Romans 7

Dying to the Law! Romans 7:1-6 is the

Paul is speaking to those who know the law.

Romans 7:1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

He is speaking to his Jewish Audience. We could also say that today he is talking to a Christian audience. I have to tell you that from Paul’s perspective it is not good to be a Jew or a Christian and not know Christ. I know that it seems like an oxymoron, but his point is doing be someone who knows that law but doesn’t know Christ.

The Law has dominion over the lost man.

In Paul’s perspective until you know Christ you are a slave to not just sin but the law. It is frustrating for the “Christian” who doesn’t know Christ. I think we see this a lot in Christians who are disillusioned with the church. Because they are trying to be Christians but they really don’t know Christ so they see Christianity as a series of dos and donts. It’s not! But if you try to live like that you will fail.

Being under the law is like being married to an unwanted spouse.

Romans 7:2–3 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.

The law isn’t bad, I know Paul is trying to do a good job of telling you that it is. And I it really depends on your perspective. If you are God the Law is Good. If you are a sinner the law is bad and if you are a believer the law is dead to you. I know again that sounds terrible, but the Christian is under the Spirit which is something better.

Paul compares it to a bad marriage to a good man.