Christ Follower & Law

Romans 7:1 CSB

Since I am speaking to those who know the law, brothers and sisters, don’t you know that the law rules over someone as long as he lives?

INTRO—

Shifting gears from challenges in understanding GRACE (Rom. 6) to challenges in understanding LAW (Rom. 7)…as pertains to thinking—and thus living—rightly. [You’ve gotta see that this all fits together.]

LEGAL INFLUENCE (Romans 7.1-6)

1a = “Y’all know law.”

Speaking to both Gentile (who would know Roman law) and Jew (who would know Roman law…& Torah [Mosaic Law]). Paul’s emphasis will focus toward Torah, but civil law show adequate correlation.

1b = “AND the extent of the law’s influence.”

Specifically—the law only applies to the living.

2-3 = “I can prove it to you. (You see)…”

Marriage and (The) Law.

1 Corinthians 7:39 CSB

A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants—only in the Lord.

4-6 = “So then, you died to, and have been freed from…the law, and are able (cleared) to live by the Spirit.”

Holman New Testament Commentary: Romans A. The Believer’s Death to Law: An Illustration (7:1–6)

Stuart Briscoe tells of his experience as a raw recruit in the Royal Marines during the Korean Conflict. His company was under the supervision of a particularly intimidating sergeant major who dictated how life was going to be for the young soldiers. Briscoe did not realize exactly what a dominant force the sergeant major had become in his life until the day he was discharged from the Marines. On that day, he knew he was a “free” man. No more orders; no more drills; no more “Yes, SIRS!” In spite of what he knew, the first time he encountered the sergeant major after walking out of the discharge office as a free man, he still popped to attention—until he realized he did not have to. He was “dead” to the sergeant major.

So he relaxed in his new identity, and approached the sergeant major as a “former” Marine—casual and comfortable. Regardless of how his former superior may have disliked Briscoe’s new posture and attitude, he was powerless to do anything about it. Briscoe had been discharged from—Briscoe had died to—the sergeant major and his laws (Hughes, Stories, pp. 248–249).

Romans 6:4 CSB

Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.

LEGAL IMPORTANCE (Romans 7.7-13)

7a = “Soooo…is The Law sin?”

Anyone have a though about Paul’s answer? … μὴ γένοιτο!

7b-13 = [The “why The Law is not sin” is in understanding…] The TRUE v. TWISTED Importance of The Law!

TRUE—

7b - I fully know sin on the basis of The Law

Galatians 3:24 CSB

The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.

9 - I know I was dead in sin if on the basis of The Law

Ephesians 2:1 CSB

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins

12 - I know God’s plan and expectation for me on the basis of The Law

Psalm 19:7–8 CSB

The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up.

[[also Micah 6.8]]

TWISTED— (Sin, a twisted opportunist, vv. 8 & 11…which we readily admit is the evidence of our fallenness!)

8 - When told what is right on the basis of The Law, I just want to do that which is wrong (…and more and more and more).

Genesis 3:6 CSB

The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

10-11 - When told what is right on the basis of The Law, I, being tricked (even did so to myself), wound up dead (…and dead and dead and dead).

1 Corinthians 15:56 CSB

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Tie it all together… (Romans 7.13).

Romans 7:13 CSB

Therefore, did what is good become death to me? Absolutely not! On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure.