On this Sunday we will work our way through the end of Romans 7, as we find ourselves in the heart of the “power plant” section of Romans. If you read through chapter 7, you will see “law” and “sin” used over and over again. What is their relationship? It might surprise you! You will also notice that Chapter 7 is a very “personal” chapter — Paul uses “I” and “me” and “my” repeatedly, but Jesus and the Holy Spirit are nowhere to be found. Where are they? Chapter 8! But we have ground to cover and arguments to make before we get there…
Remember, Paul has been saying some tough things about "the law”. He said that we had to die to the law so we could be free! Wait a second, Paul! Does that mean the moral rules to govern spiritual behavior are bad… if it is something I need to die to and be set free from?
In the first section (verses 7-12) Paul shows where the real blame lies. It appears that the law is not the problem, but SIN is the problem! We have to know the right problem so we can have the right solution, right?
The next section is for every Christian that feels like they are failing to be “good Christians”. Is your experience unique? Is there something wrong with you? You are coming to church and learning about God and agreeing with truth and trying really hard to do better — to be a better father, or mother, or worker, or whatever. But you just keep falling back into old patterns and making the same mistakes. Paul’s experience is so familiar and highlights the “double nature” of people! Yes, God’s people. He highlights the internal war of the wills and the failure of more rules to fix it! Once again, the law fails to make things better. Instead, it makes things worse! Paul needs to be rescued from himself!
By the end, Paul is forced to admit failure and cry out for help. He is torn by the inner conflict of wanting to please God and to please self. He is face to face with the monster of sin, and law has failed to tame it. What next? How do we get free from sin? We find out how NOT to get free from sin… and then we follow into chapter 8 another time! This is a spectacular chapter. View and see! Then share with a friend.
Pastor Steve
