Romans 7 ends with an emphasis on the impact of sin that works with the flesh (human life apart from God) in a person’s life.
Paul taught that “the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good” (Romans 7.12). However, the law has been hampered by the power of sin over the flesh, and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3.23).
I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7.23-24).
Sin acts as a slave taskmaster who demands obedience. When humans have been brought to destruction by the rule of sin, we cry out like Paul and ask for a deliverer.
Praise God, Jesus is the deliverer we need.
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin (Romans 7.25).
There is a dual aspect to the law.
On one hand, it is a gracious gift from God that shows us how to best relate to him and other people. Read through the account of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and consider what our world would look like if everyone followed them.
The unfortunate aspect of the law is that because of the slave-like character of sin, humans are not able to follow the directions of God’s guidance through the law.
How does God answer the appeal for deliverance through Jesus Christ?
No Condemnation
The good news for sinners is that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8.1).
How can God pronounce a “not guilty” verdict over sinners who have continually rebelled against his law? He does so through the work of his Son.
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God (Romans 5.1-2).
Not only are we forgiven, but we are given the privilege of sharing the glory of God with our Savior.
This is the good news, but followers of Jesus seem to have the same problem as the ancient Hebrews who had been freed from slavery in Egypt. We continue to be plagued by the interaction of sin with our flesh.
What is the answer to this problem?
Living Between the Times
Christians live between the “already, but not yet” aspect of our redemption. Jesus began a new age or era with the crucifixion and resurrection, but the effect of his work will not be realized until its completion in the end.
Here is how Paul speaks of the “already” aspect of this.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
So that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8.2-4).
Jesus entered the world as fully human, not a divine who was masquerading as a human, but fully human and by the power of God both human and divine. He lived a sinless life and suffered for the sins of all humans.
In this way, he condemned sin and fulfilled the judicial requirements of the law. In addition, the gift of the Holy Spirit moves humans into a new realm of freedom.
The Spirit works within the human mind, emotions, and will and makes it possible to serve God like never before.
Because we still live between the times in the “already but not yet” of God’s work, our service to God is not perfect. That being said, we are no longer slaves to sin and have the freedom to live as friends of God.
Paul will continue to develop this theme in chapter 8 as it applies to the individual.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 