In chapters 6 and 7, Paul uses a literary structure where he asks a rhetorical question, “what then? “ Followed by the answer “by no means.” The flow of the argument is built around these questions and answers. Sometimes the “what then?” question is followed by “do you not know?” sections to answer the main question.
Here is a visual form of the literary outline:
Paul has spent significant time in the letter contrasting the law of Moses has been contrasted with faith in Jesus. In chapter 7 he will use a rhetorical technique called Impersonation. He’s not really talking about himself, he is speaking universally of Adam and Israel (depending on the exact section). None of this is a description of what it’s like to be a Christian. On the contrary, it’s describing what it’s like to be outside of Christ. There are clear cues in the text that make this clear. In the early part of Romans 7, when he is speaking of their current condition in Christ he says “for while we WERE living in the flesh..” (7:4) Being in the flesh was their past condition prior to having died to the law. Then in the next section of chapter 7 he says “I am of the flesh, sold under sin” (7:14). More could be said about all of this, but the basic point is that the Christian used to be “in the flesh,” but now they aren’t. Therefore 7:7-25 does not fit as a description of the Christian life. This becomes even more clear as Paul makes his arguments in Romans 8. Christians don’t struggle with sin the same way those outside of Christ do. Those outside of Christ have no hope. They are lost and have no answer. Those in Christ turn to Christ when they dealing with sin.
The first part of Romans 78 is still a reply to the question asked back in Romans 6:15: “Are we to sin because we are not under law, but under grace?” No!” The point of the marriage analogy in 7:1-4 is to help Jewish people realize they are freed from the law and bound to Christ when they die with Christ and resurrect to new life in Him. Those bound to Christ then bear fruit for Christ, rather than the terrible slave master Sin. The marriage illustration fits nicely with the argument that started at the beginning of Romans 6. You are bound until death, but to leave Adam and enter Christ a death takes place. If one dies to the law, they are now free to be bound to something else, to Jesus Christ.
Is the law sin? No! Sin seized opportunity through the law. Rom. 7:7-12. Those that are in Adam, in the flesh, are drawn by passion to do the things they shouldn’t do. Paul doesn’t wish to speak ill of the law, but he does want them to recognize how the Law of Moses fit into the bigger plans of God and His people. It never good free from slavery to sin and the Adam humanity. It merely highlighted the transgressions in peoples’ lives. It was supposed to give life, but in the end it only brought death.
Does what is good bring death? No! Sin produced death through what was good (Rom. 7:13). The idea of flesh Paul speaks of does not refer to the body. It refers to sinful humanity, that is driven by sin. Just as Paul will later speak of God dwelling within his people, Sin dwells within his people in Chapter 7. Paul’s point here is not to remove personal responsibility for our actions, but it is to show that when we are in the flesh we are driven by our slave master Sin. Sin dwells in us and we obey Sin. There is no way we can remove ourselves from this slavery. This took Jesus and his righteous act (Romans 5:12ff). Paul will have more to say about that in Romans 8.
Applications:
1. God did not call us to the Christ plus something else. We don’t need man made laws or associations. We need be transformed into the image of Christ.
2. The law was good and holy, but couldn’t deliver those enslaved to sin.
3. Life outside of Christ is frustrating! But Christ is the answer.
If you are outside of Christ, you have no hope. There is no answer. The answer is through Jesus Christ. You will be transformed
Sermon by Brent Moody
