ROMANS
CHAPTER 7
OBSERVATION
STAGE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Romans.
This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in
view.
You will notice
that verse 7:1 refers to a point made in chapter six, so we will begin
there and move into chapter 7:
**********************************************************
Immediately
below is an excerpt that reviews this context in chapter 6 or
Skip
to verse 7:1 
******** REVIEW
OF LAST SECTION OF CHAPTER 6 *****
BELIEVERS
ARE MOTIVATED TO OFFER THE PARTS OF THEIR BODIES TO HOLINESS IN VIEW OF
THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE THE GIFT OF GOD OF ETERNAL LIFE AND HAVE BEEN
SET FREE FROM ENSLAVEMENT TO THEIR SIN NATURES WHICH LEADS TO ETERNAL
DEATH
THE
WAGES OF SIN IS LOSS OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, PHYSICAL AND ETERNAL DEATH
BUT SINCE GOD'S GRACE THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE CHRIST JESUS ALONE
COVERS THOSE SINS, THE BELIEVER IS SECURE IN HIS ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE IT
IS A GIFT RECEIVED - FREE WITHOUT STRINGS ATTACHED
1)
[Compare Ro 5:20-21]:
ETERNAL
LIFE IS THE FREE GIFT OF GOD - HENCE IT IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON WHAT THE
BELIEVER DOES OR DOES NOT DO AT ANY TIME
*****END OF
REVIEW OF LAST SECTION OF CHAPTER 6******
I)
[Ro 7:1]:
A)
BELIEVERS BY DEFINITION KNOW THE PRINCIPLES OF LAW. I.E., GODLY RULES
GOVERNING HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO BE JUSTIFIED UNTO ETERNAL LIFE.
SINCE BELIEVERS HAVE DIED WITH CHRIST IN ORDER TO BE JUSTIFIED SINCE
THESE PRINCIPLES ARE EFFECTIVE ONLY ON THE LIVING, THEN BELIEVERS ARE
NOT OBLIGATED UNDER ANY MORAL RULES IN ORDER TO BE JUSTIFIED TO RECEIVE
ETERNAL LIFE - BUT UNTO TEMPORAL DISCIPLINE AND BLESSINGS: YES!
II)
[Ro 7:2-4]:
A)
LAWS GOVERNING HUMAN BEHAVIOR ARE ONLY ENFORCEABLE ON THE LIVING, NOT
THE DEAD: IN THE SAME WAY THAT A WIFE IS NOT GOVERNED BY LAWS OF
MARRIAGE ONCE HER HUSBAND DIES SO AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT GOVERNED BY THE
MOSAIC LAW OR ANY STATUTES OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO SECURE ETERNAL
LIFE ONCE HE HAS BECOME A BELIEVER BECAUSE HE HAS DIED TO THE LAW IN
THAT RESPECT - BUT NOT RELATIVE TO TEMPORAL DISCIPLINE AND BLESSINGS
B)
IT CANNOT BE CONCLUDED THAT A WIFE CANNOT DIVORCE AND REMARRY
C)
ONCE ONE IS A BELIEVER, ONE HAS DIED TO LAW AND IS NOT OBLIGATED TO KEEP
ANY LAWS GOVERNING HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE;
INSTEAD ONE IS UNDER GOD'S GRACE WHICH PROVIDES CONTINUAL AND COMPLETE
FORGIVENESS AND JUSTIFICATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
1)
[Compare Ro 5:20]:
D)
BELIEVERS DIED TO, I.E., WERE RELEASED FROM THE OBLIGATION OF KEEPING
THE RIGHTEOUS STATUTES OF LAW INCLUDING THE MOSAIC LAW BEFORE GOD IN
ORDER TO SECURE ETERNAL LIFE. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
HIMSELF - NOT THE CHURCH
1)
[Compare Ro 3:21-24]:
E)
ONCE ONE BECOMES A BELIEVER, I.E., IS JUSTIFIED UNTO ETERNAL LIFE VIA A
MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE, ONE BELONGS TO JESUS CHRIST WHO
WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD - SECURE FOREVER UNTO ETERNAL LIFE FROM ETERNAL
CONDEMNATION; AND ONE HAS BECOME A SLAVE TO GOD - TO HIS SOVEREIGN RULE
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - ALLOWING FOR TEMPORAL DISCIPLINE AND BLESSINGS
1)
[Compare Ro 1:1-4; 4:24-25; 6:4, 9; 7:4]:
2)
[Compare Ro 6:1-2; 6; 14, 17-22 NIV]:
a)
The Result Of The Believer Being Freed From The Control Of Sin Is To
Become A Slave To God - To The Sovereign Rule Of God's Righteousness In
His Life
b)
Believers Being Set Free From The Control Of The Sin Nature And Becoming
Slaves To God Reaps The Benefit Of Directing Them Toward Righteousness
Which Leads To Holiness
c)
The Result Of The Believer Having Been Set Free From Sin And Enslaved To
The Righteous Rule Of God Is A Benefit To The Believer Which Leads To
Holiness And Which Results In Eternal Life
F)
PAUL INCLUDES HIMSELF WITH EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO EXPRESSES A MOMENT OF
FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE TO BECOME A BELIEVER. HE DECLARES SUCH A ONE
TO BECOME DEAD TO THE LAW RELATIVE TO THE RECEPTION OF ETERNAL LIFE. HE
THEN BEGAN TO BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST FOR THE PURPOSE THAT HE SHOULD WALK
IN NEWNESS OF LIFE AND OFFER THE PARTS OF HIS BODY TO GOD AS INSTRUMENTS
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THUS BEAR FRUIT TO GOD
1)
[Compare Ro 6:4]:
2)
[Compare Ro 6:11, 13]:
III)
[Ro 7:5]:
A)
PAUL INCLUDES HIMSELF WITH EVERY INDIVIDUAL BEFORE EACH BECAME A
BELIEVER. HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF AT THAT TIME AS BEING 'IN THE FLESH',
I.E., CONTROLLED BY THE SINFUL NATURE AND FREE FROM THE CONTROL OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS. HIS SINFUL PASSIONS WHICH WERE AROUSED BY LAW WERE AT
WORK IN HIS BODY. HIS LIFESTYLE WAS ONE THAT "BORE FRUIT FOR DEATH"
WHICH (1) BRINGS ABOUT DAILY SPIRITUAL DEATH /
SEPARATION FROM DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, (2) CONTRIBUTES
TOWARD PHYSICAL DEATH AND (3) ULTIMATELY CAUSES,
IF ONE REMAINS AN UNBELIEVER, ETERNAL DEATH IN THE LAKE OF FIRE
1)
[Compare Ro 5:17, 20-21]:
a)
By God's Design Law Came So That Men Might Be Conscious Of Sin And
Thereby Trespasses Against Law Might Increase Thus Exposing Man's Sin
Nature For What It Is. Hence Sin Has Reigned Producing Physical And
Daily Spiritual Death / Separation From Daily Fellowship With God
Throughout The World. So Much The More Where Sin Abounds, God's Grace Is
Demonstrated As Abounding All The More And Reigning In The Life Of
Individuals Who Express A Moment Of Faith In The Redemption That Came
From Jesus Christ Our Lord Unto Eternal Life
2)
[Compare Ro 6:17, 19-20]:
a)
The Believer's Life Before He Became A Believer Was One Of Slavery To
Sin, Constantly Offering The Parts Of His Body In Slavery To Impurity
And Ever-Increasing Wickedness, Free From The Control Of Righteousness
IV)
[Ro 7:6]:
A)
PAUL OR ANY BELIEVER, HAVING ALREADY SECURED ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH A
MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE BY DEFINITION, HAS DIED, I.E.,
BEEN SEPARATED FROM HAVING TO KEEP LAW TO SECURE ETERNAL LIFE. HE IS TO
SERVE IN NEWNESS OF SPIRIT IMPLYING A NEW SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH GOD
AS OPPOSED TO FOLLOWING THE LETTER OF LAW - RULES GOVERNING HUMAN
BEHAVIOR
1)
[Compare [Ro 6:18-20, 22, 7:4]:
a)
The Result Of The Believer Being Freed From The Control Of Sin - His
Intrinsic Sin Nature - Is To Become A Slave To God - To The Sovereign
Rule Of God's Righteousness In His Life
V)
[Ro 7:7]:
A)
BY GOD'S DESIGN LAW CAME SO THAT EVERY UNBELIEVER MIGHT BE CONSCIOUS OF
SIN, HAVE HIS SINFUL PASSIONS AROUSED SO THAT THE TRESPASS AGAINST LAW
MIGHT INCREASE RESULTING IN BEARING FRUIT FOR DEATH - EXPOSING HIS SIN
NATURE FOR WHAT IT IS. INSPITE OF THIS ONE CANNOT CONCLUDE THAT THE LAW
IS SIN, I.E., THAT IT IS EVIL - ON THE CONTRARY IT REPRESENTS GOD'S
RIGHTEOUSNESS
1)
[Compare Ro 2:13]:
a)
The Law Is A Rule Of Life Which Standard Is God's Righteousness Because
When One Observes It One Is Declared Righteous By God. Hence The Law
Embodies The Righteousness Of God
******** EXCERPT FROM
CHAPTER FIVE **********
OBSERVATIONS
OF VERSE 5:20
1)
BY GOD'S DESIGN LAW CAME SO THAT MEN MIGHT BE CONSCIOUS OF SIN AND
THEREBY TRESPASSES AGAINST LAW MIGHT INCREASE THUS EXPOSING MAN'S SIN
NATURE FOR WHAT IT IS. HENCE SIN HAS REIGNED PRODUCING PHYSICAL AND
DAILY SPIRITUAL DEATH / SEPARATION FROM DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. SO MUCH THE MORE WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GOD'S GRACE
IS DEMONSTRATED AS ABOUNDING ALL THE MORE AND REIGNING IN THE LIFE OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPRESS A MOMENT OF FAITH IN THE REDEMPTION THAT CAME
FROM JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
a)
[Compare Ro 3:19-20]:
b)
[Compare Ro 4:15]:
OBSERVATIONS
OF VERSE 5:21
1)
BY GOD'S DESIGN LAW CAME SO THAT MEN MIGHT BE CONSCIOUS OF SIN AND
THEREBY TRESPASSES AGAINST LAW MIGHT INCREASE THUS EXPOSING MAN'S SIN
NATURE FOR WHAT IT IS. HENCE SIN HAS REIGNED PRODUCING PHYSICAL AND
DAILY SPIRITUAL DEATH / SEPARATION FROM DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. SO MUCH THE MORE WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GOD'S GRACE
IS DEMONSTRATED AS ABOUNDING ALL THE MORE AND REIGNING IN THE LIFE OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPRESS A MOMENT OF FAITH IN THE REDEMPTION THAT CAME
FROM JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
*************
END OF EXCERPT ***************
B)
PAUL DECLARES THAT WHEN HE WAS NOT A BELIEVER, AS AN EXAMPLE OF
ALL UNSAVED INDIVIDUALS AND USING THE COMMANDMENT 'DO NOT COVET' TO
REPRESENT EVERY COMMANDMENT OF THE LAW, HE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT
COVETING REALLY WAS IF THE LAW HAD NOT SAID, 'DO NOT COVET.'
THIS IMPLIES THAT ALL UNBELIEVERS DO SIN, EVEN WHEN LAW HAS NOT
BEEN INSTITUTED. BUT UNBELIEVERS DO NOT RECOGNIZE SIN UNTIL THEY
HAVE BEEN WILLING TO RECEIVE AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE
COMMANDMENTS. HENCE A KEY PURPOSE OF THE LAW IS TO MAKE MEN CONSCIOUS OF
SIN
1)
[Compare Ex 20:1, 17]:
2)
[Compare Ro 3:23]:
3)
[Compare Dt 5:21]:
****** EXCERPTS FROM
CHAPTERS ONE - THREE ******
GOD'S
ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE HAVE BEEN CLEARLY SEEN AND UNDERSTOOD
AND THEREBY MEN KNOW GOD'S RIGHTEOUS DECREE. SO MEN ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.
YET ALL MEN SIN AND DESERVE PREMATURE PHYSICAL AND ETERNAL DEATH
NO
MAN IS ABLE TO KEEP THE RIGHTEOUS STANDARD OF THE LAW. RATHER THROUGH
THE LAW ALL MEN BECOME CONSCIOUS OF SIN AND OF BEING UNDER THE WRATH OF
GOD
****** END
OF EXCERPTS FROM CHAPTERS ONE -THREE ******
VI)
[Ro 7:8]:
A)
PAUL CONTINUES TO DESCRIBE HIS EXPERIENCE WHEN HE WAS NOT A
BELIEVER RELATIVE TO HIS RESPONSE TO THE COMMANDMENT 'DO NOT COVET' AS
AN EXAMPLE OF THE RESPONSE OF ALL UNBELIEVERS TO THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE
LAW: HE BECOMES CONSCIOUS OF SIN, HIS SINFUL PASSIONS ARE
AROUSED, AND HE DELIBERATELY INCREASES SINNING, BEARING FURTHER FRUIT,
(UNGODLY BEHAVIOR), FOR DEATH. SUCH DEATH (1) BRINGS
ABOUT DAILY SPIRITUAL DEATH / SEPARATION FROM DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD,
(2) CONTRIBUTES TOWARD PHYSICAL DEATH AND
(3) ULTIMATELY CAUSES, IF ONE REMAINS AN
UNBELIEVER, ETERNAL DEATH IN THE LAKE OF FIRE
B)
APART FROM LAW THE UNBELIEVER DELIBERATELY MISCONSTRUES OR IS WILLFULLY
IGNORANT OF COMMANDS FOR GODLY BEHAVIOR. HENCE TO HIM SIN IS DEAD IN THE
SENSE OF NOT REGARDING HIS SINFUL ACTIONS AS WRONG BEFORE GOD.
NEVERTHELESS, LAW IS NOT AN ORIGINATOR OF SIN
1)
[Compare Ro 3:21-23]:
2)
[Compare Ro 1:18-20, 32; 3:19-23]:
C)
LAW IS NOT AN ORIGINATOR OF SIN, NOR IS GOD EVIL FOR BEING THE CREATOR
OF THE LAW. THERE WAS CONTINUAL SIN ON THE EARTH FROM ADAM AND EVE TO
MOSES LONG BEFORE LAW WAS INSTITUTED
1)
[Compare Ro 5:13-14]:
VII)
[Ro 7:9]:
A)
PAUL CONTINUES TO DESCRIBE HIS EXPERIENCE BEFORE HE WAS A BELIEVER
RELATIVE TO THE LAW. HE FALSELY PERCEIVED HIMSELF AS ALIVE WHEN HE
DELIBERATELY MISCONSTRUED THE LAW AND HIS RECORD OF OBEDIENCE TO IT. HE
CONVINCED HIMSELF THAT HE WAS BLAMELESS UNDER IT AND HE DENIED THAT HIS
LIFESTYLE CONDEMNED HIM TO DAILY SPIRITUAL DEATH / SEPARATION FROM
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD WHICH ULTIMATELY WOULD LEAD TO ETERNAL DEATH IN THE
LAKE OF FIRE HAD HE NOT BECOME A BELIEVER - HE WAS IN EFFECT WITHOUT LAW
B)
THE PHRASE "WHEN THE COMMANDMENT CAME" DOES NOT REFER TO WHEN
GOD FIRST INSTITUTED THE MOSAIC LAW IN HISTORY, WHICH BEGAN BEFORE PAUL
WAS BORN: BUT TO WHEN PAUL HIMSELF BECAME CONSCIOUS OF THE ACTUAL
CONTENT OF THE LAW
1)
[Compare Ro 2:17-24]:
VIII)
[Ro 7:10]:
A)
BY VIRTUE OF THE PAST TENSE, PAUL CONTINUES TO REFLECT ON HIS PAST
EXPERIENCE BEFORE HE BECAME A BELIEVER RELATIVE TO HIS PRECEPTION OF THE
LAW IN ORDER TO SHOW THAT THIS IS HOW ALL UNBELIEVERS RESPOND VIA THE
SIN NATURE WITHIN TO A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW. SO THE
COMMMANDMENTS OF THE LAW SIGNIFY THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO
GOD FOR RIGHTEOUS LIVING THEREBY BRINGING LIFE WHEN OBEYED IN THE SENSE
OF (1) BEING SPIRITUALLY ALIVE / IN DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, (2)
ENHANCING THE QUALITY AND LENGTH OF ONES PHYSICAL LIFE AND (3) LEADING
ONE TO ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE. BUT
DUE TO A FLAWED NATURE, MANKIND DELIBERATELY MISCONTRUES AND VIOLATES
THE LAW RESULTING IN LIVES (1) BEING
CHARACTERIZED BY PERSONAL DESTRUCTION AND SPIRITUAL DEATH / SEPARATION
FROM DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, (2) BEING LED
TOWARD PHYSICAL DEATH AND (3) BEING ON A PATH
TOWARD ETERNAL DEATH BEFORE GOD, (UNLESS ONE TRUSTED ALONE IN CHRIST
ALONE UNTO A RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD)
IX)
[Ro 7:11]:
A)
WHEN AN UNBELIEVER CHOOSES TO RECOGNIZE THE TRUE MEANING OF THE
COMMANDMENT TO NOT COVET AND BY IMPLICATION ANY COMMANDMENT OF THE LAW,
SIN REVIVES IN HIM IN THE SENSE THAT HE BEGINS TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING
THROUGH THE LAW THAT HIS LIFE IS SINFUL AND DEAD BEFORE GOD
1)
[Compare Ro 7:8a NIV]:
X)
[Ro 7:12]:
A)
SINCE THE LAW COMPRISES COMMANDMENTS FOR GODLY RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR
CAUSING MEN TO BE CONSCIOUS OF SIN AND DEATH THEN THE LAW IS HOLY, SET
APART AS ABSOLUTELY JUST, HAVING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
1)
[Compare Ro 2:13 NIV]:
a)
The Law Is A Rule Of Life Which Standard Is God's Righteousness Because
When One Observes It One Is Declared Righteous By God. Hence The Law
Embodies The Righteousness Of God
XI)
[Ro 7:13]:
A)
THE LAW WHICH WAS JUST DECLARED HOLY, JUST AND GOOD, DID NOT BECOME (=
CAUSE) DEATH IN PAUL (OR ANY INDIVIDUAL). IT IS SIN - THE SIN NATURE -
THAT PRODUCES DEATH. THE LAW CAUSES RECOGNITION OF THAT FACT RESULTING
IN DELIBERATE VIOLATIONS OF IT CAUSING SIN TO BE SHOWN AS EXCEEDINGLY
SINFUL AND CAUSING RECOGNITION OF ONES DEATH BEFORE GOD
XII)
[Ro 7:14]:
A)
THE SINFUL (UNRIGHTEOUS) CHARACTER OF SIN (= THE SIN NATURE IN MAN) IS
MANIFESTED AND EVEN MAGNIFIED THROUGH LAW BECAUSE THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL
HENCE RIGHTEOUS AND MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE FROM MAN'S UNRIGHTEOUS SIN NATURE
1)
[Compare Ro 2:13; 7:12]:
2)
[Compare Ro 3:10]:
B)
STATEMENTS REFERRING TO PAUL'S EXPERIENCE NOW MOVE TO THE PRESENT TENSE
TO PORTRAY HIS PRESENT STATUS AS A BELIEVER BEGINNING WITH THE
DECLARATION "I AM CARNAL, [HAVING BEEN] SOLD UNDER SIN." THIS
IS NOT PORTRAYING PAUL'S UNBELIEVER PAST VIA THE HISTORICAL PRESENT
TENSE AS SOME MAINTAIN. THE CONTEXT HAS PROVIDED NOTHING TO SUPPORT THIS
AND PRECEDENT IN CHAPTER 7 FOR PORTRAYING PAUL AS A BELIEVER IN THE
PRESENT TENSE HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED AND WILL BE FURTHER
CORROBORATED THROUGHOUT LATER VERSES
1)
[Compare Ro 7:12]:
2)
[Compare Ro 7:14a]:
********* EXCERPT
FROM CHAPTER 6 ********
SIN,
I.E, THE SIN NATURE, REMAINS IN THE BELIEVER, IT CAN REIGN IN THE
BELIEVER'S MORTAL BODY AND IS CHARACTERIZED AS HAVING EVIL DESIRES
THERE
IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BELIEVER'S POSITION IN CHRIST JESUS AND HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOW THE BELIEVER CONDUCTS HIMSELF IN HIS MORTAL BODY
IN HIS DAILY EXPERIENCE - WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE RIGHTEOUS
********** END
OF EXCERPT *********
3)
[Compare Ro 7:5]:
4)
[Compare Ro 6:19]:
5)
[Compare Ro 7:22]:
6)
[Compare Ro 7:24-25]:
C)
THE PART OF AN INDIVIDUAL BELIEVER'S MENTALITY WHICH HAS BEEN SOLD UNDER
SIN, I.E., CONTROLLED BY THE SIN NATURE IS IN CONFLICT WITH THAT PART OF
HIS MIND WHICH IS MOTIVATED BY THE SPIRITUAL, GODLY AND RIGHTEOUS AS
EXEMPLIFIED BY THE LAW
1)
[Compare Ro 6:19]:
D)
THE STATEMENT "FOR WE KNOW THAT THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL, BUT I AM
CARNAL, [HAVING BEEN SOLD] UNDER SIN," DOES NOT HAVE AN UNBELIEVER
IN VIEW
XIII)
[Ro 7:15]:
A)
A BELIEVER DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT HE HATES TO DO (SIN) HE DOES
AND WHAT HE WANTS TO DO (RIGHTEOUSNESS) HE DOES NOT DO. THIS POINTS TO A
CONFLICT WITHIN THE MIND OF A BELIEVER BETWEEN HIS FLESHLY MENTALITY -
HIS SIN NATURE - AND HIS SPIRITUAL MENTALITY WHICH IS MOTIVATED BY AN
UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AS SPIRITUAL, GODLY AND RIGHTEOUS. NO
UNBELIEVER HAS SUCH A MINDSET
XIV)
[Ro 7:16]:
A)
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DOES NOT DO THE GOOD THAT HE WANTS TO DO, AGREES THAT
THE LAW IS HOLY, JUST AND GOOD AND AGREES WITH THE LAW'S JUDGMENT OF HIS
BEHAVIOR AS SINFUL HAS THE MINDSET OF A BELIEVER, NOT AN UNBELIEVER
XV)
[Ro 7:17]:
A)
IN A BELIEVER'S MIND THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN SIN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS,
BETWEEN THE SIN NATURE, THE NATURAL SELF AND THAT PART WHICH IS
MOTIVATED TO DO WHAT IS HOLY, RIGHTEOUS AND GOOD AS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE
LAW
XVI)
[Ro 7:18]:
A)
THE BELIEVER STRUGGLES WITHIN HIS OWN MIND BETWEEN HIS "FLESH"
WITHIN WHICH HE SAYS HE KNOWS THAT NO GOOD DWELLS - IT IS SOLD UNDER SIN
- AND THAT PART IN HIS MIND WHICH WILLS TO DO GOOD. SO DESPITE THE FACT
THAT THE DESIRE TO DO GOOD IS ALSO PRESENT WITH HIM - IN HIS MIND,
NEVERTHELESS THE IMPETUS TO CARRY THAT DESIRE OUT AND DO GODLY GOOD IS
NOT PRESENT
XVII)
[Ro 7:19]:
A)
THE BELIEVER KNOWS THAT IN HIS 'FLESH', I.E., A PART OF HIS MENTALITY
PREVIOUSLY DEFINED AS SOLD UNDER SIN AND CONTROLLED BY THE SIN NATURE,
NO GODLY GOOD DWELLS. SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE DESIRE TO DO GOOD IS
ALSO PRESENT WITH HIM - IN HIS MIND, NEVERTHELESS THE IMPETUS TO CARRY
THAT DESIRE OUT AND DO GODLY GOOD IS NOT PRESENT. SO THE GOOD HE WANTS
TO DO, HE DOES NOT DO AND INSTEAD HE PRACTICES THE EVIL HE DOES NOT WANT
TO DO
XVIII)
[Ro 7:20]:
A)
THAT PART OF THE BELIEVER'S MIND WHICH FORMERLY MOTIVATED HIM TO DO
EVIL, NOW AS A BELIEVER DESIRES TO DO GODLY GOOD. NEVERTHELESS THE
BELIEVER CONSTANTLY DOES EVIL AS EVIDENCED IN THE FLESH, I.E., THE
MEMBERS OF HIS MIND AND BODY. THIS IS CAUSED BY ANOTHER PART OF HIS MIND
WHICH IS DEFINED AS SIN, (SINGULAR), I.E., THE SIN NATURE
XIX)
[Ro 7:21-23]:
A)
PAUL CONTINUES TO DRAW FROM HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A BELIEVER. HE
STIPULATES THAT WHEN HE WANTS TO DO GOOD, EVIL IS PRESENT WITH HIM.
HENCE HE FINDS A LAW WITHIN EVERY BELIEVER: WHEN HE WANTS TO DO GOOD HE
SUFFERS FROM A PERSISTENT PRESENCE OF EVIL RESULTING IN THE PRACTICE OF
SIN IN THE MEMBERS OF HIS MIND AND BODY
B)
PAUL PRESENTS FURTHER DETAILS OF THE CONFLICT WITHIN THE BELIEVER'S
MENTALITY WHICH REFLECT HIS FINDING OUT ABOUT A LAW IN WHICH EVIL IS
PRESENT WHEN THE BELIEVER WANTS TO DO GOOD. ON ONE SIDE OF THE CONFLICT
IS THE "INWARD MAN" WHICH IS PART OF THE BELIEVER'S MENTALITY
WHICH DELIGHTS IN THE LAW OF GOD - IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH MOTIVATES
THE BELIEVER TO DESIRE TO DO GOOD
C)
THERE IS ANOTHER LAW IN THE BELIEVER WHICH IS A PATTERN OF BEING
MOTIVATED TOWARD SINFUL BEHAVIOR. THIS LAW WARS AGAINST THE LAW OF THE
BELIEVER'S MIND WHICH IS A PATTERN OF WANTING TO DO GOOD. THIS WARRING
LAW BRINGS THE BELIEVER INTO CAPTIVITY TO THE LAW OF SIN WHICH IS A
PATTERN OF SINFUL BEHAVIOR EVIDENCED BY THE BELIEVER'S MEMBERS
1)
[Compare Ro 7:21]:
XX)
[Ro 7:24-25]:
A)
THE PRESENT TENSE PHRASE "O WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM" AND THE
FUTURE TENSE PHRASE "WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH"
CORROBORATES PAUL'S EXPERIENCES AS A BELIEVER FROM VERSE 7:14 ON.
FURTHERMORE, ONLY A BELIEVER CAN TRULY STATE WHAT PAUL SAYS IN VERSE
7:25: THAT HE SERVES THE LAW OF GOD WITH HIS MIND, YET AT THE SAME TIME
SERVES THE LAW OF SIN WITH THE FLESH
B)
PAUL AS AN EXAMPLE-BELIEVER DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS A WRETCHED MAN
REQUESTING TO BE DELIVERED FROM HIS BODY OF DEATH. THIS PORTRAYS BEING
DELIVERED FROM AN UNGODLY MIND AND PHYSICAL BODY CONTAMINATED BY SIN,
ESTRANGED FROM GOD, DESTINED TO DIE AND BE DESTROYED UNTO THE RECEPTION
OF A GODLY, PERFECT AND SINLESS MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT IN FELLOWSHIP WITH
GOD
C)
PAUL ANSWERS HIS OWN QUESTION, "WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY
OF DEATH?" BEGINNING WITH "I THANK GOD" IMPLYING THAT IT
IS GOD WHO HAS PROVIDED HIM WITH DELIVERANCE UNTO A BODY THAT IS ETERNAL
AND RIGHTEOUS WHICH PAUL DECLARES COMES "THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR
LORD" IN WHOM HE HAD TRUSTED UNTO A RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD
1)
[Compare Ro 3:21-24]:
D)
PAUL REITERATES A MAIN THEME OF CHAPTER 7: THE CONFLICT WITHIN EVERY
BELIEVER BETWEEN THE MINDSET WHICH SERVES THE LAW OF GOD - WANTING TO DO
GODLY GOOD - AND THE FLESH - THE MINDSET WHICH DIRECTS THE BODY TO SERVE
THE LAW OF SIN, THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF THE
BELIEVER CONSTANTLY PRACTICE SIN
1)
[Compare Ro 7:5]:
2)
[Compare Ro 6:19]:
Continue
to Romans chapter 8
