Bible Discussion — Romans 7

October 10, 2007, 12:00 pm; posted by
Filed under Bible, Chloe, David, Josh J, Steve, Tom  | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com looks at the next chapter in the book of Romans, Romans 7.

Genesis: 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-18 | 19-22 | 23-26
27-29 | 30-32 | 33-36 | 37-39 | 40-43 | 44-46 | 47-50

Exodus: 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18
19-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-40

And the book of Romans: Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6

 
INTRODUCTION:
David:
If you believe Paul has been speaking about the purpose of the Law (with a few asides) ever since introducing the subject in chapter 2, then chapter 7 makes more sense — because it becomes a demonstration of what happens when the Law is applied to the flesh, rather than a peek into Paul’s personal failures.

The Law came to produce death, and it still produces death when we try to walk in “the oldness of the letter” as opposed to the “newness of Spirit” extolled in chapter 8.

Steve:
Look at what happens when we get a challenging chapter — everyone disappears! I bet they come back for the celebration that is Romans 8, but you can’t get there till you struggle through chapter 7!

 
SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Steve:
How much Paul stresses that the Law was an innocent bystander in our murder by sin. At the very least, it seems to be the weapon by which sin brought death, produced evil desires, deceived us and killed us — but still he repeats that “the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.”

Tom:
Relative complexity of a NKJV translation of 7-12.

David:
The word “oldness.”

 
BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Steve: Free
Tom: Will Is Present
Josh: Utterly Sinful; Body of Death
David: Wretched Man

 
STORY IT REMINDS YOU OF::
David:
Edgar Parkins using the story of Abigail and David to illustrate a woman being freed by the death of a bad husband, to marry a better one. We are the woman, freed by our own death, to become the Bride of Christ.

Tom:
The song “Incorruptible” by D. Sweet and S. Maxon

 
DEEP THEOLOGICAL MEANING:
Steve:
In the end, regardless of the focus of this chapter, the solution is the same — Jesus. He has overcome the Law and freed us from its impossible demands. He delivers us from our ‘flesh,’ the desire to do evil and practice sin. So really, what does it matter which problem applies, when the same cure is indicated either way?

David:
The Law, sent to produce death in us, can never produce life. When the early church met to discuss this in Acts 15, Peter finally stood up in frustration and said, “Men and brethren…why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples that neither us nor our fathers were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

 
RANDOM THOUGHT:
Tom:
It’s important not to take only freedom from the law out of verse 6. We have been delivered from the law, but now we must do our part and serve in the Spirit.

Steve:
Isn’t verse 8 the truth? There are so many things most people would never think about doing — until someone makes a rule against it. Then suddenly we’ve got to know why, we’ve got to challenge authority. It’s human nature to want to cross the line, ever since Eve couldn’t stay away from that tree. Sin often takes advantage of a rule — whether the rule is right or whether the rule is wrong — to produce evil desires.

 
WHERE IS JESUS IN THIS PASSAGE:
Josh:
Rescuing wretches from the body of death.

Tom:
Freeing us from the law, and calling us His bride.

David:
Jesus is the new husband we are free to marry — after death sets us free from the Law.

Steve:
The everlasting Hope for all who face death.

 
VERSE TO REMEMBER:
Chloe, Steve, Tom:
7:24-25 — “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God–through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Josh:
7:4 — “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another–to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.”

David:
7:18 — “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.”

 
PORTION YOU WOULD MOST LIKE EXPLAINED IN HEAVEN:
Josh:
Paul’s explanation of the sin within him committing evil actions, and not himself, sounds a bit like the old “devil made me do it” line. I’m really not sure I connect with him here.

David:
Do we have to fail so miserably? Couldn’t we have been convinced of our need some other way?

Steve:
What is this chapter about, really — a personal struggle of Paul’s that we can expect ourselves, or the continuation of the problems we will see if we choose to live by the law?

 
LESSON TO TAKE AWAY:
Steve:
Jesus Christ is the answer to our problems. And chapter 8 will tell us exactly how.

Tom:
The law cannot save us from sin; only Christ could do that.

David:
Law bad. Spirit good.

 
GENERAL RESPONSE TO THE PASSAGE:
Josh:
In my weekly men’s Bible study, we’ve been talking a lot lately about how God used broken and flawed people all throughout Scripture. This passage is a great example, as the author of the bulk of the New Testament puts his struggles on display. I think the turmoil of not doing what we want and doing what we hate is something we can all identify with at times, unless we’re loving sin.

Steve:
Boy, this chapter is difficult. In only three verses, Paul finds one law (a rule), delights in another law (God’s commands), sees yet another law (seemingly more like a physical response), identifies a law in his mind (a way of thinking?), and is brought into captivity to the law of sin (its results, perhaps). That’s a bit too much law, even for someone like me.

David:
Thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, that He can and does deliver me.

 
CONCLUSION:
David:
On to the glorious liberty that comes with walking in the Spirit.

Steve:
Here comes chapter 8, the Gospel in pure and eloquent form!


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