Romans 7-8: The Gospel of Grace & the Law

ROMANS 7 & 8:1-13

Application: The student will praise God for salvation and walk after the Spirit.

IN THIS STUDY STOP PAUL ASSURES US BY HIS OWN EXAMPLE THAT MANKIND IS UNABLE TO OBEY THE LAW BECAUSE WE ARE INCAPABLE OF OVERCOMING OUR FLESH.

PAUL EXPLAINS THE FRUSTRATION THAT COMES WHEN WE CONSIDER THIS ISSUE AND FIND THAT WE MUST FACE THE FACT THAT WE ARE BY NATURE SINFUL CREATURES.

AFTER ESTABLISHING THIS FACT HE PROVIDES US THE PATHWAY GIVEN BY THE LORD IN HIS GRACE TO ALLOW US TO FOCUS ON THE PATHWAY TO A BETTER LIFE.

PAUL REQUIRES OF US THAT WE RECOGNIZE CERTAIN MATTERS TO FIND THAT PATHWAY.

GOD HAS FREED US FROM CONDEMNATION.

HE HAS DELIVERED US FROM BOTH SPIRITUAL AND MORTAL DEATH.

HE HAS GIVEN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT AS OUR LIFELONG GUIDE AFTER SALVATION & JUSTIFICATION AND THAT SPIRIT INDWELLS US THROUGHOUT OUR LIFELONG SANCTIFICATION.

THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST ARE FOREVER SEALED IN HIM AND RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE IN HIM AT THE MOMENT OF BELIEVING.    (JN 3:18)

THAT MOMENT FOREVER REMOVES US FROM CONDEMNATION AND MAKES US ETERNALLY SECURE BECAUSE GOD HAS DECLARED US RIGHTEOUS BY IMPUTING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IN EXCHANGE FOR OUR SIN.

NOT ONLY THAT BUT WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER SIN’S CONTROL AS SIN ONLY HAS POWER OVER US WHEN WE ALLOW IT TO OVERPOWER US.

THE WEIGHT OF SIN HAS BEEN REMOVED BY JESUS AND THEREFORE WE ARE FREE IN HIM.

THERE IS NO GREATER FREEDOM.

IN CHAPTER 7 VERSES 1-6 WE ARE SHOWN THE BELIEVER’S RELEASE FROM THE LAW.

PAUL USES THE DESCRIPTION OF A WOMAN WHO HAS BECOME A WIDOW AND IS THEREFORE NO LONGER TIED LEGALLY TO HER FORMER HUSBAND.

IN CHAPTER 6 PAUL TAUGHT THAT WE HAD DIED TO SIN AND NOW HE TEACHES THAT WE ARE DEAD TO THE LAW.

THIS IS A POWERFUL TEACHING TO ANY JEWS WHO MAY BE A PART OF THE ROMAN CHURCH.

HERE PAUL SAYS THE OLD WAY IS “OF THE LETTER” WHICH WAS MOST DIFFICULT UNDER THE LAW BUT NOW THE NEW WAY IS “NEWNESS OF SPIRIT” AND IS FRESH AND SWEET IN LOVE.

IN VERSE 7 PAUL REMINDS THAT ALTHOUGH HE IS TEACHING FREEDOM FROM THE LAW, HE REMINDS READERS THAT THE LAW DID INDEED REVEAL SIN.

HE GOES FURTHER TO REVEAL HIS OWN SIN SHOWN TO HIM BY THE LAW.

HE HAD TOLD THE PEOPLE AT PHILLIPI THAT HE WAS BLAMLESS UNDER THE LAW BUT HIDDEN AWAY IN HIS HEART WAS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE WAS HIMSELF COVETING, A STRONG SIN, AND A PART OF THE ORIGINAL 10 COMMANDS.

VERSES 8-13 SHOW US EXPLAINS THAT BELIEVERS ARE MADE FREE FROM THE LAW AS THEY ARE UNDER GRACE BUT WHEN THE LAW STILL REVEALS SIN, EVERY BELIEVER MUST DEAL WITH IT.

HE VIEWS THE LAW AS HOLY AND GOOD BECAUSE IT DOES REVEAL SIN AND FORCES AN HONEST BELIEVER TO ACKNOWLEDGE SIN AND TO REPENT OF IT.

IN VERSES 14-23 HE FURTHER REVEALS TO US THE RELATION OF THE BELIEVER TO THE LAW AND HE DESCRIBES IT AS A BATTLE EVER RAGING.

PAUL HIMSELF IS LONGING FOR SOME KIND OF RELEASE FROM THE “LAW OF SIN WHICH IS IN MY MEMBERS”.

HE THANKS GOD THROUGH CHRIST FOR DELIVERANCE BUT ADMITS THAT IN HIS MIND HE SERVES THE LAW OF GOD WHILE IN HIS FLESH HE SERVES THE LAW OF SIN.

HE ASKS HOW HE MAY BE DELIVERED.

HE ANSWERS HIS OWN QUESTION BY TEACHING THAT IT WILL BE “THROUGH JESUS CHRIST”.

THIS WAR IS NOT OVER, AND WE ARE NOT PREDESTINED TO LOSE IT EVEN THOUGH WE DO LOSE SOME BATTLES WHILE IN COMBAT AGAINST OUR SIN.

VERSE 19 ALLOWS US POSSIBLY THE TRUEST CONFESSION EVER GIVEN BY PAUL:

“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do”.

HIS HONESTY IS TO BE ADMIRED THAT EVERY BELIEVER IS SINFUL. HE WROTE THAT LINE TO QUICKLY REMIND US OF OURSELVES AND OUR SECRET BATTLE WITHIN US.

SCRIPTURALLY PAUL IS NOT THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF SUCH HUMBLE HONESTY.

HE JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE LAST ONE TO SO ADMIT WHAT WE ALL KNOW, THAT EACH OF US FALLS SHORT OF THE STANDARD OF GOD, UNABLE TO RISE OFF OUR KNEES BEFORE HIM AND TO STAND UNLESS JESUS IS STANDING FOR EACH SINNER AS MEDIATOR.

LET US TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO REVIEW OTHER PATRIARCHS WHO HAVE ALSO REVEALED THEIR BATTLES TO US:

When Abraham walked with the Lord he said, “Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak to the Lord, and am but dust and ashes.” (GEN 18:27) 

When Job came face to face with God , he said, “Behold I am vile”, 

(JOB 40:4) and later again said, “I abhor myself”. (JOB 42:6)

When Isaiah entered the divine presence of God he said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips.” (ISAIAH 6:5)

When Paul was addressing his young helper Timothy he said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1ST TIMOTHY 1:15)

THESE WORDS DID NOT COME FROM UNSAVED PAGANS OR ENEMIES OF THE LORD, BUT ALL CAME FROM THE LIPS OF GOD’S CHOSEN VESSELS, HIS TRUE SAINTS.

THESE WORDS ARE NOT THE WORDS OF SOME BACKSLIDDEN BELIEVER, BUT WERE SPOKEN OF THE MOST HOLY OF GOD’S MEN.

WHEN PAUL SAYS TO HIS READERS IN ROME, AND TO US:

“O wretched man that I am.” HE IS OPENING HIS FULLY SAVED SOUL AND SHOWS THAT HE HAS NO DECEPTION IN HIS OWN HEART ABOUT HIS OWN UNWORTHINESS.

SO AS WE EACH CONDUCT OUR OWN BATTLES AGAINST OUR OWN SINS, EVEN THOSE THAT BESET US AND WILL NOT LEAVE US, WE MAY TAKE A MOMENT OF COURAGE TO CONTINUE OUR FIGHT KNOWING THAT WE ARE NOT THE FIRST TO ENTER THAT WARFARE.

NOR ARE WE EVER ALONE IN IT. HE WHO IS IN US IS GREATER THAT HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD.

SEVERAL VERSES ARE ASSIGNED TO US IN THIS STUDY STOP FROM CHAPTER 8.

IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF WRITINGS IN OUR NEW TESTAMENT THERE MAY BE NONE MORE POWERFUL THAN THE FIRST VERSE OF ROMANS 8:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”

PAUL HAS SPENT MANY VERSES BEFORE EXPLAINING HOW GOD JUSTIFIES SINNERS AND FREES THEM FROM DIVINE WRATH.

HE NOW SHOWS HOW MUCH MORE THE BELIEVER HAS TO ENJOY IN TERMS OF THE FREEDOM THAT FAITH IN CHRIST BRINGS.

HE IS SAYING THAT GOD DOES NOT CONDEMN HIS CHILDREN, WHO ARE REDEEMED, TO A LIFE OF FEAR OR DEFEAT.

PAUL CLOSED CHAPTER 7 WITH THE DISMAL WORDS “WITH THE FLESH” SHOWING HOW SIN OPERATES IN THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. 

THIS PHRASE CONCERNING THE FLESH IS AN ATTITUDE OR INCLINATION OPERATING IN REJECTION OF THE DIVINE WILL THAT REQUIRES OUR SELF SURRENDER.

WE MUST BE MINDFUL THAT THE MEASURE OF THE DEVOTION OF THE BELIEVER IS MEASURED ONLY BY THE DEPTH OF OUR SURRENDER.

IT IS IN THE FLESH THAT THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH EXISTS AND MOVES.

PAUL CAREFULLY OUTLINES THE STAGES OF GOD’S DEALINGS WITH SINFUL HUMAN NATURE.

FIRST, GOD GAVE THE LAW OF MOSES, WHICH COULD NOT MAKE MAN RIGHT WITH GOD NOR MAKE HIM LIVE RIGHTLY BEFORE GOD.

THIS LACK OF ABILITY WAS NOT A REFLECTION ON THE LAW, BUT WAS A CONDEMNATION OF HUMAN NATURE AFTER THE FALL IN THE GARDEN.

SECOND, GOD THEN SENT “… HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, ON ACCOUNT OF SIN. (8:3)

IT IS STRONGLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOTICE THAT JESUS DID NOT ARRIVE IN HUMAN FLESH, WHICH IS SINFUL AND DEPRAVED FROM BIRTH, BUT CAME IN FLESH THAT WAS LIKENED TO OURS BUT WAS NOT OURS.

THIRD, CHRIST CAME “FOR SIN”.

HE CAME TO ACCEPT OUR SIN UPON HIMSELF AND BECOME OUR ONCE AND FOREVER SACRIFICE TO PERFECTLY ATONE FOR IT.

BY HIM WAS SIN OVERWHELMED.

FOURTH, THOSE WHO ARE “IN CHRIST” HAVE COME TO A NEW IDENTITY (BEING NEW CREATURES) AND IN THIS NEWNESS HAVE JOINED WITH HIM, TAKING THE FIRST STEP TO LIVING FREE FROM SIN’S DOMINION.

IN VERSES 9-11 PAUL TEACHES OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.

PAUL REFERS TO THE WONDERFUL GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLING HIM THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.

IN HIM BONDAGE TO SIN IS BANISHED AND FREEDOM BEGINS TO BE OURS AT SALVATION AND THAT FREEDOM THEN FOREVER GUIDES OUR LIFE.

JUST BEFORE PAUL HAS SHOWN THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.

BELIEVERS SHOULD BE UNCONCERNED BECAUSE WE ARE NO LONGER IN THE FLESH BUT ARE IN THE SPIRIT.

THEREFORE BELIEVERS ARE CAPABLE OF PLEASING GOD AND THE PROOF OF THEIR SPIRITUAL ONENESS IS PROVEN BY THE INDWELLING OF HIS OWN SPIRIT.

THIS IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT AFTER BEING BORN AGAIN.

IN VERSES 12-13 PAUL TEACHES US OF FULFILLED RIGHTEOUSNESS.

LIVING BY THE SPIRIT PUTS TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE FLESH.

THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT IDENTIFY THIS REQUIREMENT:

• THE BELIEVER MUST MIND THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT

• RATHER THAN THE THINGS OF THE FLESH.

• THE BELIEVER MUST CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THAT SAME

• WAY, ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT, NOT THE BODY.

• THE BELIEVER IS REQUIRED TO PERSIST IN THAT NEW

• AND CHOSEN WAY OF LIFE AND THAT PERSISTENCE

• WILL PUT TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE BODY.

A COURAGEOUS ACT OF SELF DENIAL IS REQUIRED OF EVERY BELIEVER.

THIS ACT IS SO DIFFICULT THAT SOME BELIEVERS FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH ALONE, EVEN THOUGH THE BELIEVER KNOWS IT IS RIGHT.

BUT WHEN THE BELIEVER CULTIVATES THE ATTITUDE OF THE SPIRIT USING THE GREATER POWER OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT THEN THERE IS FAR MORE THAN ENOUGH STRENGTH AND POWER TO ACHIEVE THIS WAY OF LIFE.

THE QUALITY OF LIFE GRANTED TO THE BELIEVER THROUGH THIS DEPENDENCE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR ALL THINGS IS CALLED BY PAUL “THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW”.

BUT WE MUST NOT OVERLOOK THAT THIS LIFE IS NOT THE PRODUCT OF FRUSTRATED SELF EFFORT, BUT RATHER IS THE RESULT OF HUMAN RESPONSE TO THE DIVINE SPIRIT WHO LIVES WITHIN.

THIS IS THE CONTINUAL BENDING OF THE HUMAN WILL TO THE DIVINE WILL THAT IS WHAT WE CALL SANCTIFICATION.