THE INWARD BATTLE OF ROMANS SEVEN The Theme of the Chapter The theme of this chapter, as well as that of the sixth chapter, is life IN Christ, not out of Christ. Ponder the statements that have been made-- statements that form the inspired context of the seventh chapter. References to the Past In the sixth and seventh chapters of Romans there are references to our past, but not in an extended way. They are always within the context of new life in Christ, and, for that reason, are always brief. A few comparisons are made to accent the glorious benefits that are realized in Christ Jesus. Here are some examples. ONLY PRESENT TENSE WORDS Previous to this passage, there were occasional references to the past: "were baptized. . . were baptized. . . have been planted . . . were the servants of sin . . . have obeyed from the heart . . . ye have yielded . . . were the servants of sin . . . were free from righteousness . . . were in the flesh . . . motions of sin did work. . . I was alive once without the law . . . sin revived and I died . . . I found to be unto death . . . sin deceived me and slew me." -- Tomorrow:
* We are "dead to sin" (6:2).
* We were baptized into Christ's death (6:3).
* We also should walk in newness of life (6:4).
* We have been planted together in the likeness of Jesus' death (6:5).
* Our "old man" is crucified with Christ (6:6a).
* Henceforth we should not serve sin (6:6b).
* He that is dead is freed from sin (6:6).
* We are to reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin (6:11a).
* We are to reckon ourselves as alive unto God through Jesus Christ (6:11b).
* We are not to allow sin to reign in our mortal bodies (6:12).
* We are not to yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness (6:13a).
* We are to yield ourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead (6:13b).
* We are to yield our members as instruments of righteousness unto God (6:13c).
* Sin will not have dominion over us because we are not under law, but under grace (6:14).
* Salvation makes no provision for continuance in sin (6:15).
* We obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine delivered to us (6:17).
* Made free from sin, we have become servants of righteousness (6:18).
* Now we are to yield our members as servants of righteousness (6:19).
* We are free from sin and are servants to God (6:22).
* We have become dead to the Law through the body of Christ (7:4a).
* Our death to the Law in order that we might be married to Christ (7:4b).
* We have been delivered from the Law, becoming dead to it (7:6a).
* Our lives are now lived in service to God in the newness of spirit, not in the oldness of letter (7:6b).
It should be apparent that the perspective being presented is that of one IN Christ, not one outside of Christ. As elementary as that may seem, some continue to argue that Romans 7:15-25 has nothing whatsoever to do with life in Christ. In my judgment, this requires an element of dishonesty, as well as a fundamental ignorance of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. The foundation of our acceptance in Christ is proclaimed in chapters four and five. The extended commentary on our past is found 1:20-3:20. Chapters six through eight deal with life in the Son. To insert a lengthy view of the time when we were dead in trespasses and sins into this context, conflicts with the whole thrust of the passage.
* We were the servants of sin (6:17).
* We did yield our members as servants to iniquity and uncleanness (6:19).
* When we were the servants of sin, we were free from righteousness (6:20).
* We bore no fruit in our past, and are now ashamed of it (6:21).
* When we were in the flesh, the motions, or passions, of sin, were aroused by the Law (7:5a).
* In the flesh, our passions worked in us to bring forth fruit unto death (7:5b).
* Under the law, sin awakened, and we died, losing any sense of acceptance before God (7:8-9).
* The commandment of God produced death in us, not life (7:10).
* Sin worked through the commandment of God to deceive and slay us (7:11).
* Sin worked death in us through the good commandment of God, showing sin to be exceedingly sinful (7:13).
All of these references are clearly in the past, with not one syllable being stated in the present tense.
None of these statements are the central theme. They are all mentioned within the greater context of salvation, and what the believer experiences in Christ Jesus. The remainder of this chapter is a continuation of the Spirit's exposition of our experience in Christ.
How dramatically the passage before us differs. There is NO reference to the past. It is all in the present, and speaks of a present experience. "I do . . . allow not . . . I would . . . do I not . . . what I hate . . .that do I . . . I do that . . . I would not . . . I consent . . . it is good . . . It is no more . . . sin that dwelleth . . . I know . . . dwelleth no good thing . . . to will is present . . . that which is good . . . I find not . . . I would . . . I do not . . . which I would not . . . that I do . . . I would . . . I do not . . . I would not . . . when I would . . . do good . . . evil is present . . . I delight . . . I see . . . . . . in my members . . . warring against . . . bringing me . . . which is in. . man that I am."
There is no a single reference to the past. It takes an extraordinary amount of imagination to view this passage as a commentary on life when we were dead in sin. Such an approach would clash with the entirety of the passage.
Having made these observations, the meaning and weight of the passage will be very apparent to you. Here is an experience common to all believers, yet little understood by great segments of them. You will find yourself entering into this text as it shines Divine light upon your life. The nature of life in Christ will be clarified, and you will find great delight and revelation in that clarification.
PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You through Jesus Christ for shining Divine light upon out experience in Christ Jesus.