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Summary

Romans 7:1–6 – Released from the law, joined to Christ

What happens: Paul uses marriage to show that death ends a legal bond. Believers die to the law through the body of Christ to belong to him who is raised. We now bear fruit for God and serve in the new way of the Spirit, not in the old way of the written code.

What it means: Union with Christ transfers us from the law’s condemning realm to a living relationship with Jesus. Fruitfulness flows from the Spirit’s power. This honors God’s holiness while grounding service in grace.

Romans 7:7–13 – The law reveals sin

What happens: Paul asks if the law is sin and says no. He would not know coveting without the law. Sin seizes the commandment to produce all kinds of coveting and uses the law to bring death. The law is holy, but sin becomes sinful beyond measure.

What it means: God’s law is good; the problem is sin within us. The law exposes and provokes sin, showing our need for rescue. God’s holiness stands firm while human nature is laid bare.

Romans 7:14–20 – The inner conflict

What happens: Paul describes being of the flesh and sold under sin. He does not do the good he wants but the evil he hates. It is no longer he who does it, but sin that dwells in him.

What it means: Even renewed people feel deep conflict between desire and practice. Indwelling sin fights the new will. This highlights our weakness and pushes us to depend on grace and the Spirit.

Romans 7:21–25 – Cry for deliverance

What happens: Paul finds a law that when he wants to do right, evil lies close. He delights in God’s law in his inner being but sees another law waging war. He cries, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” and gives thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What it means: The answer to our conflict is not self-effort but a savior. Jesus is the deliverer who brings real hope. This prepares for the life in the Spirit and confirms God’s mercy to struggling saints.

Application

  • Admit the battle with indwelling sin and run to Christ.
  • Use God’s law to expose sin, not to try to save yourself.
  • Serve in the new way of the Spirit, asking for his power.
  • Thank God for deliverance even as you fight daily.

Bible

1Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

2For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25I 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.

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