Rescued By Jesus

The Law

Paul continues his discussion of the law of God and how it effects mankind. Paul has been arguing that followers of Jesus have died to sin and to the law. Because we have died to sin and the Law. Paul wants to make sure that all of us understand how this works. So if you have your Bibles, turn with me to .

Romans 7:1-

Romans 7:1–3 NIV84

Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to men who know the law—that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 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 of marriage. So then, if she marries 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, even though she marries another man.

Example from Marriage

Paul continues his discussion about grace, sin, and the law. When we come to chapter 7 he begins by using a simple example: Marriage. A person is married as long as their spouse is alive, but when the spouse dies the person is no longer considered to be married. In fact, that person is free to marry again.

When we come to chapter 7 he begins by using a simple example: Marriage. A person is married as long as their spouse is alive, but when the spouse dies the person is no longer considered to be married. In fact, that person is free to marry again.

We Died to the Law through Jesus

Romans 7:4–6 NIV84

So, my brothers, 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 to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 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.

Romans 7:4-

So it is with the law and sin. We are only bound by the law as long as we are alive. Now we have been crucified with Christ, so we should be dead to the law--no longer having to obey it. Verse 6 says, "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. . ."

We Died to the Law through Jesus

So it is with the law and sin. We are only bound by the law as long as we are alive. Now we have been crucified with Christ, so we should be dead to the law--no longer having to obey it. Verse 6 says, "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. . ."

So it is with the law and sin. We are only bound by the law as long as we are alive. Now we have been crucified with Christ, so we should be dead to the law--no longer having to obey it. Verse 6 says, "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. . ."

We are no longer bound to sin!

We are no longer bound to sin!

So is the Law Sin?

Romans 7:7–12 NIV84

What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 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 then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

Romans 7:7-

Paul is going to continue his argument. He asks the question: "Is the law sin?" the answer is, "Of course not!" The purpose of the law was to show us what the standard looked like, and to help us see how far short of that standard we actually fall.

When God gave the law to mankind, sin jumped into action causing death in mankind. So the commandment that was meant to bring me life, actually brought me death.

You see, without a standard we have no way of knowing we are doing the wrong thing. But when the law came in, we could see the standard and understand how far short of the standard we actually fall. Thus, we know we need a "Savior." Jesus the Messiah.

Romans 7:13 NIV84

Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

Romans

You see, without a standard we have no way of knowing we are doing the wrong thing. But when the law came in, we could see the standard and understand how far short of the standard we actually fall. Thus, we know we need a "Savior." Jesus the Messiah.

Yet, here's the key for us! From the moment mankind fell, sin was a part of our life. So when the law came along, it made our sin apparent! Paul goes on to say, that without the law, sin is really dead in us--meaning that we would not know what sin is without the law of God.

Romans 7:14–22 NIV84

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 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. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;

Romans 7:14-

I

Paul explains that the law is spiritual, but you and I are unspiritual by nature. As such we have been sold into slavery to sin

Now that we know what sin is (because of the law) we find ourselves struggling. We do not want to sin, nor do we want anything to do with sin, and yet we end up sinning. As Paul writes in verse 18, "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out!"

Romans 7:21–24 NIV84

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Romans 7:21-

Paul says that his "inner being" delights in God's law. The problem is there is another side of me that wages war in my mind. This other side pushes me to be a prisoner of the law, so that I end up sinning. To this, Paul says he's a wretched man. So who could save Paul (and us) from our body of death?

Romans 7:25 NIV84

Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

You see, it truly is all about God, because Paul goes on to say that it is Jesus that rescues us from the death causing sin!

Paul says that his "inner being" delights in God's law. The problem is there is another side of me that wages war in my mind. This other side pushes me to be a prisoner of the law, so that I end up sinning. To this, Paul says he's a wretched man. You see, it truly is all about God, because Paul goes on to say that it is Jesus that rescues us from the death causing sin!

Who Do You Serve?

So who do we serve? Paul says he struggles with two masters of sorts! In his mind he's a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature he's a slave to the law of sin.

We are in the same situation. We struggle with serving multiple masters. Don’t miss verse 25! “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

So many times we read this, but it doesn’t ring true in our lives. We keep wondering when we’ll experience this freedom from sin. When will we no longer face this battle between sin and living for God. Paul understood the conflict for he wrote: “So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”

The truth is we will continue to face problems as long as we live in this world. Since we will struggle with sin we must learn how to avoid sin. Perhaps we need to follow Paul’s advice to Timothy.

2 Timothy 2:22–23 NIV84

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.