Romans 7:1-6

Text

Romans 7:1-6.Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth? Romans 7:2 For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. Romans 7:3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man. Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. Romans 7:6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 7:1-6

267.

Please, notice that this section is only a small part of a larger one, Relate it to the whole. How does it relate?

268.

A principle is stated in Romans 7:1 that is applied later, What is it?

269.

In the example presented, are we to understand Paul to say there is no reason at all for divorce? What did Jesus say about divorce? Please remember that the thought of divorce and remarriage was not the subject under consideration in Romans 7:1-6.

270.

Is the man whom the adulteress marries guilty also?

271.

The law was our first husband, but our husband died. What law was this? cf. Romans 7:1.

272.

We are now married (in a figure of speech) to Christ. How will this keep us from sin?

273.

The fruit of our relationship to Christ is in what?

274.

Give the meaning of the little expression, in the flesh? cf. Romans 7:5.

275.

Please note the progress of Satan's work in man: (1) sinful passions; (2) through the law; (3) wrought in our members; (4) fruit unto death. Explain each step.

276.

We are discharged from what law? We also died in what sense?

277.

We serve in newness of spirit. Explain this expression.

278.

It is not true that all who have accepted Christ are free from the power of sin and the law. Why not? How is this answered in this very section?

Paraphrase

Romans 7:1-6. Ye Jews think the law of Moses is of perpetual obligation; but know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them who know law), that the law of Moses, as the law of God's temporal kingdom among the Jews, hath dominion over a man only so long as he liveth; its obligation being that of a marriage?

Romans 7:2 For a woman who hath an husband, is bound by the law of marriage (Genesis 2:21-24) to her husband while he liveth: but if her husband die she is loosed from the law of marriage, which bound her to her husband, and hindered her from marrying any other man.

Romans 7:3 So then such a women shall be reputed, both by God and man, an adulteress, if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another husband: but if her husband die, she is freed from that law which bound her to her husband, and hindered her to marry any other man; so that she is no adulteress, though, after his death, she be married to another husband.

Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, since marriages are dissolved by the death of either of the parties, ye Jews, who were married to God as your king, and thereby were bound to obey the law of Moses, are loosed from that marriage and law, because ye also, as well as the Gentiles, (Romans 6:6), have been put to death by the curse of the law in the person of Christ, that ye may be married to another, even to him who died for you, but is now raised from the dead; and that we should bring forth fruit to God.

Romans 7:5 Besides, the law of Moses never was intended as the rule of our justification; for when we were the subjects of God's temporal kingdom, the sinful inclinations which we had under the law, wrought effectually in the members, both of our soul and body, to bring forth such evil actions as, by the curse of that law, subjected us to death without mercy.

Romans 7:6 But now we Jews are loosed from the law of Moses, having died with Christ by its curse in that fleshly nature by which, as descendants of Abraham, we were tied to the law, and are placed under the law of the gospel; so that we now should serve God in the new manner of the Gospel, and not in the old manner of the law.

Summary

The law rules over a man so long as he lives. As an example, take the married woman. She is bound by law to her husband while he lives. As proof that she is thus bound, if while her husband is alive, she marries another man she will act the adulteress. But when her husband dies she is released from the law which bound her to him. If she then marries she is no adulteress. And so you, my brethren, died to the law by the body of Christ when he died. You thus became released from the law, and consequently are at liberty to obey the risen Savior. When we were under the flesh, which we were before we obeyed the gospel, those sinful desires which are discovered to be such by the law, worked in us to produce fruit to death. But we are now released from the law, by dying to it, so that at present we serve God in a renewed spirit, through the gospel, and not in the old fashion prescribed in the law.

c.

Reason Number Three. Romans 7:1-6

Comment

(1) Paul felt that he had established this premise in the minds of all Jews who would be honest in their consideration of what he had said. But to seal the argument beyond a word of retaliation, he strikes upon his readers-' minds the truth that in the law was found the very principle for which he was pleading. Notice his words: Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth? There is the principle. Then follows the illustration of this principle, The illustration given is that of a woman who, while married, is bound by the law to her husband, but if the husband dies she is free from the law that bound her to him. Now, of course, if she were to marry another while her husband lived she would be called an adulteress, but not so if she were to marry after her husband's death. Romans 7:1-3

(2) Well, answers the Jew, how does that apply to the objection I have raised? How does that demonstrate that although we are free from the law we cannot continue in sin? Ah, yes, here is the wonderful application, that at the same time we were released from the law through the death of Christ (cp. Colossians 2:13-16), we were joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead. While we were married to the law, Paul says that we were bound to obey it because of the responsibilities of the married state, and now that we are married to Christ we are equally bound to obey him. In our obedience to him we will bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:4

Continue in sin? How can we while we are joined in spiritual marriage to Jesus Christ?

(3) Speaking of our bearing fruit unto God in our new marriage, contrariwise, we can look back to our old marriage and remember the wicked desires of Satan, coupled with a yielding of our wills. This transgression of God's will only resulted in, the fruit of death. Romans 7:5

(4) But now we have been discharged from the law. How did this take place? The answer is found in the fact that we were in Christ when he died, and since he in his death blotted out the law, we too have thus died with him to the law. In coming into Christ we are delivered from the bondage of the law. We now serve God with a renewed spirit, a spirit made new by God's Spirit indwelling our bodies. We do not serve God in the old letter of the Mosaic law, but by the renewed spirit of a Christian. Romans 7:6

140.

What is the third answer to the second objection?

141.

How does the answer demonstrate that we cannot continue in sin?

Rethinking in Outline Form
Objections to the Proposition Continued

2.

Objection concerning freedom from the law. Romans 6:15, Romans 7:6

Objection Stated: Since you have said We are not under law (Romans 6:14) but under the favor of God, what is to restrain us from continuing in sin?

Objection Answered:
a.

Reason number one. Romans 6:16-19

(1)

If you continue in sin you are a slave to sin. Being a slave of sin, your final destiny will be the same as your master-eternal death. Romans 7:16 a

(2)

However, you need not choose to act this way, for you can become the bondservant of Christ through obedience to him and can enter into the benefits of sanctification. Romans 7:16 b

(3)

Indeed, this is what you did once when you threw off the bondage of sin through your obedience to the gospel. So now even as you once gave yourselves body and soul to Satan, give yourselves to your new master. In doing this, you will be God's own possession. Romans 7:17-19

b.

Reason number two. Romans 6:20-23

(1)

What fruit did you find while living in sin? You found none. Well, why do you long to return to this fruitless existence? Romans 7:20-21

(2)

There is a wonderful reward for those who serve Christ. joy and peace here (which is the fruit of sanctification) and eternal life hereafter. Romans 7:22

(3)

The wages of a life of sin is eternal death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 7:23

142.

What fruit is brought forth by continuing in sin?

143.

Show how we have been discharged from the law.

c.

Reason number three. Romans 7:1-6

(1)

It is a well known fact of the law that a woman is bound to the man she marries as long as her husband lives, You were once married to the law; the law died in the body of Christ, so you are free from the law. And since you have obtained your freedom you have been joined to another; this time your husband is Christ. Continue in sin? How can we while joined in spiritual marriage to Christ Jesus? Romans 7:1-4

(2)

While in this new state, we are to bring forth fruit, not unto Satan as in times past, but unto God. Romans 7:5

(3)

We serve God now, not like we did once, from the letter, but from our spirits. Romans 7:6