Aug14-20: The Man of Romans 7

Teaching Points

1. What has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 7:1—The law.
• Rom. 6:9—Death had dominion.
• Rom. 6:14—Sin had dominion. 

2. What man does death and sin have dominion over?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:6, 7—The old man is crucified therefore we are set free from sin and death.

3. What caused us to be under the dominion of sin and death?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 7:6, 7—The law of God (breaking that law).

4. What is Paul teaching in the illustration of a husband and wife?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 7:2-7 Sin (power of sin) has dominion over us because of the old man. Death (result of sin) has dominion because we have the old man. When the old man is dead the power of sin and result of sin is broken.
• This is our relationship with the law. We look at the law and see sin and death (or condemnation). 

5. What is the answer to the power of sin and death over us—condemnation of the law?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 8:2—“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
• Jesus sets us free from the condemnation of the law

OBSERVATION:

• The law (condemnation) has dominion over a man (old man) because of sin (breaking the law) and death (penalty for breaking the law).
• Death and sin have dominion over the old man. This dominion (condemnation) is caused by the law.
• When the old man is dead, the power of sin (sin) and the result of sin (death) are broken.
• Our relationship with the law—we look at it and see that we are guilty of sin and the penalty is death.
• Jesus is the only One who can set us free from the law.

6. Does this mean that the law that condemns us is a bad law?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 7:12—No! This law is actually holy, just, and good.
• Rom. 7:13—The law shows the exceeding sinfulness of sin.

7. What is the condition of the heart without God’s power—unconverted?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 7:14-21—a slave to sin, no ability to perform that which is good.
• Notice in this case he wants to do right but can’t.
• Sold under sin—even if one wants to do what is right he has no power to do it—he is a slave to do sin.

8. What is conversion?

ANSWER:

• Converted means to turn around/ about, return, come again—(Ps. 51:13;

 Isa. 60:5; Matt. 13:15, 18:3.) To change, exchange, renovation.

• Thayer: to bring back to love and obedience to God, to bring back to love wisdom and righteousness.
• Conversion empowers a person to turn around from being a slave to sin and start obeying God.
• Conversion is not just to know right, but to have the power for obedience and righteousness—doing right. 

9. How often must a person be converted or die to sin so that Christ may give power for victory?

ANSWER:

• Gal. 2:20—Crucified with Christ.
• 1 Cor. 15:31—I die daily.
• Daily, moment-by-moment death to self and sin through surrendering to Christ is needed—this is conversion. Death to self and sin is turning from our old ways, and surrendering to Christ brings power for obedience. 

10. How does Paul summarize his main points in the closing verses?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 7:24—being a slave to sin (under condemnation) is like being chained to a decaying dead body.
• Rom. 7:24—Who can deliver me? Rom. 7:25—Jesus Christ.
• Rom. 7:25—What is the state of a person without the power of Christ but knowing right? I can know in my mind what is right but I continue to sin. 
• Intellectual knowledge of the truth but no power for obedience and no freedom from condemnation or penalty of sin. 

OBSERVATION:

• The law is not bad or evil; it is holy, just, and good. We are the problem.
• The condition of the heart without God’s power is that we are slaves to sin, and even if we know right we cannot do right.
• Conversion is the process of turning or changing us from slaves to sin to having the power for obedience and righteousness.
• Conversion, or dying to self and surrendering to Christ for power for victory, must be a day-to-day event.
• Even if we know intellectually what is right we are not converted until we experience Christ’s power to live victoriously. In other words, we can have head knowledge of truth and still be lost. 

SOP

• … There are many who realize their helplessness, and who long for that spiritual life which will bring them into harmony with God; they are vainly striving to obtain it. In despair they cry, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?" Romans 7:24, margin. Let these desponding, struggling ones look up. The Saviour is bending over the purchase of His blood, saying with inexpressible tenderness and pity, "Wilt thou be made whole?" He bids you arise in health and peace. Do not wait to
• feel that you are made whole. Believe His word, and it will be fulfilled. Put your will on the side of Christ. Will to serve Him, and in acting upon His word you will receive strength. Whatever may be the evil practice, the master passion which through long indulgence binds both soul and body, Christ is able and longs to deliver. He will impart life to the soul that is "dead in trespasses." Ephesians 2:1. He will set free the captive that is held by weakness and misfortune and the chains of sin.  {DA 203.2}
• It is not enough to perceive the loving-kindness of God, to see the benevolence, the fatherly tenderness, of His character. It is not enough to discern the wisdom and justice of His law, to see that it is founded upon the eternal principle of love. Paul the apostle saw all this when he exclaimed, "I consent unto the law that it is good." "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." But he added, in the bitterness of his soul-anguish and despair, "I am carnal, sold under sin." Romans 7:16, 12, 14. He longed for the purity, the righteousness, to which in himself he was powerless to attain, and cried out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?" Romans 7:24, margin. Such is the cry that has gone up from burdened hearts in all lands and in all ages. To all, there is but one answer, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29.  {SC 19.1} 
• A person may hear and acknowledge the whole truth, and yet know nothing of personal piety and true experimental religion. He or she may explain the way of salvation to others, and yet be a castaway. . . . “Why,” asked a man who had been and still was practicing wickedness, “are souls converted to the truth through my influence?” I answered, “Christ is constantly drawing souls to Himself, and flashing His own light in their path. The seeker after salvation is not permitted to read the character of him who teaches him. If he himself is sincere, if he draws nigh to God, believing in Him, confessing his sins, he will be accepted.”. . . {CTr 332.3}

CONCLUSION:

• The law of sin and death we are under is condemnation—because of our sin (which the law points out) we are condemned to die.
• The law is good, holy, and just; but it reveals the exceeding sinfulness of sin.
• We are under this condemnation until our old man is crucified. When this happens, through Christ we are free from condemnation and have power for victory available.
• This process is conversion. We choose to die to self and surrender to Christ, and then He gives us power both to die to self and sin, and to overcome. 
• This dying and surrender for power to overcome must be a daily occurrence.
• To know in our mind what is right but not receive Christ’s power for victory means that we are lost still and are still under condemnation of the law. 
• Christ is the only One who can deliver us from this state. 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Are you choosing to die to self daily?
• Are you under condemnation of the law because of sin?
• Are you choosing to be crucified with Christ, realizing you cannot change yourself?
• Are you surrendering yourself to God and receiving victory in your life?
• Do you have an intellectual knowledge of truth and righteousness, hoping to be saved, but still condemned to death because you are not experiencing Christ’s victory?
• Are you experiencing the power of God’s grace for victory?