Reading Through Romans (Pt. 4)
Romans 7
Intro
Today, we are going to plunge back into our Reading Through Romans Sermon Series.
We left off finishing Romans chapter 6 and marking out the “newness of life” offered by, in, and through Jesus Christ.
A quick review;
- Romans chapters 1-3 lock all people under sin.
- Romans chapters 3-4 make it clear that all the world is guilty of sin but opportunity to be justified has been made available to all through faith in Jesus Christ.
- Romans chapter 5 explains the results of such justification. – Introduction to God’s grace- “suffer well” – Saved & reconciled = the gift of eternal life.
- Romans 6 explains “eternal life” or what we can call “newness of life”. Our move from bondage to freedom.
John 8:36 – If the Son sets you free; you will be free indeed.
Free what what?
Who was Jesus speaking to? What were they in bondage to?
Larger context – John 8:31 – 47
Set free from sin, yes. A major part of the story and what ends up leading to much of the confusion in the early churches, as we see in the epistles, is that the Jews were set free from the law which magnified sin and led to death. Under Law, they were “dead men walking” and producing death with their influence of others. Now in Christ, they, and thus we, are set free from law, sin, and death and all of the effects, or what Biblical would be called “curses”..
Law & Gospel
About 4 years ago, I attended the Southeast Founders Conference in Cape Coral, Florida. The theme of the conference was a look at the Law & Gospel. Pastor Tom Ascol, the host of the conference and the president of Founder’s, a Southern Baptist reformation ministry, said, “A proper understanding of the Law and the Gospel is vital for healthy Christianity and healthy churches”. I couldn’t agree more.
We must gain a “proper understanding” of how the Law and the Gospel interact with one another.
I have some books from that conference that I plan to review before we are done with our Reading Through Romans Sermon Series. I’ll share thoughts as they apply in the series, however I encourage each of you to keep an eye on our weekly updates, or in the very least my personal blog – mianogonewild.wordpress.com
More recently, Gary DeMar mentioned some things on his podcast regarding the Law;
“If it is your position that we no longer appeal to the Bible, including the Old Testament in some of these things, I’m not calling you a heretic, I just think you’re wrong”. In speaking about some Full Preterists, he goes on to say, “The issues for them is the Law, God’s Law”. “I am not going to apologise for my views of their Law”…..”Old Testament Law doesn’t apply anymore….OK, so now what?, so now what?”
The Continuing Debate Over God’s Law – click here
Oh, they contributed to the debate alright. Confusion.
Variety of ways in applying the Law.
- In the future, The Law will be re-instituted among the Jews.
- Personal interpretation; traditions of men
- “Theonomy: An Informed Response”
- Spiritually-discerned; based on the Law of Christ
This is a big issue and needs to be righty understood and applied.
Even our text, beginning in Romans 7:1 speaks to “those who know the Law”.
A Biblical Study
Review of Apostolic Doctrine as per the Apostle Paul’s writing.
Word study on “Law” in texts we have chronologically covered (& some we have yet to get to in Romans).
What was Galatians about…?
Galatian Gospel Desertion
Judizers – Legalists – self-righteous
Galatians 2:16, 19, 21
Galatians 3:2, 5, 10-13, 17 – 19, 21-24
Galatians 4:4-5, 21,
Galatians 5:18
Galatians 6:2, 13
What was the 1st letter to the Corinthians about…?
Corinthian Heresy
1 Corinthians 9:8-11, 20-21
1 Corinthians 14:21, 34
1 Corinthians 15:56
What is the contrasts being made starting in 2 Corinthians chapter 3 and carrying into chapter 5?
2 Corinthians 3:6-10
Consider that as we have been “Reading Through Romans”, we note a focus and argumentation against Jewish ideas – hearers of Law, bearing the name “Jew”, those who boast in the Law, the value of circumcision, what advantage has the Jew, no flesh justified by Law, establishing the Law, benefit of Abraham as forefather, transgression increasing through Law, continuing in sin, those who know the Law…
Problems in the Roman Church
Sin – Law – Death – Salvation
Romans 2:12-29
Romans 3:19 -24, 27-28, 31
Romans 4:14-16
Romans 5:13, 20,
Romans 6:14 – 18
Romans 7:1 -14, 16, 22-25
————————> where we currently are in the Reading Through Romans Series
Romans 8:1-7
Romans 9:4, 31,
Romans 10:4-5
Romans 13:8,10
Conclusion
Thanks be to Jesus Christ that we have been set free from the Law by His sacrificial giving of His body, so that we could be brought into a new body/identity. His shed blood provided for us a new covenant, a better covenant, a covenant that can provide true salvation to us and reconciliation with God.
Reading Through Romans – Methods to learn & discern
- Read contextually – 1st chapter to where you are now
- Fellowship, sure.
- Summarize
- Writing a letter back
- Apply
MIANO-GONE-WILD 