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Living Under The Law - Romans 7
Living Under The Law - Romans 7
Paul now addresses 'those who know the law' to discuss their new relationship to the law (1-6) and remind them of what it was like to strive to be godly under the law (7-25). He affirms that in becoming Christians they had died to the law, been delivered from the law, and now belonged to Jesus. For this, they ought to rejoice for living under the law produced mental anguish to a godly man.
In order to avoid the rather obvious conclusions that this passage brings, many have chosen to interpret this section, not as the personal experience of Paul, but rather, as an editorial "I". Even if such were to be granted, it would then be understood as the experience of an 'editorial godly man' living under the law. I see no reason for taking the 'I', 'me', and 'my' of this section other than Paul speaking of himself and his mindset as he served God under the law. Notice that Paul used 'I' 28 times; 'me' 11 times; and 'my' 9 times in verses 7-25.
· He = "I", "me", "my"
· HE was alive apart from the law at one time. (9)
· He sinned and died when the 'commandment came' (9).
· He WAS alive, but sin deceived him and killed him (11).
· Even after he sinned, he knew that the law was holy, righteous, good (12,16), and spiritual (14)
· Sin used the law to produce death in him (13).
· Then, having sinned, he was sold under sin (14).
· He yet had a desire to do what is right (18, 21).
· Though he had died, yet he delighted in the law of God (22).
· Though he had died, he did not want to do evil (19,) for that is the very thing he hated (15).
· He did what he 'did not want to'; he did the very thing he hated (15-16).
· Though desiring to do good, he found he had not the ability to carry it out (18).
· With his mind he served the law of God, but with his flesh he served the law of sin (25).
He WAS alive apart from the law. He DIED because he sinned under the law. He could write that sin dwelt in him (17), and that he was taken 'captive to the law of sin' (23). YET, he had just stated that he was now 'dead to the law' and 'delivered from the law' (4, 6). I understand this section then to be what Paul discovered about living under the law. What would a righteous man who lived in all good conscience find it like to live under the law? THIS is what one would find.
We thus learn:
· Children were, as Paul was, born ALIVE – not 'dead in sin' or totally depraved.
· Children were alive UNTIL they sinned, THEN they died.
· Those that 'died', YET could desire to do good, delight in the law of God, and hate sin.
· Apart from Jesus, there is no escape from such situation.
· NOW, for those IN CHRIST, they have died to such law (4), are delivered from such law (6), and now have no condemnation (8:1-2).
Oh, How I Love Jesus, for he saved me from the wrath of God due me because of my sin.
Hugh DeLong
