Romans 7:1-25

Romans 7:1–25

An Illustration from Marriage (Romans 7:1-6)

By Law (2)------------------------By the Spirit (6)
A Married Woman (2)-------------The Bride of Christ (1)
Is Bound to Her Husband (2)------Is Bound to Her Husband (4)
As Long as He is Alive (2)----------Who is Eternal (4)
-- re-marriage forbidden (3)-------- re-marriage forbidden (3)
But if Her Husband Dies (2)--------Since She Died with Christ (4)
She is Released (2)------------------She was released (6)
-- re-marriage permitted (3)--------- re-marriage was permitted (6)
* The point here being that death frees one from the law


QUESTION #3 (Romans 7:7-12)
Is the Law Sin? (7:7)

1. The Law is what showed us that we were married to sin (7)
2. The Law prompted sin to show its life (8)
3. The Law came when we were alive (9)
4. The Law directly brings death, while indirectly serving its purpose (10)
5. The Law provided sin the opportunity to defeat me (11)
6. The Law was given with a good purpose (12)

QUESTION #4 (Romans 7:13-25)
Did that which is good, then, become death to me? (7:13)

1. The Law did the necessary dirty work (13)
2. The problem is not the Law; the problem is us (14)
3. Outside of Christ, we are powerless to overcome sin (15-20)
4. Before we come to Christ, we are at war with ourselves (21-24)
5. In Christ, we find our deliverance from the law of sin (25)

*There is debate about who the "I" is in this chapter
a) Autobiographical- Paul's Jewish past (Bruce, Dodd, Jeremias)
b) Psychological- A Jewish youth in general
c) Adam- Paul is describing Adam
d) Autobiographical- Normal Christian Life (Luther, Augustine, Acquinas, Calvin)
e) Carnal Christian-(holiness, pentecostal tradition)
f) Humanity in general-
g) Israel- Their struggle with the Torah (Wright combines this with C)

The chapter, as a whole, is explaining why the Law can't accomplish salvation's purposes