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)