November 15, 2020
The epistle to the Romans was written by the apostle Paul to the church in the capital city of Rome. The date of the letter was most likely around 56 A.D., near the end of Paul’s third missionary journey, while he was in Corinth. Paul had wanted to visit the believers in Rome for some time, however, he had not yet had the chance to do so. The letter afforded Paul the opportunity to introduce himself to the church, and to instruct them in essential truths of the gospel.
The church in Rome was probably founded by those who had come to faith in Christ on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. Unlike many of the other churches that Paul wrote to, his aim was not primarily to correct wrong theology or sinful living on the part of the Roman Christians, but to further instruct the church in doctrinal truths and practical living in light of those truths.
The principal theme of Paul’s letter to the Romans is that God justifies guilty, helpless sinners by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. He dispels any notion that heaven and a relationship with God can be achieved through good works. Generally, the first eleven chapters of Romans are primarily theological while chapters 12-16 are more about practical Christian living and life in the church.
While the letter does contain some challenging passages that believers have debated, Paul addresses issues such as man’s sin and God’s wrath, justification by faith alone, the security of the believer’s salvation, sanctification, God’s sovereignty, God’s plan for Israel, the purpose of governing authorities, Christian living, and the proper use of one’s liberty in Christ.
It was while studying and teaching the book of Romans that a German Catholic priest, in the early 1500’s, came to understand Romans 1:17 in a brand new light. The words, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” led him to understand justification was by faith alone and not by works. God would so impact Martin Luther with these words that he became a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation.
Romans 7
Released from the Law
1 Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
The Law and Sin
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Reflection:
- In Paul’s analogy of a married woman no longer being under the law (Mosaic law) of marriage when her husband dies is simply to illustrate that the law is only in force when a person is living. However, in verse 4, Paul says that when a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, they have died to the old law of the flesh and are now in a new covenant relationship with Christ. It is important to understand the principle of new life in the Spirit and being dead to the law of sin, rather than viewing Paul’s illustration as a point by point comparison. Reflect on the time when you placed your faith in Christ and was made alive in the Spirit and dead to the law.
- The law itself is not sinful. It shows us our sin and creates a sense of helplessness within us to be able to free ourselves from sin. Paul says, for instance, that he would not know coveting was a sin unless the law told him that it was sin. The law does a good thing by pointing out what you and I will be held accountable for apart from forgiveness in Christ (vv. 12-13).
- The law shows us our sin but cannot deliver us from that sin. We must be made alive in Christ. This is what Jesus was speaking to in John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures (law) because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”
- In verses 13-25, it has been debated among scholars whether Paul was speaking about the struggle within Christians or unbelievers. In other words, was Paul referring to himself in Christ when he said, “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want,” or was he speaking of the struggle he had before he came to faith in Christ? It would seem that he was speaking of the struggle within believers and the war between the flesh and the Spirit. Regardless of which way one interprets this section, all believers understand the daily struggle with sin and the desire to be obedient to Christ.
- Consider what Paul says about the struggle in Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whateveryou want.”
- 1 John 1:8-9 speaks to the remedy for our struggle with the flesh, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- The Holy Spirit within believers moves us to grow in sanctification, which is a life-long process.
- What victories has the Holy Spirit given you over selfishness and sinful desires lately?
Prayer: Thank you Lord for forgiving me for my sin and justifying me as far as the penalty of sin and death. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for continuing to work in my life and continuing to sanctify
Father,
Why would someone want to become a Christian by watching my life?
Habits are hard to break and harder to form. But with your help today, I can focus on the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Father, I have been a Christ-follower for decades, but I still do things I know I should not, and I don’t do things I know I should.
Forgive me Father when I fail you and your son. Remind me of the fruit of the spirit. And especially, show me how to love the way you love me.
Help me to mirror you son today in all that I do.
Humbly asking for your infilling today,
Amen
Padre gracias por tu amor gracias por perdonar mis pecados, gracias por dejar bien claro tu enseñanza y así aun pecamos porque somos débiles en la carne llámame de tú espíritu santo ayúdame a caminar por tu vía y a no trasgredir tu ley a amar como tú amas y ser mejor cada día en nombre y por amor a nuestro padre amado Jesús amén y amén ?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Everyday is a struggle of flesh versus spirit. We have to constantly battle against sin in our lives. All we can do is pray and stay in the Word daily and be on guard to keep the Devil and his desires far from us. Please steer me and my family on the right paths and keep us from harm. In Jesus precious name. Amen.
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Thank you father for giving me a new heart, that helps me struggle well. I pray your Spirit helps me daily to reject the desires of my sinful flesh that is dying, and that I would take more joy in allowing your Spirit to have his way, helping me obey and further be sanctified. In Jesus’ name I pray.