Romans 7 "Jesus Does for Us What We Could Never Do By Ourselves! Thanks Be to God!"

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Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

Paul uses an analogy from marriage to show that when we are released from the Law, we are free to be bound by someone else. When a person's husband or wife dies, they are free to marry someone else. In the same way when we come to Christ, we are set free to give ourselves to him. We are not free from the law to lead a lawless life. We are free to follow Christ and bear the fruit that we were intended to bear as his followers. We are bound to Christ, and the power and his resurrection. What is interesting is not only do we not measure up to the Law, but it also triggers our sinful nature. Meaning because we know something is wrong makes us want to do it. 

Another example, "A waterfront hotel in Florida was concerned that people might try to fish from the balconies so they put up signs saying, “NO FISHING FROM THE BALCONY.” They had constant problems with people fishing from the balconies, with lines and sinker weights breaking windows and bothering people in rooms below. They finally solved the problem by simply taking down the signs – and no one thought to fish from the balconies. Because of our fallen nature, the law can actually work like an invitation to sin."

The Law and Sin

Paul makes it clear the Law (as summarized by the Ten Commandments) is not the problem. The Law is good and holy. Of course it is, because it was given by God to Moses in the wilderness. But Paul says this about the Law, 

"I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death." 

God gave the Law to the Israelites to set them apart from other nations, but they soon adopted the sinful practices of the other nations, including idolatry. It shouldn't be a surprise because in the Garden, God told Adam and Eve, "You can eat of any tree in the garden, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For when you eat of it, you will surely die!" You know what happened there. 

You see the problem is not that we don't want to obey the Law. Most people know the difference between right and wrong. The problem is doing it. But, in fact, the opposite is true. I know the good I want to do, but I do the very opposite. Paul says, "If I don't want to do what I want to do, it is sin working in me." This is the spiritual battle we face the world, the devil, and our own sinful nature. 

The apostle Paul, who we consider somewhat of a spiritual giant, explains at the end of his discourse, "What a wretched man I am. Who can save me from this body of death!" Sometimes we need to see our utter powerlessness to realize there is a better way. When you hit your bottom the only way to go is up!

The entire tone of the statement shows that Paul is desperate for deliverance. He is overwhelmed with a sense of his own powerlessness and sinfulness. We must come to the same place of desperation to find victory. - Guzik

Fortunately for Paul and for us, he ends with some good news!

Finally, Paul looks outside of himself and unto Jesus. As soon as he looks to Jesus, he has something to thank God for – and he thanks God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Have you reached the end of line trying to obey the Law by sheer effort? If you are, you have probably realized you can't do it no matter how hard you try. In order to get the help we need we must turn to the grace God has given us through Jesus Christ. We need to admit with Paul, "I am powerless over sin. What a wretched man/woman I am!"

When we come to this realization we like Paul need to look outside of ourselves. Through the Good News we learn that we can turn to Christ and be set free. Jesus can do for us what we could never do by ourselves. As we trust in God, we are set free to live the life we've always wanted! Thanks be to God!