Romans Part 22 – Romans 7:8-25
Verse 8-10
• “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment” - As covered last week.
• “concupiscence” – All manner of lust. Fits the context of verse 7. Exo 20:17.
• “without the law sin was dead” – The law reveals our sin nature. There is something in us that wants to break the rules. Without the rules, that desire is dead.
• “vs 9” – Paul is speaking theologically here as he did not know life “without the law” – Phil 3:5 – Gen 3:1-6
• “The commandment which was ordained to life” – Lev 18:5, Ezek 20:11, Luke 10:25-28.
• “I found to be unto death” – Because he could not keep it – Rom 10:5, Gal 3:10, 2Cor 3:7.
Verse 11-13
• “vs 11” – Confirms verse 8. Sin used the law the introduce list into Pauls life.
• “vs 12” –The law is Holy, just, and good – Psalms 19:8 – Paul makes it clear he is not anti-law or teaching that the law is bad. This does not mean we are under the law. We are holy in Christ, justified in Christ, we do good because of who we are in Christ – 1Cor 1:30, Rom 4:24-25, Eph 2:10.
• “was then that which was good made death unit me” – Does the law bring death?
• “God forbid. But sin,” – By no means. It is sin that brings death. 1Cor 15:56 Rom 5:12
• “that it might appear sin, working death in me” – This is what sin does, it works death in you.
• “by the commandment might become exceeding sinful” – Again showing the law exposes what was already there.
Verse 14-17
• “The law is spiritual” – The Law was given by God, it is spiritual, it is holy.
• “I am carnal” – Carnal means fleshly not sinful.
• “sold under sin” – This is all the human race in Adam. Because of the sin in the Garden of Eden we are under the penalty, power, and presence of sin.
• “vs 15” – The struggle between the new man with old man – Gal 5:17
• “I allow not” – Allow = know, understand. I don’t know. He doesn’t approve of what he does yet he still does it.
• “I consent unto the law” – He agrees with the Law, he joins the law in condemning himself.
• “no more I but sin that dwelleth in me” – This is what he agrees with the with. The point of the Law is to shine a light on sin in you. If there was no sin the law would have no purpose.
Verse 18
• “in my flesh dwelleth no good thing” – The old man can be religious, but that doesn’t mean he is good. The just live by faith – Gal 3:11.
• “for to will is present with me” - Not the total depravity of Calvinist.
• “how to perform that which is good I find not” – The law tells you what to do, you can have a will to perform it, but we don’t know how to perform it.
• New Covenant Israel has a way to perform it – Ezek 36:27.
Verse 19-25
• “vs 19” – A repeat of vs 15.
• “vs 20” – Sin is the problem. Concerning your future, sin is taken care of – 2Cor 5:21. But being still in our flesh today we have to reckon ourselves dead unto sin – Rom 6:11
• “I find then a law” – Not found in the Torah. A law upon me is what Paul is saying.
• “when I would do good evil is present with me” – It’s important to identify the enemy. In Christ you are complete – Col 2:10 – It is sin that is the issue.
• “For I delight in the law after the inward man” – Inward man is the spiritual speaking. The Spirit of God in you wants to do righteousness.
• “Members warring against my mind” - Here again Paul is showing the contrast between the spirit and the flesh.
• “O wretched man that I am” – Paul’s Conclusion.
• “Who shall deliver me from this body of death?” – Body – The sinful flesh is the issue.
• “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” – Paul answers his own question.
