A.C.T.S. Romans Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To understand the Jewish Christian's relationship to the Law of

   Moses

2) To comprehend the dilemma one faces without Jesus Christ

SUMMARY

Paul has just completed discussing how being baptized into Christ makes 

us dead to sin and free to present our bodies as instruments of 

righteousness unto holiness.  For the benefit of his Jewish readers 

(those who know the Law), he now carries the concept of death and 

freedom one step further: the Jewish believers become dead to the Law 

that they might be joined to Christ.  He illustrates his point by 

referring to the marital relationship.  The result of being freed from 

the Law is that they might "serve in the newness of the Spirit and not 

in the oldness of the letter." (1-6)

Lest his Jewish readers think he is implying that the Law was sinful, 

Paul is quick to dispel that notion.  The Law, he says, is "holy and 

just and good."  The problem is that the Law only makes known that 

which is sinful, but sin took opportunity by the commandment to produce 

evil desire and deceived him, resulting in death (7-12).

To further illustrate his point, Paul pictures himself as man under the 

Law who finds himself in a terrible dilemma.  With his mind he knows 

that which good and wants to do it.  He also knows that which is evil 

and wants to avoid that.  But he finds a "law" (or principle) in his 

flesh which wins over the desire of the mind (13-23).  As a prisoner he 

cries out for freedom.  Is there no hope?  Yes!  God provides the 

solution through His Son Jesus Christ, upon which Paul will elaborate 

in chapter eight (24-25).

OUTLINE

I. JEWISH BELIEVERS AND THE LAW (1-6)

   A. A PARALLEL TO BEING RELEASED FROM MARRIAGE (1-3)

      1. Law has dominion over those who live under it (1)

      2. As illustrated by a woman who is married to a man (2-3)

   B. THEY HAVE DIED TO THE LAW (4-6)

      1. So they can be married to Christ (4)

      2. So they can serve in newness of the Spirit, far superior to

         serving in the oldness of the letter (5-6)

II. LIMITATIONS OF THE LAW (7-25)

   A. THE LAW IS HOLY AND JUST AND GOOD (7-12)

      1. The Law is not sin, but rather makes known sin (7)

      2. But sin takes occasion by the commandment to lead one to death

         (8-12)

   B. THE LAW CANNOT SAVE ONE FROM SIN (13-25)

      1. The problem is not law, but sin (13)

      2. The Law is spiritual, but man is carnal and sold under sin

         (14)

      3. Though one may desire good and hate evil, one is still

         enslaved by sin (15-23)

      4. Deliverance comes only from God, through Jesus Christ (24-25)

A.C.T.S. Study Ch. 6 Romans Outline

DOCTRINAL 2:12 - 5-11

• 1:16-5:11 Sins, Old Nature, Results

• 5:12-8:39 Sins, Old Nature, Itself

Chapter Six

Review 

1. Sin (1:18-3:20)

2. Salvation (3:21-5:21)

3. Sanctification (6:1-8:39)

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To understand what takes place in baptism

2) To appreciate the freedom from sin which we may now enjoy in Christ

SUMMARY

In chapter five, Paul made the statement "where sin abounded, grace 

abounded much more" (5:20).   Aware that some readers might misconstrue

what he said, Paul quickly points out that grace is no excuse to sin

since through grace they have died to sin (1-2).  To emphasize this, he

reminds them of their baptism into Christ, in which they experienced a

burial into the death of Christ and rose to walk in newness of life,

having died to sin (3-7).  Dead to sin, they are now free to live as

instruments of righteousness for God (8-14).

Another reason not to continue in sin is explained in terms of 

servitude.  We become slaves to that which we obey, either sin or God 

(15-16).  But Paul is grateful that the Romans had begun to obey God 

and were free to become His servants (17-18).  How important it is that 

they continue to do so is to be seen in the outcome of serving sin 

contrasted to serving God.  Serving sin earns death, but in serving God 

one receives the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus (19-23)!

OUTLINE

I. WE ARE DEAD TO SIN! (1-14)

   A. THROUGH BAPTISM WE DIED TO SIN (1-7)

      1. Shall we sin, that grace may abound? No, we died to sin! (1-2)

      2. In baptism we were buried into Christ's death (3-4a)

      3. We should walk in newness of life, having been united together

         in the likeness of His death, crucified with Him, no longer

         slaves of sin, but freed from sin (4b-7)

   B. DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE TO GOD (8-14)

      1. Having died with Christ, we may live with Him over Whom death

         has no dominion (8-10)

      2. Alive to God, we should not let sin reign in our bodies

         (11-12)

      3. But rather present our bodies as instruments of righteousness,

         for we are under grace (13-14)

II. WE SHOULD BE SLAVES TO GOD! (15-23)

   A. WE BECOME SLAVES TO WHOM WE OBEY (15-18)

      1. Either of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness

         (15-16)

      2. Through obedience to God's Word, those who were slaves of sin

         become slaves of righteousness (17-18)

   B. THE MOTIVATION FOR SERVING GOD (19-23)

      1. Serving righteousness produces holiness (19)

      2. Serving sin produces death (20-21)

      3. Serving God produces the fruit of holiness, and in the end,

         eternal life (22)

      4. The wages of sin is death, but God gives the gift of eternal

         life in Christ Jesus our Lord (23)

ACTS Book of Romans Study Chapter 5

Chapter Five

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To appreciate the blessings that accompany justification

2) To comprehend more fully the grace offered through Jesus Christ

SUMMARY

Having substantiated his thesis of "justification by faith" with

evidence from the Old Testament, Paul now discusses the blessings of

such justification.  First, there is peace with God (1).  Second, we

have access to grace in which we stand (2a).  Third, there is cause for

rejoicing in hope, so that we can glory even in tribulations (2b-4).

Fourth, there is God's love which He first demonstrated with the gift

of His Son (5-8).  Finally, there is salvation from God's wrath (9).

All of this is made possible when we are reconciled to God through the

death of His Son and should be the basis for endless rejoicing (10-11).

To explain further the way in which salvation is made possible, Paul 

compares Christ to Adam.  Through one man, Adam, sin and death entered 

the world, and the consequences have led to the death of many.  In a 

similar way, through one man, Christ, many may now become righteous.

Through Jesus' death on the cross, justification is made possible for 

many (12-19).

Upon comparing Christ with Adam, Paul briefly mentions that with the 

entering in of law sin abounded.  But the increase of sin has been 

adequately answered by the grace offered in Jesus Christ (20-21).

OUTLINE

I. THE BLESSINGS OF JUSTIFICATION (1-11)

   A. PEACE WITH GOD (1)

   B. ACCESS TO GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND (2a)

   C. REJOICING IN HOPE, EVEN IN TRIBULATIONS (2b-4)

      1. Joy in anticipating God's glory (2b)

      2. Joy in tribulation, knowing even it results in more hope (3-4)

         a. For tribulation produces perseverance (3b)

         b. And perseverance develops character (4a)

         c. Such character gives one hope (4b)

   D. GOD'S LOVE IN OUR HEARTS (5-8)

      1. The assurance our hope will not be disappointed (5a)

      2. Poured out by the Holy Spirit (5b)

      3. Demonstrated by Christ's death while we were yet sinners (6-8)

       

   E. SALVATION FROM GOD'S WRATH (9-11)

      1. Through Jesus, just as we have been justified by His blood (9)

      2. Saved by His life, just as we were reconciled by His death (10)

      3. The basis for us to rejoice (11)

II. COMPARING CHRIST WITH ADAM (12-21)

   A. ADAM AND THE CONSEQUENCE OF HIS ACTIONS (12-14)

      1. Through Adam, sin entered the world, and death as a

         consequence (12a)

      2. Thus death spread, for all sinned (12b)

      3. From the time of Adam to Moses, death reigned, even over those

         who had not sinned like Adam did (13-14)

    

   B. ADAM AND CHRIST COMPARED (15-19)

      1. Adam's offense brought many deaths, Christ's grace abounds

         even more (15)

      2. One offense produced the judgment of condemnation, but many

         offenses produced the free gift of justification (16)

      3. By Adam's offense death reigns, but those who receive the gift

         of righteousness will reign in life through Christ (17)

      4. Summary (18-19)

         a. Through Adam's offense judgment came to all men, resulting

            in condemnation (18a)

         b. Through Christ's act grace came to all, resulting in

            justification of life (18b)

         c. By Adam's disobedience many were made sinners (19a)

         d. By Christ's obedience many will be made righteous (19b)

   C. THE RELATIONSHIP OF LAW, SIN AND GRACE (20-21)

      1. Law entered that sin might abound, but grace abounds much more

         (20)

      2. Just as sin reigned in death, so grace reigns through

         righteousness to eternal life through Christ (21)