As in Romans 6, Romans 7 centers on how Christ saves the believer from a life dominated by sin. Romans 7 goes on to explain the relationship between God's law, sin and righteousness.
The law is righteous and good, but it does not have power in and of itself to enable a person to live according to its precepts. To the contrary, the law--God's standard of righteousness--condemns each and every individual because no one can keep the law without violating it. Because of the human sin nature, everyone violates God's law; no one can claim purity on Judgment Day. Therein lies the need for a Savior--Someone who never did violate God's law and Who was willing to intercede on behalf of each believer.
Romans 7 illustrates the relationship of sin and law: a married woman is bound by law to her husband (as her master) until he dies. Then she is free from his dominance and free from the laws of marriage that dictated that dominance. Similarly, every person born is "married" to, or subject to, a master: his sin and the law of God that classifies him as a sinner. Everyone comes under the condemnation of God's law.
There was a death that released the married woman from her marriage vows. Similarly, there was a death that released the believer, a sinner, from being subject to God's condemning laws--that was the death of Christ. All believers are said to be "in" Christ (John 17). When Christ died, all believers "died" with Him. Therefore, through Christ, all believers have paid the price for their sin (death) and God's law cannot exact another payment of death out of them. Believers are in this sense free from God's law (free from the condemnation of it).
Romans 7 does contain a matter of controversy: there is a struggle, or inner conflict, exhibited by a person who wants to follow God's law and live righteously but who repeatedly fails in his efforts. Does this struggle describe the believer?
The Apostle Paul explained clearly throughout Romans 5, 6 and 7 that Jesus set the believer free from sin being the master of his life. Just what does "free" mean? The believer is free from the sin nature with which he was born; he has been given a new nature, one that is bent toward righteousness. He has been given power--a means by which to live a righteous life. Part of the victory that is in Jesus is this ability to live righteously without this constant struggle with one's own sin nature! Glory halleluia!
There was a death that released the married woman from her marriage vows. Similarly, there was a death that released the believer, a sinner, from being subject to God's condemning laws--that was the death of Christ. All believers are said to be "in" Christ (John 17). When Christ died, all believers "died" with Him. Therefore, through Christ, all believers have paid the price for their sin (death) and God's law cannot exact another payment of death out of them. Believers are in this sense free from God's law (free from the condemnation of it).
But, as seen in Romans 6, this freedom from the condemnation of God's law is not a license to sin. Romans 7 explains that the believer, released from his "marriage" to the law (that condemned him for his sin), is now "married" to another: to Christ. The fruit of this marriage is righteousness. What the Law could not provide (power to live a truly righteous life), Jesus could and did provide (more on this topic in Romans 8)!
Romans 7 does contain a matter of controversy: there is a struggle, or inner conflict, exhibited by a person who wants to follow God's law and live righteously but who repeatedly fails in his efforts. Does this struggle describe the believer?
The Apostle Paul explained clearly throughout Romans 5, 6 and 7 that Jesus set the believer free from sin being the master of his life. Just what does "free" mean? The believer is free from the sin nature with which he was born; he has been given a new nature, one that is bent toward righteousness. He has been given power--a means by which to live a righteous life. Part of the victory that is in Jesus is this ability to live righteously without this constant struggle with one's own sin nature! Glory halleluia!
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