Today’s passage: Romans 7:7-25
Helpful thoughts:
- The failing of the Law to bring people to salvation is not the fault of the Law.
- Let’s illustrate this with the modern law of a speed limit on the road.
- If I do not have love for others, I will go too fast and cut through traffic in a way that endangers others, even without any speed limit sign.
- With the presence of a speed limit sign, I may desire to break the law by going too fast, even being exhilarated by my sin…OR
- I may remain under the speed limit, considering myself to be an upstanding citizen and worthy of praise.
- The only way to go the speed limit in righteousness is to do it in love.
- Therefore, the law did not cause me to sin. It made me aware of my sin, provided me a benchmark to further my sin, and provided me an unfounded cause to glory in self-righteousness.
- Let’s illustrate this with the modern law of a speed limit on the road.
- From verse 14 on, Paul is giving a personal testimony to his own struggle. This is the battle in the heart of every Christian.
- The path to joy is not a high view of self. That path to joy is a right and humbled view of self and a high view of God.
- Paul calls himself a wretched man, and gives glory to God who has rescued us through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Questions to consider:
- If we were to blame the Law for “making us sinners,” who would we actually be blaming for our sin? Who is the giver of the Law? How would this compare to Adam’s blaming after the fall (Genesis 3:12)?
- Do Christians live flawless lives? Why do we desire to “keep up appearances” as much as we tend to do? What are we robbing ourselves and other believers of when if we pretend that Romans 7:14-25 doesn’t pertain to us?
- Why do we have every reason to continue praising God for our rescue from sin? Did Jesus simply wipe our slate clean and give us a fresh start or…something much more?