And it is called Romans for a very simple reason, which is that it's written to the churches in the city of Rome.
And this letter is about the gospel.
It's about the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection.
Last week we ended chapter 6.
You'll remember chapter 6 was asking this one big question, which is,
hey, in light of God's grace, do we actually need to obey?
Do we need to live lives of holiness or can we just do whatever we want?
And Paul gave us three main reasons, told us, no, actually, belonging to Christ, you continue to walk in his ways.
This morning we're continuing chapter 7.
Chapter 7 is related but different.
Chapter 7 focuses on the law of God.
Meaning, when we talk about the law, we're talking about God's commands to mankind.
And so we can think about the law in a couple ways.
In the Old Testament, the law is summarized in the Ten Commandments.
So it's more than the Ten Commandments, but that's the main summary.
That's the high points of the law.
In the New Testament, in Matthew chapter 22, Jesus summarizes the law and he says it's really two things.
Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
So that's the law.
The Old Testament summarized in the Ten Commandments.
In the New Testament, summarizes loving God and loving neighbor.
So this is, again, the follow-on to chapter 6.
If we are supposed to obey, if we're supposed to do what God says,
which is what chapter 6 says,
how do we think about God's law?
What is our relationship to God's law?
Even more than that, how do we obey God's law?
Where, in fact, do we get the power?
Those are the questions of chapter 7, which is where we turn now.
I'm going to invite you to turn with me to Romans chapter 7, starting at verse 1.
You can turn to page 7 of your worship guide.
Wherever you turn, remember that this is God's word.
In Proverbs chapter 30, verse 5, tells us,
every word of God proves true.
He's a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Which is why we read now Romans chapter 7, starting at verse 1.
Or do you not know, brothers?
For I am speaking to those who know the law,
that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives.
For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives.
But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.
Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man
while her husband is alive.
But if her husband dies, she is free from that law.
And if she marries another man, she is not an adulteress.
Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ,
so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead.
In order that we may bear fruit for God.
For while we were living in the flesh,
our sinful passions, aroused by the law,
were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
But now we are released from the law,
having died to that which held us captive,
so that we serve in the new way of the spirit
and not in the old way of the written.
code.
I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word.
Our Father in heaven,
we thank you and we praise you again this morning
for sustaining us in our lives,
for bringing us here to worship you together.
Father, we thank you for your word that brings us life and truth.
We ask that you be at work by your Holy Spirit this morning,
bringing your word to us.
We ask that you would clear our minds,
you'd soften our hearts,
you'd open our ears and our eyes,
that we'd be able to see and hear and believe
and understand everything that's written in your word.
And we ask most of all that you would show us Jesus.
We'd grow in our love and our affection and our obedience to him.
We ask these things in his mighty name.
Amen.
Many of you know,
and I've said before,
that I am an East Coast boy.
I grew up right outside Washington, D.C.
and you can take the boy out of the East Coast,
but you can't take the East Coast out of the boy.
And sometimes people ask me,
you know,
what is different from the East Coast in Colorado?
And there's a lot of different answers I could give you.
My favorite one comes from someone who told me this.
People go to the East Coast to work
and they come to Colorado to play.
Now, there's a lot of different things you can do to play in Colorado.
One of them would be climbing 14ers,
which actually is a type of work.
So we're going to come around full circle.
And if you ask someone,
why is it that you climb 14ers?
You might hear a variety of answers.
I'm going to tell you one answer, though.
You will, at least you should, never hear.
If you ask someone,
why do you climb those tall mountains?
They should never say to you,
because it's so easy.
I tell you that because I have told you before
and I will tell you again this morning,
I have both bad news for you and good news.
The bad news is that Romans is really hard.
The good news is that Romans is really great and worth it.
I've told you many times this quote from Andrew Nassili.
Paul's letter to the Romans is arguably
the single most important piece of literature
in the history of the world.
And I'm reminding you of that again this morning
because we are coming to chapter 7,
which is especially intricate.
So if we're climbing up a 14er here,
this is a steep part of the trail.
So we're going to plot a little bit this morning.
We're going to build bit by bit,
layer by layer, step by step.
So let's jump in.
First, to understand chapter 7 of the book of Romans,
we must remember the categories
that Paul gave us in chapter 6.
In chapter 6, Paul told us
all people in the world fall into two buckets.
You are either under law or under grace.
And being under law and under grace
capture the two and only two ways
that you can make it to heaven.
If you are under law,
you make it to heaven by perfectly
obeying all of God's laws
and never sinning.
That's what it means to be under law.
So when you look at the Ten Commandments,
you perfectly keep them.
When it comes to loving God and loving neighbor,
you have always done that perfectly.
If you're under law,
you must do those perfectly.
And if you do, you can make it to heaven.
Problem is that's not a real option.
It's hypothetical.
And it's not real
because Paul's already told us in chapter 3,
they all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God.
We saw it in our confession of faith this morning
that Andy read for us.
No mere man, since the fall,
is able in this life
perfectly to keep the commandments of God,
but does daily break them
in thought, word, and deed.
So under the law is an option.
That's a way to get to heaven,
but it's not going to work for you.
Under Christ, under grace,
that's the other option.
If you're under grace,
you trust in Jesus Christ
that he died the death that you deserved,
lived the perfect life you didn't.
So those are the two categories of humanity
from Romans chapter 6
that you must keep in mind
to make sense of seven.
You can be justified by your obedience,
or you can be justified by Jesus' obedience.
Those are the options.
Okay?
That was six.
Now, moving on to seven.
In seven, Paul says,
let's take those two ways of getting to heaven
and let's imagine
that they are two different marriages.
Okay?
Let's take those two ways of getting to heaven.
Imagine that there are two marriages.
If you are under the law,
you are married to the law.
If you are under grace,
you are married to Jesus Christ.
Two marriages,
under the law,
married to the law,
under grace,
married to Jesus Christ.
Here's the catch, though.
You can only be married
to one person at a time.
I know that's a shock.
You have to be able to switch
from one marriage
to the other marriage.
How do you do that?
That is simply what Paul is getting at
in verses 1 through 3.
He's saying this.
Marriages are binding
as long as both people live.
Of course, you know this.
What do you say when you take marriage vows?
As long as we both shall live.
So how are you going to get out
of this bad situation
of being under the law,
married to the law?
Well, if you're going to get out
of that marriage,
someone has to die.
Unless someone dies,
the marriage can't end.
That takes us to verse 4.
Surprise!
That happened.
You did die to the law.
Verse 4.
Likewise, my brothers,
you also have died to the law.
How did this happen?
Through the body of Christ.
So your marriage to the law ended
through the body of Christ,
which is a reference
to Jesus' death and resurrection.
When Christ died,
you died to the law
if you have faith in him.
You died to your performance
determining whether or not
you enter heaven.
Dying to the law
means that you died
to your moral performance
determining whether or not
you enter heaven.
So once again,
Paul is circling back
to this concept
we talked about multiple times
in chapter 6,
which is union with Christ.
That is,
what is true of Jesus
is true of you.
So you died to the law.
You're not in that marriage anymore.
You're in a new marriage, actually.
That's what verse 4 also tells us.
The result,
this is verse 4,
so that you may belong
to another,
to him who has been raised
from the dead.
You switched marriages.
You're not married
to the law anymore.
You're married to Christ.
When Christ died,
you entered a new marriage
if you belong to him.
Christ's death
frees you
from an abusive spouse
and brings you
to a loving spouse.
That begins to answer
the next question.
We have two marriages.
what were these marriages like?
Marriage to the law,
being under the law,
is terrible.
And being married to the law
and under the law
is terrible
because it is
an abusive marriage.
It's abusive
for these reasons.
All the law can do
is accuse
and condemn.
So the law is looking in on you.
Imagine the Ten Commandments
are talking to you
and what are the Ten Commandments
saying?
They're saying this,
obey me or die.
That's what the law is saying.
That's what your spouse
is saying to you
if you're married
to the law.
That's the control,
the rule
that it has over you.
Is that the kind of spouse
that you want?
Do you want an accusing,
a condemning spouse,
one that says,
obey me or die?
Of course not, right?
That's why verse 6
uses this strong language,
that which held us captive.
That's the sense
in which the law
is holding you captive.
So it's abusive
and terrible
in this sense.
It's also abusive
and terrible
in two other senses.
The second one is this,
the law is a command
to obey.
It does not give
the ability
to obey.
The law gives
the command
to obey.
It does not give
the ability
to obey.
Think about it this way.
The law is looking
in on you.
Imagine now
it's love God
and love neighbor.
So we talked about
the Ten Commandments
says keep me or die.
Let's say the law
comes to you
and says
love your neighbor
as yourself.
Do you do that?
Do you love
your neighbor
as much
as you love
yourself?
I certainly don't.
And I actually
can't.
I actually can't
do that
in and of myself.
I can't change
my own heart.
I'm not powerful
enough to do that.
The law also
will not change
my heart.
This is why
we've sung before
if you've been with us
the song Run and Run
which says this.
Run and Run
the law demands
but gives me
neither feet
nor hands.
Which is a way
of saying
the law can command
me to obey
it can't give me
the ability
to obey.
We'll talk about that
more in coming weeks.
If you thought
that was bad
actually it's going
to get worse.
So those are the
first two reasons
the law is abusive.
The law accuses
and condemns
number one.
Number two
the law commands
you to obey.
It doesn't give you
the ability
to obey
but it's actually
more sinister
than that.
Look at me
at verse five.
It's not just
that the law
doesn't give you
the ability
to obey.
The law
actually makes it
more likely
that you won't
obey.
Verse five
says this
for while we're
living in the flesh
for while we were
living in the flesh
our sinful
passions
aroused
by the law
were at work
in our members
to bear fruit
for death.
Now we're not
going to dwell
on this a lot
because we're
going to talk
about it in length
verses seven
through twelve
but the point
is this
when we find
out that we
cannot do
something
we want
to do it
more.
When we find
out that we
cannot do
something
we decide
that actually
we're even more
interested than we
ever were before.
I think it's on
page eight of your
worship guide
there's a quote
that basically
says we hear
do not
and we think
why not?
so the law
comes
it actually
makes us
more likely
to do
what's wrong
and so I tell you
all of these things
to drive at this
point
the law
is a terrible
spouse
that is not
a marriage
you want to be in
the law is a
terrible spouse
because it
condemns you
you're captive
to it
that's what
verse six
says
the law
is a terrible
spouse
because it
actually doesn't
give you any
resources to do
what it commands
the law
is a terrible
spouse
because it
makes your
behavior
worse
that's a rough
marriage
that's a
dysfunctional
relationship
that's the
relationship
you had
to the law
before
you were
in Christ
that's the
relationship
you have
to the law
right now
if you are
outside
of Christ
you have
a dysfunctional
abusive
relationship
with the law
now I want you
to feel the
weight of that
because if you
feel the weight
of it
you'll feel
the sense
of relief
and joy
that comes
for us
in verse
six
which tells
us this
but now
we are
released
from the
law
sigh of
relief
shake it
out
shake it
out
you're free
from the
law
that nightmare
is over
that terrible
marriage
has ended
die to that
which held us
captive
yeah that means
you're no longer
a prisoner
to the law
if the law
comes to you
now
the ten commandments
walk up to you
and they say
obey me
or die
what can you
do
you thumb
your nose
at it
I don't have
to obey
you or die
I'm not
captive to you
anymore
now thumbing
your nose
at the law
doesn't mean
you disobey
the law
you're thumbing
your nose
at being
captive
to the law
but actually
you are able
for the first
time to do
as I've told
you before
the right
thing
for the right
reason
being married
to the law
didn't give you
any ability
didn't give you
any power
to obey
now
you're in a good
marriage
you're in a marriage
that actually
provides motivation
and power
look with me
again at verse 5
verse 5 tells us
we were living
in the flesh
this is again
a concept
from previous
chapters
that we've discussed
if you're living
in the flesh
that's the opposite
of living by the
Holy Spirit
so if you're living
by the flesh
your heart
the center
of your heart
is still
controlled
and ruled
and governed
and dominated
by sin
that's what it
means to live
in the flesh
flesh means
multiple things
for the apostle
Paul
in this instance
the flesh means
the opposite
of the spirit
so you were
verse 5
living according
to the flesh
you are now
verse 6
living
in the new
way
of the spirit
sin doesn't
rule
control
dominate
or reign
in your heart
anymore
if you
are married
to Jesus Christ
if you are
under grace
your heart
is ruled
and controlled
and dominated
by him
you were
married
to a spouse
who condemned
you
you were
married to
the law
you were
married to
a spouse
who told
you to
do things
that you
were incapable
of doing
on your own
you were
married to
a spouse
who said
obey me
or die
now
if you're
in Christ
you're married
to a spouse
who gives
you
life
now
if you're
in Christ
you're married
to a spouse
who gives
you
life
you were
verse 5
bearing fruit
for death
you are
now
verse 4
bearing
fruit
for God
there's
a different
thing
going on
there's
a different
relationship
you now
the law
comes to
you
and says
love your
neighbor
as yourself
you think
oh yeah
God's at work
in my heart
actually I'm
starting to
want to
do that
I'm
realizing
I have
new
powers
and abilities
page 8
of your
worship guide
says this
the new
covenant
believer
never
looks at
the law
without
understanding
that his
relationship
to it
is the
fruit
of his
union
with
Christ
which is
a way
of saying
this
if you're
married to
Christ
if you're
under
grace
you look
at the
ten
commandments
and instead
of thinking
man that's
the ten
commandments
are condemning
me and
ruling
over me
no you
think
oh wow
that's the
type of
person
God's
making me
to be
those
are the
sorts of
actions
that are
going to
come out
as the
Holy Spirit
is at
work
changing
my
heart
that's
the type
of person
I'm
going to
become
as I
am
taken
away
from a
heart
of stone
and given
a heart
of flesh
oh you're
saying love
God and love
neighbors
what you're
saying is
the Holy
Spirit's
going to
make me
into the
type of
person
who loves
my
neighbor
as
myself
wow
what a
wonderful
thing
that's
how you
think about
the law
now
because the
law is
not a
condemning
spouse
the law
is the
fruit of
your marriage
with Christ
what the
law could
not
produce
God
by the
work of
his Holy
Spirit
given to
his people
because of
the death
and resurrection
of Jesus
Christ
now
does
in you
when you
got married
did it
change you
are you
different
now
because of
your marriage
I hope
so
and I hope
it's in
positive ways
although I
know that's
not always
the case
this marriage
to Christ
is changing
you
and it
is changing
you
in positive
ways
verse 4
so that you
may belong
to another
in order
that we
may bear
fruit
for God
the law
is now
a description
not of how
you fall
short
but of your
future self
what God
is making
you
to be
I've told
you before
and I'll
tell you
again
Romans
is the
fifth
gospel
and it's
the fifth
gospel
because what
Paul teaches
Jesus
taught
first
Jesus
says this
in John
chapter 15
already
you are
clean
because of
the word
that I have
spoken
to you
in other
words
your
justification
is in
my
actions
not your
actions
abide
in me
and I
in you
as the
branch
cannot bear
fruit
by itself
unless it
abides
in the
vine
neither
can you
unless you
abide
in me
if you're
married to
the law
that's not
going to
produce
good fruit
in your
life
ten
commandments
can't
change
your
heart
I
can
I
am
the
vine
you
are
the
branches
whoever
abides
in me
and I
in him
he
it is
that bears
much
fruit
for
apart
from
me
you
can
do
nothing
what
makes
all of
this
possible
Paul
tells us
that as
well
in
verse
four
you
died
to
the
law
so
you
may
belong
to
another
that's
Jesus
Christ
to
him
who
has
been
raised
from
the
dead
it's
possible
because
of the
death
and
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
do
you
want
the
power
to
obey
God
do
you
want
the
power
to
do
what's
right
for
the
right
reasons
do
you
want
the
power
to
love
God
and
love
neighbor
if
you're
in
Christ
you
do
and
you
do
because
you
are
married
to
him
not
the
law
and
his
Holy
Spirit
is
at
work
in
you
and
it's
been
given
to
you
because
of
Jesus
death
and
resurrection
and
so
you
can
sing
this
which
is
true
the
power
that
raised
him
from
the
grave
now
works
in
us
to
powerfully
save
he
frees
our
hearts
to
live
his
grace
go
tell
of
his
goodness
let's
pray
our
father
in
heaven
we
thank
you
that
you
come
to
us
not
as
the
law
comes
with
condemnation
with
standards
to
meet
if
we
want
to
be
accepted
no
that
you
tell
us
we're
clean
because
of
the
word
that
you've
spoken
to
us
and
we
ask
that
you
would
be
at
work
in
us
by
the
Holy
Spirit
reminding
us
of
these
truths
that
you
continue
to
turn
our
hearts
of
you
and
follow
you
more
and
more
we
ask
these
things
in
Jesus
name
amen