Watch a two minute overview of Romans Chapter 7
Dig In:
Passage: Romans 7
Dig Deeper:
Chapter Summary
v1-12 - This entire chapter centers around your complicated relationship with God's Law. On the one hand, the Law is good, as it is a guide for living a godly life. On the other hand, your sinful nature (referred to in some translations as your flesh), causes you to look for ways to twist and break God's commandments, which of course leads to death. The opening paragraph uses the example of how a married person is freed from her vows if her spouse dies; she's no longer obligated to the first man and is free to marry another. In the same way, "you died to the law through Christ," so you are no longer obligated to all of the law's details and requirements. BUT, this doesn't mean that you're free to do as you please. Verse 4 makes clear that the reason Christ freed you from the law is "in order that you might bear fruit for God." The best way to bear fruit for God is to live according to His law. Do you see why your relationship with the law is complicated?
v13-25 - Once you recognize the point of this passage, you will begin to recognize it's literary beauty as well, but it can be really confusing at first. Let's strip away some of the literary beauty and figure out what Paul means here: -v13 - The law helps you recognize sin in your life -v14 - The law is godly, but you are sinful. The result is like oil and water. -v15 - You love God for sure, but yet you still sin against Him, so you often feel awful. -v16 - Even though the law makes you feel guilty, you understand that's a good thing. -v17-18 - You're a new creation in Christ, which causes you to want to do good things, but at the same time, your sinful nature will haunt you and keep you from doing what you truly want to do. -v19 - You want to do good but don't, you don't want to sin but do. -v20-23 - Your old sinful nature does everything it can to sabotage you. You have a war constantly being fought inside of you trying to take you a prisoner of sin. -v24 - This war will crush you until you finally are reminded that your salvation does not depend upon your strength, but upon Christ Jesus your Lord.
Old Testament Reference -
Genesis 3 - Read the story of the fall of man to see how the devil's primary weapon is deception
Discuss:
Use the comment box below to discuss one or more of these questions. For every comment or reply you post, you will receive an entry for this month's prize: a gift certificate to Lakeside Deli.
Choose a verse and put it into your own words.
Why is it helpful to know some of the details about this war that's constantly being waged inside of you?
Which short phrase did you dwell on yesterday? How did your understanding of that phrase change, or how did the phrase change your day?
NEW:
Dwell:
Keep one of these phrases in your mind throughout the day and come back to it often, asking God to speak to you through these words:
v15 - I do not do what I want, but what I hate I do.
v23 - My sinful nature is "waging war" against me.
v24 - Who will rescue me?
Follow the AAA Prayer Pattern:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our holy Father who is perfectly righteous
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God for continuing strength to win the never ending war inside of you so that you might bear fruit for Him (v5, 23).
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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