Romans 7:13-25
Q.1. What role does the Law have within us? What contradictions does this produce in our daily living? How did Paul explain our bondage to sin? – (Rom.7:13-20)
Paul asserted that the Law is good and spiritual (Rom.7:13-14). It is actually – through the commandment sin might be shown up clearly to be sin so that the extreme sinfulness of sin might be made clear (Rom.7:13). The fact is, says Paul, – I am a creature of the flesh sold into bondage and under the control of sin (Rom.7:14). Though I am joined to another Master to bear fruit for God, I am still made of flesh that arouses sinful passions (Rom.7:4-5). This explains why we are a bundle of contradictions, on the one hand accepting the moral code of the Law, and yet – not practicing what I would like to do but doing the very thing I hate (Rom.7:15). He concluded – that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not (Rom.7:18). As long as I am in this weak and flawed body dominated by the flesh, there will be a conflict between my old and new nature (Rom.7:18-20). This reality should drive us constantly to the Saviour for forgiveness and cleansing … and with overwhelming gratitude.
Q.2. How did Paul explain his inability to live by the Law? What is the root problem with our ongoing battle with sin? Is victory possible? – (Rom.7:21-25)
We can agree with God’s good Law yet violate these very principles with which we agree (Rom.7:21-22). This reveals the real problem, said Paul, since – I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members (Rom.7:23). He asked: Is victory possible? – Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? (Rom.7:24). He concluded – Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin (Rom.7:25). Before our conversion – we were in the flesh and in slavery to sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law and were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death (Rom.7:5). However, on coming to Christ we were joined to Him in His death and resurrection, and now have the potential to bear fruit for God (Rom.7:4). We now have a choice that we never had before. We can choose to pamper the flesh, or to please God. Every failure should drive us back to dependence upon the Lord, so that we can be victorious over sin, and please Him (Rom.7:25).