Epistle to the Romans Chapter 7

Another often misquoted verse is found in Chapter 7 verse 6. Rom 7:6: “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.“

Even with Paul repeatedly reinforcing our need to uphold God’s Law throughout the book of Romans, people will grab single verse snippets like this and claim the Law is gone. But here again, we must take all of his letter into account, not a single verse.

In this portion of the letter (Chapter 7) Paul explains the believer’s struggle with sin (transgression of the Law) and its consequences, death. While through Christ, believers are released from the condemnation and death sentence due to the transgression of God’s Law, they still experience an internal battle between their old sinful nature (Disobedience to the Law) and their new life in Christ (Adherence to the Law).

The Law is not sinful but reveals the depth of human sinfulness. Ultimately, Paul points to Jesus Christ as the deliverer who rescues believers from the power of death caused by transgression/sin.

Paul sums it up nicely in the last two verses of this chapter. Rom 7:24-25:  “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

A Further Breakdown of the Chapter:

Rom 7:1-6: Paul begins by using the analogy of marriage to explain to the Jewish converts (for I speak to them that know the law) that have died to the old covenant law through Christ, and as a result, they are released from that covenant/law. Just as a widow is free to marry another man, Jewish converts are free from the old covenant law and are united to Christ in the new. We know this must be the case being Paul continually reinforces God’s Law as good, and required throughout the letter (See: Paul Affirms God’s Law). and is speaking to (for I speak to them that know the law) Jewish converts.

Given all the ample evidence throughout the New Testament and this letter to the Romans that God’s Law still exists and is the cause of sin when transgressed, we can know for certain that Gentile converts to Christ would already be aware of God’s Law. They would not however know much if anything of old covenant law. The law only “them that know the law” Jews would understand.

In the overall context of the letter known as Romans, Paul was dealing with the system of worship established at Sinai; that is often what he means by the word law. (Circumcision and other old covenant practices tied to sacrifice) The Jews had difficulty grasping the fact that this system, given to them of God, should end with the coming of the Messiah. This is what Paul was dealing with – Jewish believers still not ready to abandon what had been such an important part of their lives and who were confusing and overburdening the new Gentile converts in that same church.

Summary

Paul mentions the importance of God’s law numerous times throughout Romans. He affirms its role in revealing sin, establishing moral standards, and ultimately pointing to the need for salvation through Christ due to the transgression of God’s Law causing sin/death. Paul balances the recognition of the Law’s fundamental importance with the central message of grace and faith in Christ.

Rom 7:1:  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 

Rom 7:5:  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 

Rom 7:12:  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 

Rom 7:16:  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 

Rom 7:22:  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 

Rom 7:25:  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

The Commandments of God were meant to maintain life however, due to their transgression by man, became death to him. – Rom 7:10-11

The number of times Paul affirms God’s Law and its importance in the book of Romans.

Romans 2:12-16 – Paul emphasizes that all people are accountable to God’s Law, whether they have the written law (Jews) or not (Gentiles). He explains that Gentiles, who do not have the Law, show that the requirements of the Law are written on their hearts.

Romans 3:19-20 – Paul highlights the Law’s role in making humans aware of sin.

Romans 3:31 – Paul asserts that faith does not nullify the Law but upholds it.

Romans 7:7-12 – Paul defends the Law as holy, just, and good, explaining that it reveals sin.

Romans 7:14 – Paul acknowledges the spiritual nature of the Law.

Romans 13:8-10 – Paul summarizes the commandments and underscores the Law’s fulfillment in love.

Released from the Law
Rom 7:1  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 
Rom 7:2  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 
Rom 7:3  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 
Rom 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 
Rom 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 
Rom 7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 
The Law and Sin
Rom 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 
Rom 7:8  But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 
Rom 7:9  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 
Rom 7:10  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 
Rom 7:11  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 
Rom 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 
Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 
Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 
Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 
Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 
Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.