Laying a solid foundation The Fight Romans 7:7-25 Laying a solid foundation Paul J. Bucknell NASB

A Survey of the Book of Romans Overview of Romans A Survey of the Book of Romans

Introduction to Romans 6-7 4 Misunderstandings of Faith # The Pattern #3 Romans 7:7-12 #4 Romans 7:13-25 1 Starts with general introductory question What shall we say then? (7:7) (not present) 2 A followup question indicates the misunderstanding Is the Law sin? (7:7) 7:13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? 3 Paul’s strong answer, 
“May it never be!” May it never be! (7:7) May it never be! (7:13) 4 Strong refutation follows contrary conjunction 7:7 On the contrary, I would not have come to know… 7:13 Rather it was sin, in order that….

A. Blame the Law (Rom 7:7-12) 7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 And I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive, and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind” (8) “You can’t have it! “But I want it!

The Law is the cause of my increased sinfulness. A. Blame the Law (Rom 7:7-12) Blame response The Law is the cause of my increased sinfulness. “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind” (8) Increased sin The Law fostered sin Perception: Ignore the Law, suspicious, avoid, reject Critical of Law Critical of rules Attitude: Proper response “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” (12) The Law exposes my sinfulness; it doesn’t create it. “I would not have come to know sin except through the Law” (7) I am to blame for my sin. I need to be attentive to God’s Law. Humble, repentant, holy living

Blaming the Law enables the person to further indulge one’s lusts. A. Blame the Law (Rom 7:7-12) LAW “I can live without it.” “The Law’s Fault” me “I have to have it!” Blaming the Law enables the person to further indulge one’s lusts. “I want her.” “I need him!”

B) Blame the Lord (Ro 7:13-25) 7:13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. Blame response God is the cause of my sinfulness. “Did that which is good become a cause of death for me?” (13) Then I don’t need to pay attention to Him. God doesn’t care for me Perception: Ignore the God; pretend righteousness, religious Critical of Lawgiver Attitude:

B) Blame the Lord (Ro 7:13-25) The Blame Game in society The Law is the cause of my increased sinfulness. Problem: Solution: Get rid of law and rules. • Wrong attitude to the Law Suspicious, avoid the Law “My parents’ rules are to blame for my sin.” “I would be better off without these rules!” Anti “rule” • Wrong attitude to God Anti authoritarian - rule creator “My parents are to blame for my sin.” “My parents hold me back from the best!” Embrace the Law and Lawgiver “Thy Law is my delight.” (Ps119:77) • Right attitude to God “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 Jo 5:3)

B) Blame the Lord (Ro 7:13-25) The Law is Spiritual (7:14-16) 14 For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good. The Law is a spiritual expression of God’s righteous rule (14). “I am not practicing what I would like to do” (15) “I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good” (16). The Flesh is Evil (7:17-19) 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. Blame the law or principle of my flesh not the Law of God. “So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me” (17-18). Believers sense differing thoughts and decisions that they follow and carry out, revealing another principle at work in their lives. (19)

B) Blame the Lord (Ro 7:13-25) The Tension I Find (7:20-23) 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but 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. Conflict of identify, “If I am doing…I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing” (20). Sin acts as its own person when allowed, “sin which dwells in me” (21). But Paul doesn’t avoid accountability, as he still admits, “I am doing” (20). God’s law is good (22); our evil is part of our old nature -“different law” (23a). The truth is fact even if I feel otherwise (23). Flee like Joseph (Gen 39). God’s Solution for Me (7:24-25) 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 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. Wretchedness describes my wicked person before God –“wretched man” (24). Judgment was consequence but God found a way out for us –salvation (24b-25)! God is not cause of death but bringer of life “through Jesus Christ”! (25a). Being saved allows me to serve God with my mind and life (“with my mind” 25).

The Fight (Romans 7:7-25) Summary Discussion questions Divine rules and the Rule Giver are not our problem but our unwillingness to live in obedience–flesh, sinful nature. Problem: Blame others instead of being confession oriented. God, the Rule Giver, cares for us and offers a sin solution through Jesus Christ. The sinful nature will continue to be near us–But we don’t have to submit to it as believers (more in chapter 8). Discussion questions In what ways are you suspicious of rules from authorities like parents, God or church? How easy is it for you to humble yourself and admit your sin? What is one difficult area of confession? Do you ever feel discouraged with the way you give into sin? How does this passage encourage you?

Laying a solid foundation The Fight Romans 7:7-25 Laying a solid foundation Paul J. Bucknell NASB