In Romans 7, the Apostle Paul takes us on a deep dive into the conflict between the law and our innate tendencies toward sin. It's an honest exploration of human struggle that many can relate to.
The Reading: Romans 7
World English Bible1 Or don’t you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives?
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2 For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband.
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3 So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man.
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4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to God.
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5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring out fruit to death.
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6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.
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7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting, unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”
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8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
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9 I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
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10 The commandment, which was for life, this I found to be for death;
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11 for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.
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12 Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
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13 Did then that which is good become death to me? May it never be! But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, was producing death in me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceedingly sinful.
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14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin.
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15 For I don’t know what I am doing. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do.
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16 But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good.
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17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
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18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.
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19 For the good which I desire, I don’t do; but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice.
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20 But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
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21 I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present.
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22 For I delight in God’s law after the inward man,
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23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.
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24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?
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25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, the sin’s law.
What This Chapter Is Really Saying
In this chapter, Paul starts by likening the law to a marriage relationship, where a person is bound to their spouse until death. He explains that once the spouse dies, the surviving partner is free to marry again. Similarly, believers have died to the law through Christ, enabling them to be in a new relationship with Him, and produce good fruit in their lives.
Paul then grapples with the complexity of sin and the law. He begins by affirming the holiness of the law, stating that it is not sin itself, but rather helps us recognize sin. For instance, he didn't realize he was coveting until the law pointed it out. This relationship often leads to a frustrating cycle where the commandment reveals sin, and instead of bringing life, it highlights death.
He describes an internal battle: while he desires to do good, he often finds himself doing the opposite. It's a classic case of wanting to eat healthy but ending up at the donut shop. Paul concludes with a candid confession of his struggle - "What a wretched man I am!" This echoes the universal human experience of battling our desires, leaving us yearning for a savior, which he identifies as Jesus Christ, who delivers us from this turmoil.
Why It Matters
The Law and Our Humanity
Romans 7 teaches us about the law's role in revealing our shortcomings. It's like a mirror; while it shows our flaws, it cannot change them. Understanding this can lead us to seek help beyond ourselves.
The Struggle is Real
Paul's honesty about his struggles is refreshing. We all deal with internal conflicts, which can feel isolating. Yet, his words remind us we are not alone in this fight between our desires and our actions.
Hope Through Christ
Ultimately, the chapter points to hope. The realization that Jesus can rescue us from our struggles is central to Christian faith. It's in acknowledging our battles that we can truly embrace the freedom offered through grace.
If you're seeking support in your spiritual journey, consider using the Sancta app to find a church near you. Connecting with a community can provide the encouragement we need to navigate our struggles together.
Coming Up Next: Romans 8
As we move into Romans 8, we start to uncover the incredible promise of life through the Spirit. This next part of the journey reveals how we can live with hope and assurance in Christ, no matter our struggles.