What about the Law?

John Farley
Pastor-Teacher
Wednesday,
December 3, 2014

In Romans 6, Paul dealt with questions about sin, and in particular the relationship between sin and grace.

Romans 7 deals with the Law.

Paul is always very clear in his thinking, especially in Romans. He states exactly what he is talking about.
Romans 7 is for clarification about the Law –what it is and is not - and its relationship to Christians.
Paul has set the stage for Romans 7 by several key statements he has made about the Law earlier in Romans.
The monologue in Rom 7:13-25 is notoriously tricky to interpret. The best way to understand it is to first make sure that you understand Rom 7:1-6 !
There are several other passages in other epistles that also speak about the role of the Law.
You should have a working knowledge of what the Law is in order to get the most out of chapter 7.
Romans 7 in turn sets the stage for Romans 8.
Expect to be freed up from some things in your heart as you grasp the meaning of Romans 7.

Rom 5:20-21 has set the agenda for chapters 6 and 7 of the book of Romans.

Romans 6 and 7 are a parenthesis between Romans 5 and Romans 8.

Romans 7 is about
the Law.

Romans 7 is first and foremost about the Mosaic Law, the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

The Mosaic Law is recorded in the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus.

Romans deals primarily with the portion of the Law of Moses known as the moral or ethical code.

The ten commandments are a simple way to see what this is about.

The Law is good, and holy. The behavior it advocates is righteous behavior.

The Law isolates a man and puts him in a one-on-one situation.
You versus the commandment.

The book of Hebrews deals with the ceremonial or ritual part of the Law, which is another part of the Law.

Heb 8:11
regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.

The Mosaic Law is a major subject in the New Testament epistles. Paul brings it up in most of his epistles.

Some of Paul’s most relentless opponents wanted to put Gentile believers under the Law.

The Law is very prominent in the book of Romans.

Your body is only yours to the extent that you decide which master you will put your body at the disposal of.

The Law takes center stage in Romans chapter 2, and it is prominent in chapters 3, 4, and 5 as well.

Yet chapter 7 is the most complete and detailed treatment of the subject of the Law in the epistles.

Why is it that the Law is so prominent in the book of Romans?

The Jews are never far from Paul’s heart as he writes this letter.

“In every line that Paul wrote he had Judaism in mind.”

Major portions of the book of Romans are dedicated to clarifying the Gospel as it concerns the Jew.

Are we Jews included in the indictment , the charge that there is none righteous, not even one?

Chapter 2 of the book of Romans answers this question.

What about the Old Testament Jews?
Were they justified by faith apart from works of the Law?

Chapter 4 of the book of Romans answers this question.

Won’t preaching grace cause us to sin?

Chapter 6 of the book of Romans answers this question.

What about the Law?

Chapter 7 of the book of Romans answers this question.

What about God’s promises to the nation of Israel? Has God rejected His people?

Chapters 9, 10, and 11 of the book of Romans answer this question.