Deliverance from the Demands of the Law #

Romans 7:1-3

Introduction

Romans Chapter Seven, deals with the Law. We were introduced to Sanctification in chapter six, and he continues to deal with sanctification. In chapter six, he deals with liberalism. That is being free from sin, the mindset can become, do whatever you want. In chapter seven, he deals with legalism. Legalism is the idea that as long as we dress a certain way, or do certain things that we have a higher spiritual position that others. Weirsbe words it this way,

“It (legalism) is the belief that I can become holy and please God by obeying laws. It is measuring spirituality by a list of do’s and don’ts. The weakness of legalism is that it sees sins (plural) but not sin (the root of the trouble). It judges by the outward and not the inward. Furthermore, the legalist fails to understand the real purpose of God’s Law and the relationship between Law and grace.” The Bible Exposition Commentary by: Warren W. Wiersbe p.534

“In my pastoral experience, I have counseled many people who have suffered severe emotional and spiritual damage because they have tried to live holy lives on the basis of a high standard. I have seen the consequences of these attempts: either the person becomes a pretender, or he suffers a complete collapse and abandons his desires for godly living. I have seen too that many legalists are extremely hard on other people—critical, unloving, unforgiving. Paul wanted to spare this readers this difficult and dangerous experience.” The Bible Exposition Commentary by: Warren W. Wiersbe p.534

I. Comparison of the Law (1-6) #

• To be clear, Paul is not teaching on marriage and divorce, but rather using it as an illustration to help those familiar with the law to understand our relationship with Christ.

A. Requirement of the Marriage (1-3) #

1. Knowledge of the Law (1) #

2. Rigidness of the Law (2-3) #

B. Release from Marriage (4) #

1. Death #

• While Paul is not giving instruction on divorce and remarriage, it is the clear teaching in the Word of God that death is the end of a marriage.

2. Freedom to remarry #

C. Remarrying (4-6) (based on Resurrection in Christ) #

1. “married to another” – espousal to Christ (4) #

2. Fruit of marriage (4-5) cf Eph 2:10 – “… created in Christ Jesus unto good works...” #

• The fruit of marriage between mankind and the law, only produced death! (5)
• The fruit of marriage between the saved and Jesus, is other believers.

3. The New Service! (6) cf Rom 6:4 – New Life #

II. Character of the Law (7-14) #

A. Excellence of the Law (7, 12) #

• Sometimes we can draw a very negative conclusion about the law… Here Paul is quick to clarify that the Law is not, and was not bad.

1. Law was not bad, it showed how bad sin was. #

2. The Law is called, Holy, Just, good (12) #

B. Educating of the Law (7-8) #

1. Defined sin #

2. Defilement of sin #

• Guilt comes because of a knowledge and recognition of doing something contrary to the law.

C. Enforcement of the Law (9-10) #

• If NO CONSEQUENCES, the law would be useless!

Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;

James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

D. Evil work of sin (11) #

1. Deception (11) - Sin was born out of deception from the very start. #

• Sin will take you farther than you want to go, it will keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you far more than you want to pay.

E. Evaluating by the Law (13) #

• A soldier, that had been on the battle fields for a length of time, was proud of how clean he had kept his whites, cleaner than any of the other soldiers. When he arrived at home, and placed them on the white bed sheets, he realized how tainted they had become.