Romans Part 23

Paul begins chapter 7 by addressing "those who know the law," referring primarily to the Jewish believers. Building on what he taught in Romans 6, he reminds them that believers are called to die with Christ through baptism. This death is not a rejection of God's law, but a death to the penalty of sin through Christ's sacrifice. Having died with Christ, believers are now called to live for God as slaves of righteousness, walking in obedience rather than pretending the law no longer exists or applies to them. 

To illustrate this truth, Paul uses the example of marriage. Just as the death of a spouse ends the marriage covenant and allows the surviving spouse to marry again, believers die to their old relationship with sin so that they may enter a new covenant relationship with Christ. Romans 6:3 explains that the "old self" dies in baptism, leaving us free to belong to Christ. In a similar way, Christ's physical death brought an end to His covenant relationship with physical Israel, opening the way for His relationship with spiritual Israel. The purpose of this new relationship is that "we should bear fruit to God" (Romans 7:4). Sin never produces lasting fruit, but a life of righteousness does, echoing Paul's teaching in Romans 6:21–22.

Paul then explains that while people were living "in the flesh," sinful passions were at work, producing death. When he speaks of living in the flesh, he is not referring simply to our physical bodies but to a mindset and way of life governed by the carnal nature rather than by God's Spirit. The law itself does not create sin. It simply reveals what sin is. The problem lies in the sinful nature that rebels against God's commands. 

Likewise, when Paul says believers have been "released from the law," in verse 6, he is speaking of being released from the law's penalty of death, just as in the marriage illustration. Through Christ's sacrifice, the sentence of death is removed. This does not mean God's law has been abolished. Rather, believers now serve God "in the newness of the Spirit" instead of merely in the letter. The Jews had largely experienced only the letter of the law, but the New Covenant adds the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Even so, serving God in the Spirit does not replace outward obedience. It fulfills and deepens it. Interestingly, the word translated "serve" is the same word Paul has used for being slaves of righteousness, emphasizing that God's people now willingly serve Him through obedient hearts. 

Knowing his words could be misunderstood, in verse 7 Paul asks,

"Is the law sin?"

His answer is immediate and emphatic:

"Certainly not!"

The law does not create sin. Instead, it defines righteous behavior and exposes sin for what it is. Paul uses covetousness as an example. Without God's commandment, he would not have recognized coveting as sin. Like James describes in James 1:22–25, God's law functions as a mirror, showing us what we are truly like. The obvious conclusion is that Christians are not suddenly free to covet simply because they are under grace. Yet many attempt to apply that same faulty reasoning to other commandments, such as the Sabbath. Rather than filtering Scripture through tradition or prior assumptions, we must allow God's Word itself to teach us what righteousness looks like.

Paul continues by saying that "apart from the law sin was dead" (Romans 7:8). He is not suggesting that people are better off without knowing God's law. Rather, ignorance simply allows people to live comfortably in sin because they do not recognize it. A person may covet, lie, ignore God's Sabbath, or neglect assembling with God's people without much internal struggle simply because he has never learned God's standard. Ignorance does not remove guilt. It merely prevents a person from recognizing it. Once God's law is understood, however, sin is exposed for what it truly is. The law reveals that our choices involve life and death. Paul describes this by saying that he was once "alive once without the law" (Romans 7:9), thinking everything was fine until God's commandment exposed his true condition. Sin then became exceedingly sinful, and he recognized his need for God's grace.

This understanding brings every person to the same crossroads. We all must die. Either we die for our own sins, receiving the penalty we have earned, or we die with Christ through repentance and baptism, accepting the undeserved grace made possible through His sacrifice. Those who share in Christ's death are then called to live differently, walking in righteousness rather than returning to the sins from which they have been delivered. 

In verse 12, Paul removes any doubt about God's view of the law:

"Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good."

God's law is holy because it reflects His own holy character. It reveals His righteousness, justice, love, and goodness. Grace does not diminish the value of the law. Instead, grace motivates us to become more like the God who has shown us such mercy. As Psalm 19:7–9 declares,

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul," and "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

Far from opposing grace, God's law continues to reveal His character and guide His people in the way of righteousness.

Epistles of Paul is a course taught at ABC by Mr. Steve Myers. Recordings from the 2023–2024 class year are available on the ABC website.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.