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Understanding Romans chapter 7

I have found as both a teacher and a student of the Word, that Romans chapter 7 presents some of the most difficult issues where interpretation of the scriptures are concerned. We are warned from scripture not to ascribe any "private interpretation" to the scriptures in order to make our own (what I would call) pet doctrines. Many popular teachers have taken the stance that Romans chapter 7 reflects Paul speaking in the present tense. In doing so, many are deceived into believing that Christians are enslaved to sin with no hope of living a holy life in this present world. I'm going to go through some of the problematic passages so that you'll understand where I'm coming from. Perhaps you've never taken the time to look at this passage in-depth, so what better time than the present to do so? Let's jump right in and take a look......

The book of Romans is very interesting in that the chapter divisions have consistant grouping of themes. Chapter 7 must be read in light of chapters 6 and 8. Much the same way that Romans 9,10, and 11 deal with historical, present-day, and future Israel. When we balance chapter 7 with what Paul says in chapters 6 and 8 then we realize that Paul must of necessity be speaking of his pre-conversion status. Chapter 7 deals primarily with the fact that the law was (and still is) insufficient to help us live a holy and victorious life by itself.*** Pay special attention to the number of times Paul uses the phrase "the law" in this chapter-this should be a great clue to the reader of scripture.***If you are familiar with the great theme of Romans (Justification by Faith), then you will know the great lengths to which Paul has discussed that salvation is not earned by keeping of the law. It would be very inconsistent then to teach in chapter 7 that the Christian is somehow in a struggle to keep the law. The law definitely serves it's purpose by showing us our exceedingly sinful condition without the grace of God. But the law didn't make us perfect, only the bringing in of a better hope did-which Jesus accomplished for us. The law is our "schoolmaster" to bring us to Christ-Paul told Timothy that "the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient..."(I Timothy 1:9). Any effort to please God "in the flesh" (or by keeping the law) will ultimately fail. We must have the Holy Spirit in order to please God. It is with that in mind that we must interpret these "difficult" passages. Let's take a look at some and examine them closely.

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Now many "scholars" have taken that verse to mean that Paul was a carnal Christian. Nothing could be further from the truth. Notice what Paul says in chapter 8.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Paul very clearly teaches that those who live a carnal life are spiritually dead. He absolutely would not be contradicting himself by saying that he is now a carnally minded individual. Not to mention the fact that God states that His word was written by "holy men of old." God would not use a carnal unholy vessel to pen the words of this book-plain and simple. Now let's continue....

Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

Those who like to preach the carnal-Christian message will point to this verse and try to portray Paul as a man who has no self-control but is completely at the mercy of his fleshly desires. Again, nothing could be further from the truth. Let's look at Paul's own words in other places (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of course).

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Romans 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin

Here we see Paul had just told them that as Christians we are dead to sin. We are not to continue a lifestyle of sin. Let's look at another oft-abused passage in chapter 7.

Romans 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do

Now if we were just to snip this passage out by itself (as many hyper-grace teachers do) and try to make it stand alone-it sure looks as if this person described above is a wretched-carnal Christian. The confusion arises because the writer (Paul) is writing in the first-person. But again, this can't be talking in the present tense because we know that Paul was not dominated by his flesh. Remember we just read earlier that those who live after the flesh are in danger of spiritual death. Again, let's look at Paul's words in other chapters of the same book.

Romans6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Now of course I've highlighted certain words for emphasis but let's look at it. Paul emphatically states that as a Christian sin does not rule (or have dominion) over us. He also points to the fact that grace is not a license to sin as some teach and affirm. It's also important to notice the imagery of slavery that Paul uses here. We (as born-again Christians) are not slaves or servants to sin. We are now servants to righteousness. Even Jesus said "whom the Son shall set free is free indeed." This totally contradicts the theory that Paul was making excuses for sin in the life of the believer. This is what God says (through Paul) about sin .

Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul would not tell us in one breath that we are free from sin and it's bondage and that sin's wages are death-and then in the next breath claim to be a slave or servant to sin-that just doesn't make good common sense-let alone theological sense. That's why it's so important to "rightly divide" the Word of Truth as Paul told young Timothy. It's easy to distort the meaning of any given passage when we don't consider the context in which it's written.

Let's look at one more oft-misunderstood passage from this chapter.

Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Again we must look at Paul's words in other places in this book to make sense of it all. Paul is no longer a wretched man because he now has the Spirit of God to enable him to live in victory.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh

In conclusion, it is very important that we understand the context of chapter 7 of Romans. Because of time and space, I feel as though I really haven't done justice to the passage, but I felt that it was important to post this because of all the misinformation out there. What I'm not trying to say is that we as Christians will never struggle with our flesh. The scriptures do teach that there is a war going on between the spirit and the flesh.The apostle Paul said "I die daily" and they that are Christ's indeed wake up each day with the task of crucifying our flesh. We must present our bodies as a living sacrifice and I personally must continually go to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need! But the bottom line is this-God gave us the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Lord Jesus so that we could live a life that is not enslaved by sin. Any teacher, preacher, or author who tries to teach otherwise, does so against the volume of scripture-not to mention at his own peril. I'll leave you with an emphatic passage written by the Apostle Paul to the Romans.

Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God

God bless you as you study His word!