Romans 7:15-8:4 - part 1

This Scripture has often been a controversial subject.  It describes an aspect of the Christian life that we should all understand, for if we don't, discouragement will inevitably follow.  But rightly understood, it can contribute to a confident, steady, and joyful Christian experience.

Some theologians hold that Romans 7 describes Paul's experience under the Law and that Romans 8 was his experience under grace, with the former being full of discouragement and the latter, with victory. That's why we often hear the advice: "Get out of Romans 7 and into Romans 8."

But I don't believe this view for two important reasons. First of all, Paul wrote these two chapters at the same writing; there wasn't even a chapter division in the original. The same man who wrote Romans 8:1-2 also wrote the words of 7:22-25 immediately before them. It seems to me that he rejoiced in the truth of Romans 8:1-2 while experiencing Romans 7:22-25. Secondly, sincere and godly believers have admitted that their experience has closely resembled what Paul described in Romans 7:14-25. My questions to those who hold that Romans 7 concerns Paul's experiences while still under the Law are these: Doesn't your old nature constantly try to gain control? Don't you have a problem with the "old man"? Have you consistently overcome sin in your life?

I believe Romans 7 should deeply concern us all because it describes the spiritual experience of the Apostle Paul himself, and, of every sincere believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

To fully understand Romans 7:15-8:4, we must look at five important laws referred to in this passage. And just to make things clear, a law is basically a fixed rule. This definition fits well the laws of nature, of civil and moral laws, and also of the Law of God.

1. The moral Law of God (Rom 7:22):

This is the Law that God gave through Moses (Ex 21:15-16; Jn 1:17). It represented a covenant which God made specifically with Israel (Ex 19:5-6). The penalty for breaking this covenant was death (2 Cor 3:7).

While the Law was given particularly to Israel, it still concerns the Gentiles as well. Romans 2:14-15 says that the "Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them."

Therefore, while the Gentiles were already condemned by the moral law, written in their hearts by God, God gave this law, written on tablets of stone, to Israel as a basis for a covenant which He would use to show them that they too were sinners. And sure enough, they almost immediately began breaking the Law, so that they, like the Gentiles, were declared guilty before God (Rom 3:19; 5:12, 20). While the covenant of the Law was made with Israel alone, it at the same time accentuates man's sin.

(to be continued)