Romans - Week 14

Released from the Law

READ

Romans 7:5-6

5 When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Here Paul contrasts the desires of the old nature with the desires of the new nature. The old nature was not motivated by the law to do good; in fact, it rebelled against the law. On the other hand, the new nature motivates one to want to please God. It’s the difference of obligation and love. The old nature felt no obligation to do good; the new nature desires to please God because of all that He has done in providing salvation.

REFLECT

How is it with you? Do you feel obligated to do good things or are you pleased to do good things because of your love for Jesus?

REPSPOND

Read Galatians 5:19-22 that contrasts the desires of the old nature with the fruit of the Spirit. With your disciple, ask if each of the Spirit’s fruit is seen in your lives.

Human Nature

READ

Romans 7:7-8

7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8 But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.

Paul reveals what the human nature is like. When told you cannot do something, that causes you to want to do it. Being told something was wrong aroused Paul’s desire for the forbidden item. Coveting takes place in the mind. New Christians often deal with bad habits; older Christians often deal with bad thoughts. The believer not only needs to have the right actions but also the right thoughts.

REFLECT

How is it with you? Are you wrestling with thoughts or habits?

RESPOND

Read 2 Corinthians 10:5 that tells about the need to bring one’s thoughts into captivity to Christ. Read Philippians 4:8 that tells what to think about.

Spiritual Death

READ

Romans 7:9-11

9 At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10 and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. 11 Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me.

At one time in life Paul was a strict Pharisee keeping the law, but here he says there was a time before when he didn’t understand the law. Eventually thought, he would write in Romans 3:20, “For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.” The law could show what was wrong, but it could not give the power to do what is right. Only the indwelling Holy Spirit can do that for the believer.

REFLECT

Think about how sensitive the indwelling Holy Spirit has made you to right and wrong. Thank the Lord Jesus that He has sent the Holy Spirit to enable you to do what is right.

RESPOND

Read 1 Peter 3:8-9 for what God wants the believer to do. Thank the Lord that the indwelling Holy Spirit will enable you to do these things.

Sin Used What Was Good

READ

Romans 7:12-13

12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. 13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

Paul did not want his readers to think he was saying there was something wrong with the law. A holy God could never give instructions for living that were wrong. The problem was not the law but the weakness of human flesh. It could not carry out the high demands of the law that revealed God’s righteous standards. The law revealed how terrible sin really is. This means the only hope is to turn to God by faith to take care of the penalty of sin.

REFLECT

Was there a time in your life when you tried to keep the high standards of the law in your own strength?

RESPOND

Read Hebrews 9:13-15 to see a contrast between the old law system and what Jesus has done for everyone by paying the penalty for sin. This only applies, however, to those who believe in Jesus for salvation.

All Too Human

READ

Romans 7:14-17

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

Paul here reveals the tendency to sin that exists within each person. Having inherited a sin nature from Adam, the head of the human race, there is this internal pull to do what dishonors God. This is not the fault of God’s law; it is the problem of the human heart. Although one knows what should be done, there is a pull to do something else. This is the battle of the two natures every believer has. Before salvation there was no guilt about sinning, but as a believer there is a struggle about which nature to follow—the old or the new.

REFLECT

Are you struggling with the battle between the old and new natures? The old nature makes you want to do wrong; the new nature wants you to honor Jesus in everything you do and think.

RESPOND

Did your read Galatians 5:19-22 as suggested earlier? If so, read it again. Both natures produce certain fruits. Think about your life and which characteristics you see being displayed. The indwelling Holy Spirit can produce His fruit through your life as you deal with unconfessed sin in your life. He controls you when sin is not.