The Manifestation of Sin by the Law (Romans 7:1-25)

(Class Notes)

• The Law Contract (7:1-6)
  • Bondage to the Contract (7:1-3)
    • The LAW has "DOMINION" (AUTHORITY) FOR the LIFE of the person who is under it (7:1):
      • The phrase, "to them that KNOW the LAW" (7:1) - refers to them who were GIVEN the LAW, i.e. ISRAEL (Deuteronomy 4:44)
      • ISRAEL was BOUNd TO the LAW FOR LIFE (Deuteronomy 6:1-2)
    • "The LAW OF her HUSBAND" (7:2):
      • The LAW BOUND the WOMAN TO her HUSBAND FOR the LIFE OF her HUSBAND (Matthew 19:5-9 cf. Genesis 2:23-24; Leviticus 21:13-15)
    • The SIN OF ADULTERY - the BREAKING OF the MARRIAGE VOW (7:3):
      • UNDER the LAW - the PENALTY FOR ADULTERY was DEATH (Leviticus 20:10)
    • The LAW was a MARRIAGE CONTRACT between Israel and God (Jeremiah 31:31-32 cf. Exodus 24:7-8):
      • Israel VIOLATED her MARRIAGE CONTRACT by her WHORING AFTER WITH OTHER GODS (Judges 2:16-17 ; I Chronicles 5:25; Ezekiel 6:8-9)
        • Joseph had a TENDER HEART TOWARDS Mary concerning her SUSPECTED ADULTERY in proposing to "PUT HER AWAY PRIVILY" RATHER THAN "MAKE HER A PUBLIC EXAMPLE" (Matthew 1:18-19)
        • In THIS ACTION, he REFLECTED HIS GOD - Who GAVE "BACKSLIDING ISRAEL" a "BILL OF DIVORCE" (Jeremiah 3:6-8), BUT "will NOT MAKE a FULL END" of her (Jeremiah 30:11; Jeremiah 46:28)
      • ALTHOUGH ISRAEL was UNDER the LAW - its GUILTY VERDICT APPLIES TO ALL (3:19-20) - "for there is NO DIFFERENCE, for ALL HAVE SINNED" (3:22-23)
      • The GENTILES' "CONSCIENCE" was FUNCTIONALLY THE SAME AS "the WORK OF the LAW" (2:14-15) - it served as "the MINISTRY OF CONDEMNATION" (II Corinthians 3:9), i.e. it was "there for a WITNESS AGAINST THEE" (Deuteronomy 31:26)
  • Release from the Contract (7:4-6)
    • "FRUIT UNTO GOD" (7:4):
      • Just as the wife is FREE FROM THE LAW of her husband by his death (7:3) - so also is the believer FREE FROM THE LAW by "the BODY OF CHRIST ... Who is RAISED FROM THE DEAD" (7:4)
        • "Christ hath REDEEMED US FROM the CURSE OF the LAW being MADE a CURSE FOR US" (Galatians 3:13) - when He HUNG ON the "TREE" BEARING OUR SINS (I Peter 2:24) and, thereby, being "ACCURSED OF GOD" ACCORDING TO the LAW (Deueteronomy 21:22-23)
        • Believers "have been PLANTED TOGETHER IN the LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH" - so they "shall be ALSO IN the LIKENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION" (6:5 cf. Philippians 3:21)
      • Just as Christ was "RAISED FROM THE DEAD" (7:4) "by the GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER, even so" (6:4) - believers "should also WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE" (6:4,11) and, thus, also "BRING FORTH FRUIT UNTO GOD" (7:4 cf. 6:13)
        • Believers are "COMPLETE" IN CHRIST (Colossians 2:10) through the CIRCUMCISION OF HIS CROSS (Colossians 2:11) and their BAPTISM INTO HIS BURIAL AND RESURRECTION (Colossians 2:12) and, are thereby, ASSURED OF their having been FORGIVEN OF "ALL TRESPASSES" (Colossians 2:13)
        • Note Israel's DRY BAPTISM "UNTO MOSES" (I Corinthians 10:1-2), "THROUGH THE SEA" (Exodus 14:26-30) - a type of the believer's DRY BAPTISM INTO CHRIST'S DEATH (6:3) and of having been "RISEN TOGETHER WITH HIM ... FROM THE DEAD" (Colossians 2:12 cf. 7:4)
    • "FRUIT UNTO DEATH" (7:5):
      • "For when we were IN THE FLESH" (7:5), i.e. BEFORE HAVING RECEIVED "the Spirit of God" (8:8-9) BY HAVING BELIEVED "the Word of Truth, the gospel of ... salvation" (Ephesians 1:13 cf. I Corinthians 15:1-4)
        • At the MOMENT OF FAITH, the believer is "SEALED" BY THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 1:14) "UNTO the DAY OF REDEMPTION" (Ephesians 4:30 cf. 8:22-23)
      • Those who are "IN THE FLESH" are SLAVES TO its "MOTIONS (PASSIONS) OF SINS" (7:5 cf. Ephesians 2:2-3)
        • These "MOTIONS (PASSIONS) ... were BY THE LAW" (7:5) - thus, "the STRENGTH OF SIN is THE LAW" (I Corinthians 15:56) - "for BY THE LAW is THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN" (3:20)
    • "NEWNESS OF SPIRIT" (7:6):
      • The LAW was the "MINISTRATION" of "DEATH" and "CONDEMNATION" (II Corinthians 3:7,9)
      • The SPIRIT is the "MINISTRATION" of "LIFE" and "RIGHTEOUSNESS" (II Corinthians 3:8-9)
      • Thus, the GENTILES being made PARTAKERS OF ISRAEL'S "SPIRITUAL THINGS" (7:6; 15:27) - are said to be "ABLE MINISTERS OF THE NEW COVENANT" (II Corinthians 3:6 cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34)
        • It is the GENTILES who are the CUSTODIANS OF "the DISPENSATION OF the GRACE of God" (Ephesians 3:1-2) - UNDER WHICH ADMINISTRATION - the GREATER PART OF ISRAEL REMAINS BLINDED (11:25-27 cf. 11:1-5)
        • God will yet "BETROTH" ISRAEL BACK to Himself IN "RIGHTEOUSNESS" AND "FAITHFULNESS" (Hosea 2:19-20) - BY HIS SPIRIT (Ezekiel 36:26-27) UNDER THE NEW COVENANT (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

• The Law and Sin (7:7-25)
  • The Law and the Revelation of Sin (7:7-12)
    • The Revelation of the Power of Sin (7:7-8)
      • Question: IF "the MOTIONS (PASSIONS) OF SINS ... were BY THE LAW (7:5) THEN "IS THE LAW SIN?" (7:7)
      • Answer: "GOD FORBID" (7:7) for "THE LAW IS HOLY" (7:12) because IT'S GIVER IS HOLY (Isaiah 5:24)
      • However, it is THE LAW that MAKES SIN (LUST) "KNOWN" (7:7 cf. 3:20), for EXAMPLE:
        • THE LAW SAID, "THOU SHALT NOT COVET" (7:7 cf. Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21)
        • THE PEOPLE'S RESPONSE, "AND THEY COVET" (Micah 2:2)
      • HOW DOES THE LAW MAKE SIN "KNOWN"? (7:7):
        • BY "TAKING OCCASION BY THE COMMANDMENT" (7:7), i.e. it USES the PROHIBITION OF the COMMANDMENT AS the MEANS FOR the VIOLATION OF the COMMANDMENT (7:8)
          • Thus, it "WROUGHT in me ALL MANNER OF CONCUPISCENCE (EARNEST DESIRE)" (7:8)
        • "For WITHOUT THE LAW SIN WAS DEAD" for WITHOUT THE LAW there is "NO KNOWLEDGE OF SIN" (3:20)
        • The GENTILES were WITHOUT THE LAW OF MOSES "FROM ADAM TO MOSES" (5:14) - BUT they were NOT WITHOUT THE "LAW" OF "CONSCIENCE" (2:14-15 cf. Genesis 3:22), which brought in the SAME GUILTY VERDICT (2:14-15; Deuteronomy 31:26)
      • The REASON FOR the EXAMPLE, "THOU SHALT NOT COVET" (7:7):
        • In their BROADEST SENSE - the terms "LUST", "COVETOUSNESS", "CONCUPISCENCE" (7:7-8) - are ALL renderings of the SAME GREEK WORD MEANING "EARNEST DESIRE", which in the NT is defined as "IDOLATRY" (Colossians 3:5)
          • Note that the Hebrew word rendered "STUBBORNNESS" literally means "PRESSING" or "URGING", which in the OT is also defined as "IDOLATRY" (I Samuel 15:23)
        • The GENTILES UNDER THE "LAW" OF "CONSCIENCE" (2:14-15 cf. Genesis 3:22) were SINFULLY DRIVEN TO IDOLATRY (1:21,28 cf. Genesis 9:1,7; Genesis 11:1-9)
        • The JEWS UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES (Deuteronomy 4:44) were SINFULLY DRIVEN TO IDOLATRY (Jeremiah 31:31-32 cf. Exodus 20:3-5; Ezekiel 8:8-16)
    • The Revelation of the Result of Sin (7:9-10)
    • The Revelation of the Operation of Sin (7:11-12)
  • The Law and the Source of Sin (7:13-19)
  • The Law and the Captivity of Sin (7:20-25)

Study Outline

The Law Contract (7:1-6)

Audios (01 / 02 / 03)

The Law and Sin (7:7-25)

The Law and the Revelation of Sin (7:7-12)

Audios (01 / 02 / 03)

The Law and the Source of Sin (7:13-19)

The Law and the Captivity of Sin (7:20-25)