The Epistle to the Romans
Lesson 13
Righteousness Imparted for Sanctification

Reading Assignment: Romans 7

Introduction
In this lesson, we are going to focus on Romans 7. Keep in mind that the KEY word in Romans is RIGHTEOUSNESS and that the overall theme of the section we are now studying (Romans 5:12-8:17) is Righteousness Imparted for Sanctification. We noted the SOURCE of our sanctification as being Christ, our new Federal Head (Romans 5:12-21). We then viewed the GROUND or BASIS of our sanctification which is our total union with Christ (Romans 6:1-10), effected by our two-fold reckoning (Romans 6:11-13), and our exchange of masters (Romans 6:14-23).
Another illustration of our oneness with Christ is found in Romans 7:1-6, followed by Hindrances to Sanctification in Romans 7:7-25.

Importance of this Lesson

• Christians must ever bear in mind that we are the BODY and BRIDE of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-32). We are so united to Him we are considered to be married to Him (Romans 7:4). We are thus dead to all else that might otherwise have claim upon us.
• It is of great importance that we understand this and claim it by faith.
• It is also important to understand that while positionally in Christ, you have died to your old life of sin. Your old nature is still active and desirous of regaining control of your life. You must learn to reckon it dead and to walk in the Spirit.

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The Lesson

I. OUR TOTAL IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST

1. In Romans 7:1-6, Paul continued to present the GROUND of our sanctification that is our oneness and total IDENTIFICATION with Christ. To show this, Paul used three illustrations:
   1. Our BAPTISM into Christ (Romans 6:1-13)
   2. Our SERVITUDE to Christ (Romans 6:14-23)
   3. Our MARRIAGE with Christ (Romans 7:1-6)
2. In all three illustrations, we are freed by DEATH.
   1. In our baptism we …were baptized into his death (Romans 6:3), and in Christ’s death our old nature was crucified …that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin… (Romans 6:6-7).
   2. Through Christ’s death our old taskmasters (the LAW and SIN) were put to death and we have been made FREE to become the servants of righteousness (Romans 6:14-18, 7:4).
   3. Now (Romans 7:1-6), just as a woman is free from her husband’s authority upon his death, …ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another… (Romans 7:4).

II. COMMENTARY ON ROMANS 7:1-6

1. Verse 1 – It is evident that those to whom Paul was writing were familiar with the Law…for I speak to them that know the law….
2. Verse 2 – Just as every man under the law was under its authority until he died (verse 1), so a wife, under the law, was under the authority of her husband until he died (verse 2). God meant and means for marriage to be permanent (Matthew 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7:10-15).
3. Verse 3 – Upon her husband’s death, a woman was free to re-marry without committing adultery.
4. Verse 4 – Here is the truth Paul was seeking to convey. He used marriage, death and remarriage simply as an illustration of the fact that the thing we were once wedded to, the LAW and SIN, is dead. It was put to death in the death of Christ. We are now free to be “married to another” even to Christ so that we might “…bring forth fruit unto God.” (Note John 15:16.)
5. Verse 5 – The flesh, man’s old, sinful nature, rebelled against the law and would not keep it. Therefore, sin, working in us (our members) brought forth “…fruit unto death.” The law declared “…the soul that sinneth it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).
6. Verse 6 – Here is one of the great “BUT NOW’s” of Scripture.

• Romans 3:21; Ephesians 2:13, 5:8; Colossians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 15:20. NOW we have been delivered, set free, from that which held us bondage and condemned us to death. We died to the LAW in Christ that we should serve the Lord in “…newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”
• Two Paulinisms are here. He uses “spirit” to refer to the new life we have in Christ, and the word “letter” to refer to the LAW (2 Corinthians 3:6).
  (Know the significance of the words.)

III. Romans 7:7-25 --RIGHTEOUSNESS RESTRAINED, OR HINDRANCES TO SANCTIFICATION
These verses can be divided into two sections: (Be able to name these two sections for your exam.)

• Romans 7:7-14 – The LAW in RELATION to SIN – Its MINISTRY
• Romans 7:15-25 – The LAW in RELATION to SELF – Its HELPLESSNESS

1. THE MINISTRY OF THE LAW – Romans 7:7-14 – IN RELATION TO SIN
   1. Verses 7-8
      1. …Is the LAW sin?… Since both sin and the law are put to death in the death of Christ, is the law on the level of, or considered as bad as, SIN? GOD FORBID – Perish the thought!
      2. …I had not known…. Paul here changed pronouns. “I,” “Me,” “Myself” are used 47 times! “I” is used 28 times. This was Paul’s problem. HE discovered that even with his new nature he did not have, of himself, the power to keep the law.
      3. …I had not known… The LAW tears away the mask. It is God’s mirror. Without it we cannot see ourselves as we are or sin as it is.
      4. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me…. The law stirred up the evil desires of his sin nature. Human nature rebels at God’s “thou shalt not’s.” Without the law, sin is dormant. We would not even know what it is.
   2. Verse 9
      1. For I was alive without the law once…. Here is a reference to Paul’s early Christian life. Born again and knowing that …Christ is the end of the law for righteousness…
         (Romans 10:4), he was not yet fully enlightened as to the utter inability of “self” to keep the law.
      2. For I was alive… Paul once thought of the LAW as having a ministry of life. But when he really saw himself in the searching, blaring light of the law, he said …sin revived and I died. The law revealed in him how “dead in sin” he really was. The law destroyed all hope in him. Elsewhere, Paul referred to the law as a MINISTRATION of death and condemnation
         (2 Corinthians 3:7-9).
   3. Verses 10-11
      1. …ordained to life…. Luke 10:28 says “…This DO, and thou shalt live.” (Note also Leviticus 18:5.) If it were possible for man to actually “keep the whole law,” he would live by it. Only Christ kept the law perfectly and fully on our behalf (Matthew 5:17).
      2. Paul discovered in his desire to keep the law that it actually slew him. Sin or his sin-nature deceived him into relying upon himself – and it slew him! It made him realize how dead to God and dead in sin he really was.
      3. How foolish it is for people to try to live the Christian life under law – to say, “I think if I do the best I can” or “If I do this or that, I think I’ll make it.”
   4. Verse 12 – …the law is holy… There is nothing wrong with the law. It is holy, just and good. The trouble or problem is with us and in us.
   5. Verse 13
      1. Was then that which is good made death unto me?…
      2. NO! God forbid. Perish the thought! The law was good. It was sin that produced death. By the commandment, sin was made to be “exceedingly sinful!” Here we see that the MINISTRY of the law was to reveal sin for what it really is. Also, note Romans 3:19.
   6. Verse 14
      1. For WE know… – Here is general agreement!
      2. …I am carnal… – Note 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:1 where Paul classified all mankind as being either “natural,” “carnal,” or “spiritual.”
      3. Paul here may have been describing himself as a Christian trying to keep the law but finding himself “sold” – in servitude, controlled by sin. Paul recognized the existence of the old sinful nature still in him. We often do not become aware of our sinful, evil nature until we are truly born again! Then the battle really begins.
2. THE HELPLESSNESS OF THE LAW – Romans 7:15-25 – IN RELATION TO SELF
   1. Some theologians hold to the view that Romans 7 is not the present experience of Paul but a delivered Paul, describing the state of an undelivered Paul.
   2. I hold to an entirely different view. Paul does not write in the past tense. He does not say “I did” but “I do.” He did not say, “sin that dwelled in me” but “sin that dwelleth in me.” He did not say “evil was present with me” but evil is present with me.”
   3. Romans 7:7-25 does not describe an experience a believer no longer has once he is filled with the Holy Spirit. It describes the war that rages constantly in every believer between the flesh and the Spirit (Romans 7:23; Galatians 5:16-17).
   4. While victory is available to every believer through Christ by “walking in the Spirit” (as we shall see in our next lesson) Paul never suggested that anyone ever loses his old nature or that the conflict between our old and new nature ever ceases. I believe Romans 7:15-24 vividly describes the on-going experience of the average Christian.
      1. Verses 15-17 – …for what I would (what I want to do and know I should do) that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. There is not and never has been a Christian who has not at times done things, said things or acted in a manner he hated and hated himself for doing. The old, sinful nature expressed itself in anger, jealousy, pride, impatience, etc. A genuine Christian will recognize such failure and will immediately confess it (1 John 1:9).
      2. Verse 16 – …I consent unto the law that it is good. Here Paul was saying that the sin of his old nature did not reveal the law to be bad. To the contrary, the rebellious acts of his sinful nature simply proved the law (which exposed his sin) to be good and holy. He knew the law was right!
      3. Verse 17
         1. …it is no more I that do it…. Throughout this entire passage Paul clearly distinguished between the new Paul, the “I” that loves righteousness and hates iniquity, and the old Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) whose sin nature is still active and powerful.
         2. The important truth that all new converts must understand is that while the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit imparts new and divine life to the believer (John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12), the old, fallen, Adamic sinful nature is not destroyed or annihilated. Read Galatians 5:16-17.
         3. In Romans 8 we shall see the power God provides to enable us to live victoriously.
   5. Verse 18-25 – The continuing conflict of our two natures.
      1. Verse 18
         1. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing…. Notice how carefully Paul distinguished between “in me” and “in my flesh.” There is nothing good about our old sin nature. Yet, Paul had Christ within (Galatians 2:20) and He is great and holy.
         2. …I find not. Paul confessed that his old sin nature kept him from being and doing what he should.
      2. Verse 19 – Almost identical to verse 15. The same problem.
      3. Verse 20 – A repeat of his statement in verse 17.
      4. Verse 21
         1. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. Here Paul gave a summary of verse 15-20. And who, reading this lesson, has not found this to be true. This is why I cannot accept the teaching that Romans 7 is simply a phase in Paul’s life that he had put behind him, never to be repeated and is not normal Christian experience.
         2. The human heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9) and will remain that way until the resurrection when we awake in Christ’s likeness (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21; Psalm 17:15). The battle between the flesh and the Spirit is an on-going Christian experience. For just a few days, cease to “reckon yourself dead,” or “walk in the Spirit,” or pray or spend meaningful time in the WORD and your old sinful nature will quickly manifest itself and assume control of your life.
      5. Verse 22 –For I delight…. Proof that while Paul experienced spiritual conflicts, he had within him a nature that loved the truth and delighted in doing the will of God. This is true of every born-again believer.
      6. Verse 23
         1. Here Paul described an actual war going on within him between …the law of my mind…and…the law of sin which is in my members. Paul was not writing about the Law of Moses but of LAW as a controlling or governing influence. It was the conflict of sin and righteousness, the old and new nature, the flesh and the Spirit.
         2. Paul felt that the law of sin in his members actually held him in captivity, that is, kept him from performing that which is good (verse 18).
         3. It might be useful to pause here and mention some of the ways Paul made use of the word LAW. (Know how Paul used the word “Law” for your exam.)
            1. As the Ten Commandments or laws of Moses – Romans 3:19.
            2. The law of works and the law of faith – Romans 3:27.
            3. The law of sin as a controlling or governing influence in our members – our sinful natures – Romans 7:21,25.
            4. The law of the mind – Romans 7:23,25. As the governing or controlling influence of our new nature in Christ.
            5. The Law of the Spirit – Romans 8:2,4, or the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit.
      7. Verse 24 – This verse should properly read “…who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” This has been the heart cry of millions of saints who have experienced or are experiencing the conflicts described by Paul.
      8. Verse 25
         1. Praise God! Through Christ we shall some day soon be fully delivered from the corruption and frailty of our mortal bodies. Read 1 Corinthians 15:51-57.
         2. “So then….” If I obey the law of my mind, my new nature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), I will serve the law of God. If I cater to and give way to the flesh, I will serve “the law of sin."

Examination

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