Romans 7 - Our Relationship with Sin

 

Our Relationship with Sin

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• Romans 7

Our Relationship with the Law: Verse 1-12

Have you ever had something in your life that you felt slowed you down. Stopped you from reaching a healthy relationship with God. Maybe, it was a relationship with your partner or a friend. Maybe it was a repetitive sin or an idol in your life you need rid of.

In these first 12 verses we can clearly see Paul discussing our relationship with God’s law. He illustrates this by comparing our relationship with the law to a marriage in verse 3 and 4. That if a woman marries a man but the man dies, she won’t commit adultery because she is no long bound to that man. But like the woman was bound to the man we are bound to the law. However, through Christ’s death and resurrection we are no longer bound to the law but alive in Christ. This doesn’t mean that the law is bad, but it is powerless to save us, it is through Christ alone that saves us. That’s what a lot of Jews back then were getting wrong, they believed that by keeping the law they were saved. But in reality, the law shows helps us reveal our sin to us and shows us our need for a saviour. (v7) But we can see how sin uses the law in verse 8, as sin produces more sin. This then leads to the Spiritual death mentioned in previous chapters.

The Wretched Man: Verse 13-25

I always find it incredible when a famous celebrity makes a mistake. Like when a football player gets caught drink driving, a popstar gets caught in a cheating scandal or an online personality promoting gambling to kids. Something like that were you put them in such a high pedestal but then you realise that they are just human full of mistakes.

In these closing 12 verses we see that Paul is just like this. A man who wrote a third of the New Testament and described by many as “the greatest missionary of all time.” But when we look at him in these verses, we can have the same line of thinking that, “he’s only human.” But when we look at ourselves, we can see that we sin just as much as anyone else. So, in these verses we can relate to Paul’s struggle with sin. Just like in verse 15, 19 and 20, we hear Paul say, “The good I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” (v19) We see Paul isn’t just struggling with sin but also obeying and honouring God. Even by the language her uses in these verses like “the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin” (v14) or “in me, nothing good dwells” (v18). It is almost like he is being controlled by sin or is being led by his sinful desires. Is this like you? Is there sin in your life that you feel like you can’t get rid of. Well firstly, it is important to acknowledge your sin as a problem, which we can see through the law of God. (v7) Which is what Paul does when he says, “wretched man that I am” (v24), admitting that he is flawed. Secondly, we should look to Jesus on the cross. We see Paul in verse 24 ask a question everyone should ask themselves, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Then we see him look to God in thankfulness in verse 25, “I thank God – through Christ Jesus our Lord!” He thanks God for what Jesus has done on the cross, saving us from sin. But when we look at it from God’s point of view, God sees a sinner like Paul and sinners like us and yet still chose to die for us. This shows the awesome love of God. So, put your faith in Jesus that He has died for us and put your faith in Him that what He has done was enough.

Dear God, thank you that even though I am a sinner, you still died for me on that cross, bearing that guilt and shame, taking the punishment that was meant for me. Lord, forgive us for when we do stumble and fall and let us not be led by our sinful desires but by your spirit alone. Amen.

Going Deeper Questions

1. How does Paul’s illustration of marriage and the law show our need for a saviour? (v3-4)
2. When we see that sin can lead to more sin in verse 8. How could that make us think of the severity of our sin differently? How can we stop this from continuing?
3. How does knowing that even a man like Paul sins encourage us when we look at our own lives?
4. When you read verses 13 to 25 and see the language Paul uses, how does it show Paul’s attitude to sin? How does that challenge is in our attitude to sin?
5. When we reflect on our own lives and our own sin. How do you feel that in spite of all that, He still chooses to die on the cross you?