Knowing Right, Doing Wrong outline

Romans 7:1–25 ESV

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

The Tension of the Heart: Knowing Right but Doing Wrong

Bible Passage: Romans 7:1–25

Summary: In Romans 7:1-25, Paul grapples with the struggle between knowing God’s law and the internal battle that leads to sin. He portrays the conflict of a Christian experiencing the power of sin despite an adherence to God's commandments, revealing the deep-rooted nature of human weakness and the desire for righteousness.

Application: This sermon can help Christians recognize that they are not alone in their struggles with sin. Understanding Paul's depiction of this inner conflict can provide hope and encouragement, leading to a reliance on God's grace rather than self-judgment. Hearing from this passage can also motivate believers to engage more deeply with God's Word and foster a genuine relationship with Christ that transcends mere knowledge.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that knowledge of God's laws is not enough; we must rely on the Holy Spirit to overcome the sin that dwells within us. It emphasizes the importance of continual reliance on Christ for strength and redemption in our daily struggles against sin.

How this passage could point to Christ: In the context of the entire Bible, Christ is the fulfillment of the law and the answer to our struggles with sin. He provides not only the model of obedience but also the means for victory over sin through His sacrifice and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to live in transformative freedom.

Big Idea: Even as Christians, we face the daily tension of knowing right from wrong, yet feeling the pull of sin; Christ's grace is our only hope for transformation and victory in this struggle.

Recommended Study: As you prepare your sermon, I recommend utilizing Logos to explore the theological implications of Paul’s use of the law in Romans 7. Delve into the historical context—what was the role of the Mosaic Law for first-century Christians? You might also research commentaries that address the nuances of the Greek text, particularly concerning the verbs used in the struggle described, to uncover deeper insights about the nature and progression of sin in the believer’s life.

1. Freed from the Law

Romans 7:1-6

You could explain how Paul discusses the believer's relationship to the law, comparing it to a marriage that ends with death, freeing the other party to marry another. This metaphor illustrates that we are freed from the law through Christ, allowing us to bear fruit for God. Connecting this to the big idea, it shows that our hope isn't in the law but in the new life Christ provides, which releases us from the struggle of attempting to achieve righteousness on our own.

2. Law's Purpose Unveiled

Romans 7:7-13

Perhaps explore how Paul clarifies that the law is not sinful but reveals sin. It acts like a mirror showing our shortcomings. In doing so, Paul points out our tendency to know right but do wrong because of the sin within us. Here, we see the law's good purpose: to bring awareness of our need for redemption. This addresses the big idea by highlighting that our effort to follow the law alone leads to despair, whereas Christ is the solution to overcoming this struggle.

3. Inner Conflict Revealed

Romans 7:14-20

Maybe discuss how Paul vividly portrays the inner conflict, acknowledging that despite knowing what is right, he finds himself doing the opposite. This captures the human struggle against sin, emphasizing the natural incapacity to do good by ourselves. Relating this to the sermon focus, it shows the importance of seeking Christ's power rather than relying on self-effort, emphasizing the need for transformation through grace in our daily battles.

4. Victory Through Christ

Romans 7:21-25

Consider explaining Paul's ultimate acknowledgment of the divided state of the human heart and the internal battle that seems unwinnable. Paul cries out for deliverance, and then points to Christ as the source of victory. This affirms the tension between knowing and doing, but also provides the answer to the struggle: Jesus. This ties back to the sermon’s big idea by reinforcing that Christ's grace is the crucial catalyst for transformation and triumph over sin.

The story of King David exemplifies the conflict between knowing right and doing wrong. He was a man after God’s own heart; he understood God’s commands deeply. Yet, David committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated her husband’s death (2 Samuel 11). This harrowing tale reminds us that even the most faithful can falter, emphasizing the struggle of our human nature and the need for vigilance in our spiritual walk.

The prophet Jonah had a deep understanding of God’s mercy and the importance of repentance. Yet, knowing God's will, he fled to Tarshish instead of preaching to Nineveh (Jonah 1). This story reflects how knowledge of the right way does not always translate to action, serving as a sobering reminder of our own fears and prejudices that can lead us to disobedience instead of fulfilling God's call.

In the early 20th century, a famous trial involved a doctor who knew the importance of hygiene and handwashing in preventing disease. Yet, he allowed patients to suffer due to negligence, prioritizing his practice's reputation over their well-being. Similarly, in Romans 7:15, Paul speaks of this internal struggle of knowing what is right yet failing to do it, highlighting the perpetual battle between knowledge and action in our spiritual lives.