Romans 7 1 6 Freed From the Law

Romans 7: 1 -6 Freed From the Law, Joined to Christ by Eric Douma Gospel of Grace Fellowship January 15, ggf. church 2017 0

Hope: Assurance of Future Glory Romans 5: 1 -8: 39 A. Rom. 5: 1 -11 Hope: Assurance of future glory B. Rom. 5: 12 -21 Basis for assurance: Work of Christ C. Rom. 6: 1 -23 The problem of sin C. Rom. 7: 1 -25 The problem of the law B. Rom. 8: 1 -17 Basis for assurance: Work of Christ/H. S. A. Rom. 8: 18 -39 Hope: Assurance of future glory Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 1

Context of Romans 7 shows the relationship between the Law and sin. § Romans 2: 1 -3: 20 = Those who have the Law are sinners. § Romans 7 = The incursion of the Law stimulates sin. § Romans 5: 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more… Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 2

Paul’s Example from Marriage Romans 7: 1 -2 Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. § Paul is writing to a congregation familiar with the O. T. § “if a person is dead, he is free from the Torah and the fulfilling of the commandments” (Babylonian Talmud). § “Released” = is the key idea of this passage. Believers are released from the bondage of the law. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 3

We Died to the Law to Live With Christ Romans 7: 3 -4 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 4

Believers Have Been Released From the Law Romans 7: 5 -6 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. § Romans 8: 8 -9 a and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 5

Applications 1. We should remember that God chose to save us in Christ Jesus in order that we would “bear fruit” for His glory. 2. We must remember that our “dying” with Christ at conversion means that we are to never go back to the Mosaic Law as a binding covenant. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 6

Created in Christ to Bear Fruit Romans 7: 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. Isaiah 5: 1 -2 Let me sing now for my well-beloved A song of my beloved concerning His vineyard. My wellbeloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill. 2 He dug it all around, removed its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. And He built a tower in the middle of it And also hewed out a wine vat in it; then He expected it to produce good grapes, but it produced only worthless ones. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 7

Created in Christ to Bear Fruit John 15: 1 -5 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 8

There Is No Going Back to the Law Galatians 3: 2 -3 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Romans 10: 3 -4 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 9