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The first 12 verses are a parallel that Paul uses to describe to the Jews their freedom that they now have being under Grace that they did not have under the Law. He uses the case of a woman whose husband dies and the freedom that she now has to remarry. Before her husband died, she was bound by the law but with the death of her husband, she is free from the law. Had she remarried while her husband lived, she would have been an adulteress. So it depends not upon what she does, but rather what her husband does.
Now you would have to be a Jew to completely understand the hopelessness of this situation and note that Paul is addressing this to the "Brethren", the Jews and he uses their understanding of their hopeless situation under the Law, to explain to them their freedom under Christ. Referring to his example of the woman, he was trying to get them to see that, under Christ, they were judged by what they did not by what someone else did. Under Christ, they are released from the Law as death released the woman from the Law. Paul says that they, having now died to the Law, now belong to another, they were now "married" to Christ, as the woman was married to her second husband.
Now, what should be the "fruits" of this new relationship?
Therefore, being delivered from the Law should press upon them the need and desire to grow in sanctification.
This philosophy is fundamental in all areas of life and our relationship to others. All work is easier to do when we enjoy and desire to do it. If you can get people to enjoy their work, you have a happy person.
Then in verses 7 thru 12, Paul attempts to get them to put the Law in its proper position as a Jew. Shall we say then that the Law is sin? "By no means." But it did bring the knowledge of sin into their lives. They were once ignorant of sin until the commandments were given, but when the commandments came, sin became evident in their lives and they died. The very commandments that promised life caused death, or at least it seemed that way. Now the commandments themselves were Holy and just but they were impossible to keep thus they brought death.
Was it really the commandments that brought death to the Jew? "No", Paul says.
It was that that was good, showing them how really sinful they were, it was that
which was spiritual showing them how carnal they were. Paul admits that in the
light of the Law, he did not understand himself. He didn't do what he wanted to do
but rather, did what he hated. He comes to conclusion that it is no longer him that
is doing these things but rather the sin that has taken over his life.
Hope in Christ
["Click here for Romans 7:13-25"]
Now thank heavens for the next verses. Verses 13 thru 25 brings hope for Paul and for us who find ourselves in the same condition as Paul describes. Notice the condition (verse 21) "I find it to be a fact that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand." Paul acknowledged the struggle within himself that we talked about in the last paragraph. He was no different than we are, he had a carnal nature. Paul wanted to do only the will of God, BUT, his carnal nature was ever present and (verse 23) there was a constant war going on, evil against good. This evil was making Paul a "captive" to sin.
How can we best explain this? Through Christ, the Holy Spirit had come to dwell in Paul. He now knew right from wrong. He desired to do right but his carnal nature took over and his rebellious members of his body became instruments of sin. This known situation brought Paul to his knees and he cried out, "Oh wretched man that I am, who can deliver me from this body of death?"
Most people would think of Paul as being a Saint, but this was not Paul's opinion of himself. He realized his carnal nature and the indwelling of sin is a very grievous burden to a saved soul.
Notice Paul found comfort in three things in his life:
So what do we do when despair takes over our life because of sin?
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