Fourth Sunday After Pentecost A

Romans 7:1-13

What is the relationship a Christian has with the Law? (2nd use)

Mirror - reveals our sin

An illustration from marriage (vv. 1-3)

Marriage Vows - till death do us part.

Just as we are only married as long as you’re alive, we are only able to sin while you’re alive.

Further, we are only bound to the law or bound to Christ. (this is the point he makes next)

Application of the law (vv.4-6)

Aside - purgatory, when we die the power of the Law is defeated. As Eminem says:

You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow This opportunity comes once in a lifetime

the old life - most people are in agreement that this is a description of pre conversion.

The presupposition that all of us should have as we read Romans 7:4-6 is that we are each fallen short.

Romans 7:4–6 ESV

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.

We have the idea that we just need a little boost to become good people. This is actually catholic theology, and to be honest, what most of us hope for.

Jack tries to reach things and can’t get up but then squirms when you try to assist him

CS Lewis said “fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms.

Mt 10:34 Points out that we are divided against ourselves. Someone will die, either it is the sinful man within us or the spirit of God that is trying to save you.

Matthew 10:34 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

In his commentary on Romans Luther talks about how hard it is to be a Christian, to do truly righteous works. They appear foolish. He says:

Luther’s Works, Volume 25 Chapter Two

the lesson is this: He who has not yet escaped the praise of men and has not suffered shame, rebuke, and persecution in his actions has not yet reached complete righteousness.

We are not released from the Law and completely transferred to the work of the spirit until all of our selfish desires are crucified and buried with Christ.

Paul Transitions

Who is to blame? Me, God, Law? None of the Above! (7-12)

Don’t think of money (coveting)

Why do bad things happen to ‘good’ people? Presuppositions of ‘good’

Romans 7:9

Romans 7:9 ESV

I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.

It was not the law that kills us. It is SIN.

Death Certificates, kohlusystus (gallbladder infection), Pancreatic Cancer- not the title that killed them.

v10 - SIN is so pervasive that it takes a good thing and makes it bad

This is the greatest lie ever told

Gen 3:1-4 (on the third day God made plants and plans and called them all GOOD)

Genesis 3:1–4 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

The lie of sin is that it makes a thing seem better than it is. Everything has a positive and a negative value.

Chainsaw- good for lumber, bad for horror movies. Diapers - good for parents, bad for storage.

Sex, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, TV, all have potential.

Who is to blame? (v.13a)

15 minute youtube videos Wranglerstar ‘tool torture test’ The tool is not to blame, the man is.

SIN - the law remains good but twisted by its use.

Psalm 1

Psalm 1 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

The more we learn about the law, the more we are horrified by our sin. (There is no gospel in this text)

Thats where Romans 7:1-13 ends, no gospel. It is all law, and about the law.

Even v. 6 is about how we should serve.

Psalm 119:156-160

Psalm 119:156–160 ESV

Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules. Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies. I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands. Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love. The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

The eternal truths of God that we discover in Romans 7 is that He is both Just, and Justifier. Holy and Sanctifying, Wrathful and Merciful.

What he asks from us is that we look in the mirror and see one who waging war against our own sins.

Mt. 10:39 is the gospel - we lose God wins us back. This is the differenece, as Kierkegaard says, between being a follower of Jesus and being and admirer of Jesus.

Matthew: A Commentary, Volume 1: The Christbook, Matthew 1–12 C. Trust Instructions, 10:24–39

Jesus’ mere admirers mainly complain about the world, people, or history, but Jesus’ real followers understand that his rough “cross” way in the world is the way Jesus went and, in his disciples, is the way Jesus still goes).

The cross of Christ then, is the promise of life - the death of sin and self lead

Identify how you view the law- do you believe it will make you a better, more acceptable person?

-help with meals on wheels.

Won’t make you a more acceptable person, it will show that you are a loving person.