bind us--sin.
So that we are now released from the law.
But we were released for a purpose--to serve the new way--living by the Spirit of God--rather than living by the old code (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:6, “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”).
The Law & Sin
The Law & Sin
RHETORICAL QUESTION: Paul comes and asks another rhetorical question.
What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
Is the law sinful?
The obvious answer is “NO!” And Paul uses that emphatic “Certainly not!” just like he did in verse 12.
The law was given so that we would know what sin actually is.
Paul gives an example using coveting. He says he would not have known it was a “sin” to covet except that the law (O.T. law) said, “You shall not covet.”
But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.
Sin, that is all around us, seized the opportunity (sin always grabs hold of opportunity in my life to drag me into sin—cf. James 1:13–16 “When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.”).
The opportunity comes from the command. Our sinful human nature wants to do anything that we are told NOT to do.
So sin seizing the opportunity produces in me every kind of coveting.
Coveting—Gk. desire, yearning, passion, appetite; sexual desire, lust, longing for, deep desire, passionate longing, or craving.
KEY--Paul tells us that apart from the law sin was dead--sin had no power in me!
Ignorance Is Bliss
Ignorance Is Bliss
Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
Paul says that there was a time, before he knew the law, that he was alive. Meaning he felt no guilt, and experienced no problems.
But the minute he received God’s commandments, sin sprang up and squelched out his guilt-free life.
I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.
So for him (and likewise for us) the commandments that were meant to bring life, actually brought about death (v. 10)
Sin seized (Gk. grab hold of, came to believe, take, take advantage of) the opportunity that was made possible through the commandment (v. 11a).
Sin deceived (v. 11b).
And finally, he became guilty and sentenced to death.
So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
Paul’s conclusion about the law is that it is holy.
Paul concludes that the commandment is also:
Holy.
Righteous.
And good.
Paul said something very similar in 1 Timothy 1:8
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.
RHETORICAL QUESTION: Now we come to another rhetorical question:
Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
Did Good Become Death?
Did Good Become Death?
Did good become death to us?
The immediate answer is, “NO!” Once again this is an emphatic no!
Sin, to be recognized as sin used what was good (the law) to bring about death (cf. Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” ). So it was sin that brought us death—not the law.
The command was given so that we might see that sin is utterly sinful—sin is bad!
The Human Dilemma
The Human Dilemma
To understand the human dilemma we must understand the simple fact that all of humanity has a sin nature. We just looked at Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” Paul argues that our sin nature pits us against the Law of God.
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
Paul begins by reminding us that the law is spiritual. It was given by God who is Spirit (v. 14a).
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
In contrast, humanity is unspiritual. This was a direct result of the fall of mankind.
Not only are we naturally unspiritual, but we have been sold into slavery to sin (v. 14b).
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Paul says that he really doesn’t understand what he does (v. 15).
What he wants to do, he doesn’t do.
Instead he ends up doing what he hates!
And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
Paul’s conclusion: If he actually ends up doing the things that he does not want to do, well he ends up proving that the law is actually good (v. 16).
As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
Sin can have such a strangle hold on us that it pushes us into various sinful deeds. That means our motivation comes from the sin living in us (v. 17).
For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Paul’s next conclusion: There is NOTHING good living in his sin nature. Likewise, there is NOTHING good living in my sin nature! (v. 18a)
The big problem is not about desire, but about ability. Paul says that he has the desire to do good—do what is right, BUT he cannot carry it out (Gk. bring it about, produce it, achieve it, cause to be, accomplish) (v. 18b).
For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
Paul says he ends up not doing the good that he wants to do (v. 19a).
Instead, he ends up doing (over-and-over-again, or repeatedly) the evil he doesn’t want to do (v. 19b).
His conclusion is in verse 20.
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
His sin nature is working in him so that the sin living in him is pushing him into doing those wrong things (v. 20).
The Law at Work
The Law at Work
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
Paul says the law is at work. It shows him the good that he should be doing!
But evil is right there!
Throughout this section, Paul has been arguing that the harder he tries to do good, the more there is an internal battle, between the new nature, and the old nature.
The Battle Inside
The Battle Inside
Throughout this section, Paul has been arguing that the harder he tries to do good, the more there is an internal battle, between the new nature, and the old nature. Now look at verse 22.
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.
Paul’s inner being (Gk. inner man) delights in God’s law (cf. Psalm 1:2; 40:8) (v. 22).
But there’s another law (Gk. habitual practice, principle, custom, precedent, decree) working in Paul (v. 23).
This other law is waging war against the law of his mind--the law he wants to follow.
This makes him a prisoner of the law of sin that is working inside of him.
Paul describes the problem that most of us have. After coming to Jesus Christ, we want be free of sin. But like Paul, I feel the battle raging in me. I too struggle to do the things I want to do, while avoiding getting wrapped up into sin. I really relate to this passage. Now that we understand the problem, the question becomes how do we escape this dilemma? Keep reading! Verses 24-25 seem to give us hope.
Where’s the Victory?
Where’s the Victory?
Paul has identified the problem. In fact, when we come to verse 24, Paul’s response resonates with me because I too feel horrible, terrible, and no good—a failure in my life with Jesus Christ.
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
Paul begins by acknowledging what we all feel—I am a wretched person!
As a wretched person, the next question is logical—who can save me (v. 24). After all, this body is doomed to death (because of sin cf. Rom. 6:6, 12-13, 19, 7:5, 23).
Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Thanks be to God—God is the only one that can deliver me from the grip of sin and ultimately from death.
This Salvation comes through our relationship and union with Jesus Christ—our LORD! (cf. 2 Cor. 2:14) (v. 25a).
KEY—Paul is awaiting final freedom from his sin nature. One day he will be free from the sinful desires of the flesh and human nature. All of this happens as a result of our relationship with Jesus. But notice that Paul sees Jesus as Lord! That means Jesus calls the shots. That means Paul does whatever Jesus commands him to do!
Paul says that in his mind he sees himself as a slave to God’s law—He is very aware of the law of God (either through the Old Testament, or through Natural Revelation).
At the same time, he still has a sin nature, which also makes him a slave to the law of sin.
QUESTION: Why is this chapter so important?
Summary:
Summary:
This chapter is very important for several reasons.
It corrects the popular idea that our struggle with sin is only against specific sins and habits whereas it is also against our basic human nature.
It shows that human nature is not essentially good but bad.
It argues that progressive sanctification does not come by obeying laws, which is a form of legalism called nomism, but it comes apart from law.
It also proves that doing right requires more than just determining to do it.
All of these insights are necessary in order for us to appreciate what Paul proceeded to explain in chapter 8 (Tom Constable’s Notes).
Each of us must come face to face with the thing or things to which we are slaves.
It if very easy for us to become slaves to things that have NO place in our lives.
The truth is, each of us must ask ourselves what we trust in more than Jesus.
Like us, the Israelites struggled with trusting in other things other than God. Politically, they often trusted in military strength, in diplomacy, or in wealth.
Personally, many of them trusted in self-sufficiency, in flocks, in vineyards, family name and position.
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord.
What do we trust in today? Cars, houses, positions, jobs, wealth, and prestige. How about people and relationships.
There are all kinds of things that people trust in to feel better about themselves. Alcohol, drugs, or even risk-taking behaviors to name a few.
Like Isaiah, David talked about what people trust in. In fact, the verse in Isaiah sounds a lot like Psalm 20:7.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
But verse 9 gives us the result of trusting in the Lord God.
Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!
Did you see it, David asks the Lord for two things:
He asks for victory.
He asks for God to answer when they call.
No matter what you are going through, you can TRUST God. He is the only one that can give you victory. And He will ALWAYS answer you when you call.
And when God answers you and gives you victory, sing Psalm 116. The first part reads like this:
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
That’s why I love the verse that we will start with next time.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
We have been set free from sin and death. Because we have been put into a NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD! And you and I need to live out that relationship here on this earth.
[PRAYER]