Removing the Mystery and Confusion Surrounding the 7^th Chapter of Romans.

 

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Ti 3:16-17 AV)

Certainly the Book of Romans fills this criterion.  It was through God’s chosen vessel, the apostle Paul, that God choose to present the early Church with a systematic revelation of God’s righteousness and His will concerning His people.  Of all the letters of Paul none is as extensive or as universal in establishing Church doctrine as this book.  It is written to the Jew as much as the Gentile, the Greek as much as the barbarian.  That is, it was written to people who had come from these groups, who were now part of a special group whom Paul address: “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:”

 Diverse backgrounds of Roman Believers

 It is because of the diversity of backgrounds of the members of the Church in Rome that we have the depth and breadth of explanations of the foundational doctrines of Christianity expounded upon in one letter.  For example; when Paul speaks of our guilt before God, he speaks first to the gentiles and then addresses the Jews.  He sums it up with the statement that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

 Value in Paul’s Approach

  There is great value in the way in which Paul deals with these principles of faith.  In so doing he is not only able to minister to everyone in this diverse group, but he is also able to open up our understanding of our brothers in Christ who have come from different backgrounds.  The end result intended is that we come together, being unified by the spirit of God, individual members working together under the headship of Jesus Christ.

Purpose was Unity, Misunderstanding Brings Division

Almost two thousand years have passed since Paul penned these words.  Not all who have read these words have come together in unity.  In fact there are portions of this letter that have been the very source of division, the dividing points of denominations, and even divisions within denominations.  It is one of these portions that I wish to address.  For as long as there is confusion in the application of this scripture Satan will continue to use it to undermine the principles of God, leaving people shackled by sins that Jesus died to save us from.  With that having been said, let us consider the content of the seventh chapter of Romans

Context is Essential for Understanding

To understand what Paul is saying in Romans 7 we must consider it in context of the entire letter.  Paul is an apostle to the Gentiles, appointed by God, a chosen vessel, to bear God’s name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.  Paul’s desire is to preach the gospel to those that are at Rome.  He states that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.  For it is the righteousness of God revealed.  I will try in a few words to summarize his letter up to the seventh chapter.

All Have Sinned

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” (Ro 1:18 AV)

When God’s righteousness was revealed though Jesus, it also in sharp contrast revealed the unrighteousness of mankind.  Paul goes on to show the condemnation under which we stand as gentiles because we are in rebellion to the revelation of God.  He does not stop with the Gentiles but goes on to show the condemnation of the Jews also who have been privileged with the Oracles and laws of God.  The conclusion is that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  We stand or fall before God based upon our righteousness.  Righteousness is essential, without which no man shall see God or be able to stand before his presence.  All men are in need of a savior.

Salvation Through Faith

Through the Law we have the knowledge of sin, but no one by the works of the Law will be justified.  The hope that was witnessed by the Law and the prophets was in the one that would come to fulfill all things.  That person, Paul says, was our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.  By grace then, through faith, we are justified through the blood of Jesus Christ if we believe on Him.  Through faith we then establish the Law.

Righteousness has always been through faith.  Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.  Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Freed From Sin, Sanctified

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Ro 6:1 AV)

Paul immediately answers his own question. “God forbid”.  Our bondage to sin also died on the cross.  We are new creatures in Christ.  Do not let sin reign in your body.  Do not continue your past practice of presenting members of your body as instruments of unrighteousness.  Sin shall not be your master.  You have from the heart become obedient to that form of doctrine that was delivered to you.  You have been freed from sin.  You became slaves to righteousness.

Now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Ro 6:22-23 AV)

The 7^th Chapter Reconciled to The Bible

This brings us to the 7^th chapter of Romans.  This is a chapter that many people have stumbled over leaving themselves vulnerable to Satan and the world.  If we are willing to approach this chapter pushing aside our preconceived notions I believe it clears up rather easily.  We will not be able to reconcile the clear image with many Bible commentaries or possibly not with the scholars of the day, but the clear view I offer is reconcilable with the rest of God’s Word and that is all that matters.  For if it is in harmony with God’s Word it will reflect truth.

To Those Who Know the Law

“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?” (Ro 7:1 AV)

Paul has been addressing both Jews and Gentiles.  In his discourse he at times focuses on one or the other because of their different backgrounds.  At this point as he expounds our knowledge of the gospel, it becomes necessary to address the issues that now come to the forefront for those who have been under the Law (the Jews).  Our understanding of justification and sanctification had been expanded, revealing our freedom from the consequences of our sin, and freedom from the bondage of sin itself.  But for those who have lived under the law, followed the law, and may have been lead to Christ through this path, there are issues that need to be dealt with before we move on to worship.  This is important for the Jew and the Gentile.  This becomes evident in Paul’s letter to the Galatians as the Judaizers tried to impose Jewish customs on the new believers.

Here Paul specifically addresses a certain group as brethren who know the Law.  It is important that we keep this in mind as we follow though the 7^th chapter.  The 8^th chapter then again becomes all inclusive as he speaks to those who are in Christ Jesus.  But here in the 7^th chapter he addresses those that “know” the law.  This is the same word that is used to denote sexual intercourse between a man and a woman.  This also seems to have some significance as we consider the illustration Paul uses to show the relationship between a man and the Law.  Whether or not this is Paul’s intended play on words, it does become clear that it is necessary for you to have intimate knowledge of the law to understand the dilemma that Paul presents to us.

Understanding Culture

We who are not Jews can only imagine what it would be like for your faith, your nation, and your culture to be so intertwined that they cannot be separated.  But this is exactly how it was for the Jews.  Even for those who had became Christians, the break with tradition left them with a sense of betrayal to their heritage, nation, culture and family.  This is a much different problem than the Gentiles had because in their case the culture they were leaving was pagan, idolatrous, depraved, and evil.  The Jews in contrast were God’s chosen people.  Their culture was based upon the Law which God had handed down to Moses.  These Jews had accepted Jesus sacrificial fulfillment of the Law.  But their struggle was with the multitude of commandments and interpretations of the Law that governed their nation.

Struggles with Culture

Examples of these struggles are seen in the Book of Acts.  It took a repeated vision from God for Peter to open his mind to the acceptance of the Gentiles.  Paul wrote Galatians to address the issues that arose when Jewish believers insisted that the Gentile believers follow the ordinances of the Law.  The Church council had to struggle with this issue when they established Church doctrine to deal with the vast multitude of Gentile believers.

Freedom from the Law

The answer to these struggles is illustrated for us here, as the relation between man and the Law is typified by a marriage.  Again the answer is found in Christ Jesus.  Jesus fulfillment of the Law through a substitution sacrifice freed the Jew from the Law to join himself to Christ Jesus.  This freed the Jew to commit himself fully to his new family and culture in Christ Jesus without a sense of abandonment of his natural culture and family.

Objection

“But”, is the word you are most likely to hear when you present the solution to a persons problem.  I thank God that he is gracious, and patient enough to provide us with answers.  Even though we would have to admit that at times we in unbelief are actually questioning God.  I believe that the rest of this chapter is addressing those questions that might arrive, which question the simplicity of God’s solutions to this problem.

It’s the Cross

Jesus said whom the Son sets free is free indeed.  Paul has revealed to us in depth what was once a mystery of how God would indeed reconcile man to God.  Through Christ’s fulfillment of the Law though His sacrifice he freed us from the penalty of sin through justification, freed us from bondage of sin through sanctification, and freed us from the works of the law by writing that law on our hearts through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The Law is Holy

We are freed from the bondage of the Law, but Paul continues to assure us that we do not lose our respect for the Law for it is the revelation of God.  As we serve God in newness of spirit we will fulfill the Law.  Our freedom simply allows us to focus on following Christ in obedience, with the faith that his leading will not break the principles of the Law but fulfill them and bring glory to God.

An Illustration Through Personal Testimony

The last half of the 7^th chapter is where many people really get into trouble.  This portion of scripture is simply Paul’s testimony.  Paul shows in a very real and personal way how trying to follow the law in your own strength and understanding can lead a person to the ultimate defeat; that you would stand before God having done everything in your power to impress Him only to realize that you have been striving against God himself and brought harm to His highly esteemed servants.

“I”

In reading commentaries on these verses there is considerable emphasis on the use of the pronoun “I”, and that it is used in the present tense.  But it appears that the tendency is to place ourselves behind that “I” instead of the apostle Paul.  A considerable amount of confusion can be eliminated if we remove ourselves and place Paul back as the person who is referred to as “I” in these verses.

Saul of Tarsus

The next problem that has arisen is when scholars try to relate this testimony to the present time in which Paul is writing this letter.  I will show how ludicrous this view is after I attempt to open the door to your understanding of what Paul is saying.

Actually the name behind the “I” of this chapter is really Saul of Tarsus, zealous for the Law, highly respected, a Jew of the Jews, a Pharisee of the Pharisees.  The testimony given is an illustration of the end result of confidence in the Law.  It is not that the law is bad, for on the contrary the Law is good and righteous.  The weakness in the Law to justify is found only in the flesh.  For sinful flesh could not fulfill the righteousness of the Law.

The Character of Saul

Picture with me a man with the best of intentions.  Intellectually he studies the Law and is convinced it is the righteousness of God.  He sets about to follow the law even to the smallest detail.  Before his peers and elders he is blameless before the law.  Beyond his personal conduct he is zealous for the law recognizing it speaks of salvation and the blessings of God.  He knows the history of his people.  He knows that when they served God they prospered and when they strayed from God they were punished.  Because of his education, intelligence, integrity, righteousness before the law, and his zeal he is elevated above his peers and given position and honor.  He now is in a position where he can make a difference by enforcing and upholding the law.  What could be more admirable or honorable than this?

Encounter with Jesus

It was at this place in Saul’s life that God met him face to face on his way to Damascus.  Can we even imagine the turmoil in Paul’s mind as he asks; Who art thou Lord?  And Jesus replies; “I am Jesus whom you persecute.”  Imagine with me what thoughts went through Paul’s mind as he sat for three days blind, contemplating the dramatic turn of events in his life.

My Life in Ashes at My Feet

The depth of conviction of his righteousness lay at his feet, for he was undone.  He had loved God’s Law.  He had tried to follow God’s law flawlessly only to find the good that he sought to do, he was not doing.  The actions that he was in his integrity pursuing with all his heart were opposed to the God he thought he was serving.  Saul had imprisoned and sought the execution of men whom he thought to be blasphemous, only to come face to face with the reality that he was guilty of much worse crimes.  Saul of Tarsus was an enemy of God, fighting against God himself and seeking the death of God’s servants.  “Wretched man that I am!  Who will set me free from the body of this death?”

The Cry of a Broken Man

This is not the cry of a man who because of fatigue loses his temper and yells at his wife.  Or the man who forgot to put the garbage can out on the curb on Tuesday, again.  Nor is it the cry of the apostle Paul who wrote the following in a letter to the Corinthians.

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.” (1Co 4:1-4 NKJV)

This is the cry of Saul of Tarsus, a proud self-righteous man who has come face to face with the reality that he is an antagonistic enemy of the very good he sought to preserve. This is the cry of that man as he lay prostrate at the feet of Jesus Christ, the Son of God whom he had been unknowingly persecuting.

The lesson that we are being taught is not to rely upon our own understandings and works of the Law.  For it is written the just shall live by faith.  Many are the preachers today standing in pulpits, declaring their own righteousness and understanding and all the while teaching against the very Christ who died to save them.

Danger of Self Justification

Christians can and do sin.  But if there is no repentance and we continue to seek to justify ourselves, then in the end, sin will bring forth death.  This is not the will of God.  Neither was it the purpose of God for these scriptures to be used as a description of a Christian’s struggle with sin.  Paul’s letter adequately deals with those issues in the 6^th chapter.  My fear for Christians today is that they will become settled in the bottom of the 7^th chapter of Romans, justifying their sin and worldly lifestyle by comparing themselves with Saul of Tarsus as he met Jesus, whom he did not know, attesting to God’s righteousness with their minds, but serving sin with their flesh.

To drive home the message to those that are still questioning, let us consider the total inconsistency of the testimony recorded here in the 7^th chapter and the gospel that the apostle Paul taught in the rest of the Book of Romans.

Paul Says

In Romans 7:14 -25 Paul says:

I am carnal, sold under sin.

What I am doing I don’t understand.

I am not practicing what I would like to do,

But I a doing the thing I hate

I am not doing wrong, it is sin that does it.

Sin dwells within me.

Nothing good dwells in me.

I want to do good.

It is not possible for me to do good

I agree with the Law.

But I am a prisoner to the law of sin in my members.

I am a wretched man.

I exist in the body of death.

 Paul Teaches

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Ro 6:1 AV)

“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Ro 6:2 AV)

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Ro 6:6 AV)

“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Ro 6:7 AV)

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” (Ro 6:12 AV)

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” (Ro 6:13 AV)

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Ro 6:14 AV)

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Ro 6:16 AV)

“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Ro 6:18 AV)

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Ro 6:22 AV)

 Clarity

If Paul is describing a Christian in Romans 7:14- 25, then indeed there is reason for Christians to consider themselves wretched prisoners in the body of death.  But it is clear in the Scripture that the sons of God are not wretched sinners.  So the proposal that we are indeed happy sinners with a get out of hell free card is insane.

What distinguishes the sons of God (Christians) from the world is that they walk by the Spirit and not according to the flesh.  There is no doubt that the Christian battles with the flesh and the temptations to submit to those desires that are contrary to the Word and Spirit of God.  But that battle is not what is described in Romans 7.  For in Christ we are more than conquerors.  Sin does not dwell within us.  We are not compelled to do those things that we mentally attest to being wrong.  We are not restricted from presenting our bodies as instruments of righteousness.  We are even given the promise that we will not be tempted beyond that which we are able to bear.  Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.  Sin or the flesh will not be our master.

 Comparison of 7^th Chapter Person to Character of a Christian

 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Ro 8:1-4 AV)