Romans 7
BSB1 Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2 For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. 3 So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress, even if she marries another man. 4 Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death. 6 But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. 7 What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet." 8 But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good. 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But in order that sin might be exposed as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good. 17 In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. 20 And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law. 23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Study Notes — Romans 7
- Chapter Summary
- Context for the Chapter
- Heart Application
- What Does This Chapter Mean?
- Voices from the Church
- Outline for Preaching
- Core Doctrines
- Lessons from Romans 7
- Themes from Romans 7
- Questions for Meditation
- Detailed Chapter Outline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top Cross References
- Sermons on Romans 7
- Matthew Henry Commentary
- What Do You Notice?
Chapter Summary
Romans 7 begins with an explanation of how believers are dead to the law through their union with Christ (Romans 7:1-6). The law, which was given to reveal sin, actually stirred up sin in the unregenerate heart (Romans 7:7-12). The apostle Paul then laments the struggle he faces as a believer, desiring to do what is right but finding himself trapped in a body that is prone to sin (Romans 7:13-25). He concludes by expressing thanks to God for the deliverance that comes through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:25). Throughout the chapter, Paul emphasizes the inability of the law to save and the necessity of faith in Christ for victory over sin.
Context for the Chapter
Romans 7 fits within the larger context of the book of Romans, which is a theological treatise on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Following the justification by faith discussed in Romans 1-5, and the assurance of salvation in Romans 6, chapter 7 delves into the practical struggle with sin that believers face. It sets the stage for Romans 8, which discusses the believer's life in the Spirit and the triumph over sin through Christ. This chapter is also connected to the broader biblical narrative, particularly to the Old Testament themes of the law and its inability to save, as well as the New Testament emphasis on salvation through faith in Christ.
Heart Application
The practical application of Romans 7 is to recognize our complete dependence on Jesus Christ for deliverance from sin. It encourages believers to understand their position in Christ and to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, who helps us to overcome the flesh and its sinful tendencies. By acknowledging the futility of trying to overcome sin through our own strength or the law, we are directed to trust in Christ's work on the cross and His ongoing work in our lives through the Spirit.
What Does This Chapter Mean?
Romans chapter 7 talks about the struggle we have with sin as believers. Even though we want to do good, our bodies are prone to sin. The law shows us what is right and wrong, but it cannot help us overcome sin. Only through Jesus Christ can we be delivered from sin's power, as seen in Romans 7:24-25. This chapter encourages us to trust in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin.
Voices from the Church
“The law is a mirror to show us our spots, but it is not a fountain to wash them away. For that, we need the blood of Jesus Christ.”
— Charles Spurgeon
“The law, as it were, holds a mirror to man, in which he may see his own deformity; but it does not remove it, for it is the peculiar office of Christ to take away sin.”
— John Calvin
Outline for Preaching
- Introduction: Dead to the Law (Romans 7:1-6) — This section explains how believers are dead to the law through their union with Christ, and how this affects their relationship with sin and the law.
- The Law and Sin (Romans 7:7-12) — Here, Paul discusses how the law reveals sin but cannot deliver from it, highlighting the law's role in stirring up sin in the unregenerate heart.
- The Believer's Struggle with Sin (Romans 7:13-25) — This part of the chapter describes the intense struggle the believer faces with sin, despite desiring to do what is right, and concludes with a thanks to God for deliverance through Jesus Christ.
- Conclusion: Thanks to God (Romans 7:25) — Paul expresses gratitude to God for the victory over sin that comes through Jesus Christ our Lord, emphasizing Christ's role in deliverance.
- Transition to Romans 8 — The chapter sets the stage for the discussion in Romans 8 about the life in the Spirit and the triumph over sin through Christ.
Core Doctrines
- Total Depravity
- This chapter teaches that even believers have a body prone to sin, highlighting the total depravity of human nature and the need for Christ's deliverance.
- The Insufficiency of the Law
- Romans 7 shows that the law, while revealing sin, cannot provide the power to overcome it, emphasizing the insufficiency of the law for salvation.
- The Necessity of Christ
- The chapter underscores the necessity of faith in Christ for deliverance from sin, pointing to Christ as the only means of rescue from the body of death.
- Sanctification
- The struggle with sin described in Romans 7 is part of the broader doctrine of sanctification, which involves the ongoing process of being set apart for God's purposes through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lessons from Romans 7
- The Law Reveals Sin — We learn that the law serves to reveal sin in our lives but does not have the power to deliver us from it.
- The Believer's Struggle — The chapter teaches us about the ongoing struggle with sin that believers face, despite their desire to do what is right.
- Christ's Deliverance — We are reminded that deliverance from sin comes through Jesus Christ, emphasizing the importance of faith in Him for victory over sin.
- The Power of the Holy Spirit — The chapter indirectly points to the role of the Holy Spirit in helping believers overcome sin, as discussed more fully in Romans 8.
- Gratitude for Deliverance — The conclusion of the chapter encourages a heart of gratitude for the deliverance we have in Christ, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging God's work in our lives.
Themes from Romans 7
- The Struggle with Sin — This theme is central to Romans 7, highlighting the believer's conflict with sin and the need for deliverance through Christ.
- The Insufficiency of the Law — The chapter emphasizes the law's inability to save, pointing to the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation and victory over sin.
- Deliverance through Christ — The theme of deliverance through Christ is a triumphant note in the chapter, emphasizing Christ's role in setting us free from the law of sin and death.
- The Role of the Holy Spirit — While not explicitly the focus of Romans 7, the chapter sets the stage for understanding the Spirit's role in overcoming sin, as discussed in Romans 8.
- Gratitude and Praise — The chapter concludes on a note of gratitude to God for deliverance, encouraging believers to cultivate a heart of thankfulness for God's work in their lives.
Questions for Meditation
- How does the law reveal sin in your life, and how do you respond to this revelation?
- What is the nature of the struggle with sin that believers face, as described in Romans 7?
- In what ways do you see the insufficiency of the law in your own life, and how does this lead you to Christ?
- How does the power of the Holy Spirit help believers overcome the flesh and its sinful tendencies?
- What does it mean to you personally that Christ delivers us from the body of this death, as mentioned in Romans 7:24-25?
Detailed Chapter Outline
1. Dead to the Law (Romans 7:1-6)
| Romans 7:1 | Paul begins by explaining that the law has authority over a person only as long as that person lives, using the analogy of marriage to illustrate how death affects legal obligations. |
| Romans 7:2 | He continues by explaining that a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. |
| Romans 7:3 | Similarly, Paul argues that we have been made dead to the law through the body of Christ, so that we might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God. |
| Romans 7:4 | Thus, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code, allowing us to produce fruit for God. |
| Romans 7:5 | For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. |
| Romans 7:6 | But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. |
2. The Law and Sin (Romans 7:7-12)
| Romans 7:7 | Paul asks if the law is sinful, and answers that it is not, but rather it was the law that showed him his sin, specifically the sin of coveting. |
| Romans 7:8 | For apart from the law, sin was dead, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. |
| Romans 7:9 | Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. |
| Romans 7:10 | I found that the commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. |
| Romans 7:11 | For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death. |
| Romans 7:12 | So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. |
3. The Believer's Struggle with Sin (Romans 7:13-25)
| Romans 7:13 | Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. |
| Romans 7:14 | We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. |
| Romans 7:15 | I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. |
| Romans 7:16 | And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. |
| Romans 7:17 | As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. |
| Romans 7:18 | For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. |
| Romans 7:19 | For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. |
| Romans 7:20 | Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. |
| Romans 7:21 | So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. |
| Romans 7:22 | For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; |
| Romans 7:23 | but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. |
| Romans 7:24 | What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? |
| Romans 7:25 | Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the law according to Romans 7?
The law serves to reveal sin but does not have the power to deliver us from it, as seen in Romans 7:7-12. It was given to show us our sinfulness and our need for a Savior.
How does Romans 7 describe the believer's struggle with sin?
The chapter describes the believer's intense struggle with sin, despite desiring to do what is right, as seen in Romans 7:14-25. This struggle is characterized by the conflict between the flesh and the spirit.
What is the solution to the struggle with sin presented in Romans 7?
The solution is found in Jesus Christ, who delivers us from the body of this death, as expressed in Romans 7:24-25. This deliverance comes through faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Top Cross References
| Reference | Connection | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romans 7:5 → Galatians 5:16-24 | Both passages discuss the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, highlighting the ongoing conflict in the believer's life. |
| 2 | Romans 7:7 → Exodus 20:17 | The commandment against coveting is referenced, showing how the law reveals sin, specifically the sin of coveting. |
| 3 | Romans 7:10 → Leviticus 18:5 | The commandment that was intended to bring life is discussed, which is a reference to the Old Testament principle that obedience to the law would lead to life. |
| 4 | Romans 7:12 → Psalm 119:172 | The law is declared to be holy, righteous, and good, reflecting the psalmist's praise for the law's perfection. |
| 5 | Romans 7:14 → Genesis 6:5 | The concept of being sold as a slave to sin is connected to the biblical theme of humanity's bondage to sin, as seen in the early chapters of Genesis. |
| 6 | Romans 7:18 → Jeremiah 17:9 | The idea that the heart is deceitful and wicked is reflected in Jeremiah's lament over the human condition, highlighting the depth of human sinfulness. |
| 7 | Romans 7:22 → Psalm 1:2 | The delight in God's law is a theme found in the Psalms, where the righteous man meditates on the law day and night. |
| 8 | Romans 7:25 → 1 Corinthians 15:57 | The thanks to God for deliverance through Jesus Christ is echoed in the victory cry over death and sin in 1 Corinthians, emphasizing the ultimate triumph of God through Christ. |
Sermons on Romans 7
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Hells Best Kept Secret by Ray Comfort | In this sermon, the speaker discusses his approach to sharing the gospel with others. He starts by engaging in casual conversation about everyday topics like weather and sports to |
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Enjoying God's Grace - Part 1 by Derek Prince | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of grace and its opposite, which is law. He emphasizes that when talking about law, it is not referring to secular law, but rathe |
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Chosen to Be Holy by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of holiness and the responsibility that believers have to strive for it. He highlights that this convention is of utmost impor |
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Freedom From Bondage Romans 8 - Part 1 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about a garbage collector who had been rescued from a troubled life. The preacher describes a powerful moment during a church service wh |
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(So Great a Salvation) Conviction and Repentance by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of addressing the spiritual needs of individuals when they become aware of them. He prays for God's guidance in reaching out |
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Beatitudes/clothed in Christ 1 by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the power and authority of true prophets of God. He highlights how the prophets in the Bible, including Paul, delivered strong and sometimes |
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The Enemy of Revival - Part 1 (Cd Quality) by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher starts by quoting a scripture about the children of Israel doing evil in the sight of the Lord and being delivered into the hands of the Philistines fo |
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How to Bring Your Children to Christ by Ray Comfort | In this sermon, the speaker shares personal experiences and observations about the transformative power of God's word. He emphasizes the importance of having a fear of God and reco |
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America's Need by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the hardships and trials that he has faced in his preaching journey. He mentions being beaten, struck, shipwrecked, and facing various peril |
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Power Over Sin by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the destructive power of sin and how it enslaves and destroys the lives of young and innocent individuals. He shares the story of a seventeen |
Summary of Matthew Henry Commentary on Romans 7
Matthew Henry's commentary on Romans 7 highlights the law's role in revealing sin and the believer's struggle with the flesh. He emphasizes that the law, though holy and good, cannot justify or sanctify and thus we need the grace of Jesus Christ to deliver us from the law of sin and death. Henry also notes the believer's inner conflict, where the mind serves the law of God but the flesh serves the law of sin, and concludes by rejoicing in the thanks be to God who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord, emphasizing the power of faith and the work of the Holy Spirit in overcoming sin. Read the full unabridged Matthew Henry Commentary →
What Do You Notice?
The Law's Role
Notice how the law is portrayed as revealing sin but not providing the power to overcome it, highlighting the need for a Savior. This is evident in Romans 7:7-12, where the law is said to have stirred up sin in the unregenerate heart.
The Believer's Struggle
Observe the intense struggle the believer faces with sin, as described in Romans 7:14-25, where Paul laments his own inability to do what is right despite his desire to do so.
The Necessity of Christ
Recognize the emphasis on the necessity of faith in Christ for deliverance from sin, as expressed in Romans 7:24-25, where Paul thanks God for rescue through Jesus Christ our Lord.