United to Christ (Holy Communion)

Introduction: Dear friends, it's a blessing to gather and delve into God's Word today. We're turning our hearts and minds to Romans 7:1-13, a passage where the Apostle Paul addresses the complex relationship between the Law, sin, and grace. This text provides profound insights into how believers relate to the Law through Christ. Let's open our hearts to the wisdom and truths embedded in these verses. Exposition of the Text: Verse 1: Romans 7:1 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?

Paul begins by speaking to those familiar with the Law, establishing the principle that the law governs life.

It defined how you bought and sold things.

It defined family and marriage.

It defined how and when you worked.

There were even laws around life and death.

But for all the laws, it never once helped you to do anything.

It would tell you what to do and not do, but did little to help you to fulfill the law.

Thou shall have no other God’s before me. Yes, but how?

Do not commit adultery? Yes, but how?

Do not covet. Yes, but how?

So when Jesus came, he put to death the law for the believer. He replaced the law with the Holy Spirit. Now we not only know what to do and not do, but we have help fulfilling the law.

The Holy Spirit is our helper. The law was not evil, it was just weak.

Imagine a dim room cluttered with dust and cobwebs. Turn on the lights, and suddenly, the mess is visible. The light isn't the problem; it only reveals what needs cleansing. Similarly, the Law reveals sin, illuminating our need for Jesus to cleanse our hearts.

United in Christ we thrive.

Verse 4:

New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 7

Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

Here, Paul reveals the freedom believers gain through Christ’s death and resurrection. We are no longer bound by the Law; instead, we belong to Christ to live fruitful lives.

2. Freedom in Christ: Consider a prisoner released from jail. While the law once held them captive, upon freedom, they can live a new life. Similarly, Christians, once bound by sin, are free through Christ to live transformed lives.

A life without:

• guilt and shame • condemnation and punishment • discouragement and frustration • tension and pressure • sense of failure and unworthiness • sense of disappointment

Verses 5-6: Romans 7:5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.

Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Paul contrasts our old and new lives. Under the Law, sin thrived; through Christ, we are free to serve God in a new way, guided by the Spirit instead of the old written code. 3. Heart Check: Examine your hearts. Are you living under the Law's burden, striving for righteousness on your own? Or are you embracing the freedom in Christ, allowing His Spirit to guide and transform you? Conclusion and Call to Action: In conclusion, Romans 7:1-13 reminds us that the Law serves a purpose but finds fulfillment in Christ. As followers of Jesus, we are called to live not under the weight of the Law but in the grace and freedom He provides. Let's examine our lives, ensuring we serve in the new way of the Spirit. Encouragement: Remember, though the Law reveals our shortcomings, Jesus meets us with grace and strength. Live in His freedom, allowing the Spirit to bear fruit in your life. Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word, which guides and teaches us. Help us embrace the freedom found in Christ, living not under condemnation but in the grace of the Spirit. Transform our hearts and minds to bear fruit for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Holy Communion