Last time (see Romans 7) we saw that a religious unbeliever, who tries to obtain salvation as well as sanctification by the works of the law, is unable to because that person is still sold under sin. They are not given the power to overcome sin in their lives, because they have not believed the gospel. The believer, on the other hand, is also not able to be sanctified by their own works, but they do have the power to overcome sin. This power is not their own. It is the Holy Spirit that dwells inside them and works through them (Rom. 8:11).

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then there is also no condemnation appointed to you. You are complete in Him (Col. 2:10). You were saved by the power of God (Rom. 1:16), justified by faith apart from the law (Rom. 3:28), righteousness was imputed to your account by faith (Rom. 4:5), you now have peace with God (Rom. 5:1), you are identified in His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:1-4), free from sin (Rom. 6:7), free from the law (Rom. 7:6), and therefore, there is now no condemnation to you because you are in Christ Jesus! You have been joined to His body!

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The law of sin and death – Most of the world is under this law. It has dominion or control over the unbeliever, the unsaved. We saw this in Romans 7. Someone who is religious and yet is unsaved is one who is sold under sin and is unable to bear fruit unto God. That is because sin brings death. Romans 6:23a said “for the wages of sin is death.” In Romans 7:9, “when the the commandment came, sin revived and I died.” Sin is continually trying to bring us down (both unsaved and saved).

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus – In Contrast, the law of the Spirit brings life. It brings life and peace (8:6). It gives life to those who are in Christ Jesus (the saved). It’s purpose is to build us up. It has the power to lift us up out of sin, so that sin doesn’t have a controlling factor in the life of the believer.

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

The law of Moses could not save us, because it was weak through the flesh. The law itself is holy, just, good, and spiritual (Rom. 7:12,14). However, it couldn’t lift us out of sin; because, it was weak through the flesh. As much as we try to do good works by our own efforts, we will never be delivered from sin’s grip on us that way. We will keep on struggling. We will always be lead into “captivity to the law of sin (Rom. 7:22).”

But, now for the good news! God sent “His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” He was not sent in sinful flesh. He knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21). Instead, He was sent in the likeness of sinful flesh. He condemned sin by dying for it. He condemned sin so that you and I can have life in Him and be able to walk in the Spirit in order to bear fruit unto God.

To live in the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit are two different things. All believers live in the Spirit the moment they first trusted/believed (Eph. 1:13). But, unfortunately, not all believers are walking in the Spirit. A Christian who is not walking in the Spirit is called a carnal Christian (like the Corinthians). The Corinthians were saved (called saints), but they were carnal.

So, how do we walk in the Spirit? By reading and studying the Word of God.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

We who are after the Spirit (have the Spirit indwelling us), mind or understand the things of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the author of God’s Word. So, the things of the Spirit would be the Word of God. As we read/study the Bible, and keep these things on our minds, then soon enough these things become second nature to us. This doesn’t mean that we always are thinking of spiritual things, nor does it mean that we know everything in God’s Word (if this was the case, we wouldn’t need to study). It simply means that we are able to understand God’s Word. That is why ultimately those who are still in the flesh cannot please God, no matter how hard they try (8:8). But, those who have the Spirit of God dwelling in them belong to Him and the Spirit is life because of righteousness (8:9,10).

As I wrap up this lesson, consider the following Scriptures about walking in the Spirit.

• 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
• 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
• 1 Timothy 4:7-8 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
• 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
• 1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
• 1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
• Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
• Ephesians 1:18-19 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
• Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
• Colossians 1:9-10 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
• 1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

All of Scripture is written for our profit. It is there for us to learn (Rom. 15:4) the will of God. We get our doctrine from it, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. In other words, it is our handbook for knowing how to live the Christian life. Therefore, we should know it. And to know it we, therefore, have to read it. After we read it, we need to review it. We need to review it again…and again…and again. Meditate on these things. Review them, so that they are always on your mind so that when you do practice them in your life you’ll do them as if it was second nature to you. Remember, it’s not you who are doing the work, but the Spirit that is inside you. Keep reading! Keep studying!

Last time we looked at the fact that as believers in Christ, we are identified with His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4). Our old man has been crucified with Him (Rom. 6:6). We have been freed from sin (Rom. 6:7).

Since we have died with Christ and have been risen with Him, we are set free from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and someday will be set free from the presence of sin. The penalty of sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:23).” We have also been delivered from the power of sin. It no longer has dominion or control over our lives (Rom. 6:9,14). This doesn’t mean that we won’t sin anymore. But, it does mean that God has given us the power not to sin. Galatians 5:16 says, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (see Romans 8 as well). If we walk in the Spirit, “walk by faith, not by sight,” we can overcome sin. But, sadly we don’t always do this. For we still have the old man with us, even though we have been made a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:15). In studying Romans 7, I was talking to a friend, and mentor, of mine and he gave an illustration that I think paints a good picture of the struggle that even we as believers still have. In Romans 6:11, we are told to reckon or count ourselves dead to sin, but alive unto God. When we struggle between serving our old master, sin, and our new master, God, and end up choosing to serve sin, it is like our old man is walking right alongside ourselves. He’s not in the grave like he should be. Our old man is right next to us with his arm over our shoulder like if he were our buddy or something. But, that’s not the way it should be. Our old man is crucified. Our sin was left buried (out of God’s sight), when Christ was buried. When He arose from the grave, He left that sin buried. Likewise, we too should reckon or count ourselves (that old man) dead, but count ourselves (our new nature) as alive unto God. So, the next time you sense the old man trying to tempt you to sin, just tell him “Get back to that grave! Your dead! Stay there!” And finally, speaking of the presence of sin, we will be delivered from sin’s presence in our lives once for all when Christ comes back for us at the Rapture, before the Tribulation.

Now, as we come to chapter seven Paul now switches from talking about being freed from sin to now also being freed from the law. As he starts he mentions that he is writing to those that know the law. The commentaries that I’ve read, and I think are right too, says that “the law” in verse one isn’t referring to the law of Moses, but instead to the principle of law. The Romans were great law-makers. It could be written as “for I speak to those who know law (instead of “the law”).” Now, Paul will proceed to talk about the Mosaic Law as he continues. These people were aware of the fact that a law only has dominion, control, or rule over someone as long as he is alive. If someone dies, the law no longer has a hold on his life.

So, Paul starts out with the illustration of marriage. When a woman marries a man, she is then bound to that man as long as they should live. She is bound to the law of her husband (or the law of the husband). If he dies, she is then free to marry another. She becomes free from that law. Likewise, as believers in Christ we become dead to the law. How? By the body of Christ.

Romans 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.

Through our identification in his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6) we become dead not only to sin, but also to the law (the law of Moses). And then, we are married (joined) to another (Christ Himself). This doesn’t mean that we are the Bride of Christ. Israel is called the “Bride, the lamb’s wife (Rev. 21:9).” We are His Body. We are the Body of Christ. We are joined to Him for a purpose. That is to bear fruit unto God.

Since we now have life in Christ, are delivered from sin, and are delivered from the law (7:6), does that mean we can live life any way we want to? No. Is the law sin? No. Of course not. We would not have known what sin is except it told us “Thou shalt not covet (lust)” (7:7).

The rest of  the chapter will help us understand two things.

1. A religious unbeliever can’t be saved or sanctified (set apart as holy unto God) by trying to do good on their own, in their own flesh, and by their own works.
2. A believer, after salvation, also can’t be sanctified by their own good works either. Only what is done in the Spirit, is able to sanctify you and allow you to live a life pleasing to God by bearing fruit unto Him. The difference between you and the unbeliever (besides faith, of course), however, is that you now have the ability of bearing fruit, because God has delivered you from the power of sin and the power of the law.

Paul’s Past Life:

Romans 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

As an unbeliever in the past (under the law), Paul says that he died because sin revived in his life. Romans 3:20 tells that “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” We know that the law is perfect. According to the Scriptures, the law is “holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (7:12).” In verse 14, it says that it is spiritual. The law, if kept, could bring life. But, no one was or is (except for Christ) able to keep it perfectly. So, instead it brought death (7:10).

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Remember the two things above!

1. Religious unbeliever – Here we have someone who is unsaved and yet very religious. As an unbeliever, they are still in the flesh or sold under sin. Paul who was this kind of person in his past (as well as every other believer), is trying to tell us presently (in the present tense) that it would be impossible for a religious person to obtain salvation or sanctification by trying to keep the law, because they are in the flesh or carnal. They can’t possibly bear fruit unto God (good fruit), because all their “good” works are done in their own flesh. As verse five tells us, anything done in our members while in the flesh brings fruit unto death (bad fruit).
2. Believer – Here we have someone that is a believer, but this believer is one who is trying to be sanctified through legalism. They too are trying to do good works, but only in the flesh (through their old nature). They are not allowing the Spirit to work through them to produce the fruit. However, the believer isn’t sold under sin. “Sold under sin” refers to an unbeliever. That phrase is in the perfect tense. The perfect tense is where you have an action that is completed in the past but has continuing effects. So a believer isn’t in that state anymore, but they do still struggle with the flesh, the old nature. However, we have the power not to sin if we walk in the Spirit. The unbeliever does not.  

Romans 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

As a believer, this does not mean that we are not responsible for when we sin. Some think that when we sin, it’s not our fault because it is just the sin in me that makes me do it. We are still responsible. But, think back to what we said about the unbeliever. Someone who is lost in this Dispensation of Grace, trying to do good works, is unable to produce good fruit because of sin. They are spiritually dead because of sin. They are still sold under sin. They are still living in the flesh. The believer, on the other hand, is living in the Spirit (Rom. 8:9). They, once again, have the power to overcome sin if they Walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

Romans 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.

In conclusion, the only thing that a lost individual can do is recognize that they cannot do it themselves. They can’t save themselves. If they can’t do it, then who can deliver them from this body of death? The answer is God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of our sins, buried them out of His sight forever, and He rose again on the third day (leaving those sins buried) so that you and I could be made the righteousness of God in Him (1 Cor. 15:3,4; 2 Cor. 5:21). All you have to do is believe (Acts 16:31). When you become a believer, God delivers you from sin, and the law, so that you can serve Him in the Spirit. We will still struggle, because we do still have that old nature with us, but we also have a new nature that gives us the power not to sin if we just walk in the Spirit. So, just tell that old man to get back in it’s grave. Reckon it as dead. For you are alive unto God!

Romans 5:20-21 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Since grace abounds much more and leads to reigning through righteousness unto eternal life, does that mean that we should sin? Do we have a license to sin just because we are under grace and not under the law? The answer to both of these questions is an emphatic “No!”

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Just because we are under grace and not under the law (6:14) doesn’t mean that we can live our lives anyway that we want to. Instead, we now have a responsibility to live for God and serve him. Ephesians 2:8,9 says how we are saved. We are saved by grace through faith alone. It is not of works that we do, but instead it is a gift of God.

 Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

However, Paul continues in verse 10 of Ephesians 2 to say that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works. We are his “workmanship.” I think Pastor J.C. O’Hair said it best, “before he can be a workman for God, he must be the workmanship of God. He must first be worked upon by God before his work will be acceptable to God” (O’Hair, 1936). We are created in Christ (we are in His Body) for the purpose of doing good works.

Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Baptism simply means identification. We are identified in Christ, because we have been identified in His death, burial, and resurrection.

• 1 Cor. 12:12-13 – Here we learn that there is one Body (Eph. 4:5) and that it has many members. We are all baptized into that one Body by one Spirit (the Holy Spirit). When we believe the gospel, the Spirit baptizes us into Christ’s Body. We are identified with Christ as members of His own Body.
• Gal. 2:20 – We are crucified with Christ. We also live, because of the “faith (faithfulness) of the Son of God.”
• Gal. 3:27 – Since we have been baptized into Christ (by one Spirit), we have put Christ on.
• Col. 2:9-12 – Since we are identified (baptized) in His Body by one Spirit, we are also identified in his death, burial, and resurrection. In verses 9 and 10, it tells us that Christ is the “fulness of the Godhead bodily (He is God in the flesh. John 1:1-3,14)” and that we are “complete in Him.” Then, it goes onto say that we are “circumcised with the circumcision made without hands (human hands),” we are “buried with him in baptism,” and “risen with him” (Col. 2:11-12). At end of verse 12 it says that it was all by the “operation [working] of God.”

Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted [united] together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Romans 4:25 told us previously that Christ was delivered for our offences and raised for our justification. In chapter five we read that by the one man, Jesus Christ, the free gift was given. The results of the gift are justification (5:18) and righteousness unto eternal life (5:21). We are united together as one Body, as well as individually as we each believe the gospel, in Christ’s death and resurrection. If Christ did not rise again, then we would not be justified. We would not have life. “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and you faith is also empty (1 Cor. 15:13,14).” But, we know that Christ did rise again! Praise the Lord! We too have resurrected life. And we look forward to the day when we will be resurrected physically at the Rapture (1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thes. 4:13-18).

Our old man (old nature or old Adam) is crucified with Him (6:6). Therefore, we should no longer serve sin, because we are free from sin (6:6,7). We have died with Christ, and we shall also live with Him (6:8-9). Christ “died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives unto God (6:10). And so, we too should reckon ourselves as dead to sin, but alive unto God (6:11). We therefore should present our members (both our individual bodies and each member of the one Body) as instruments of righteousness to God (6:13).

 Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Romans 6:22-23 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Since we are saved, we are called to be good workman of God to produce good fruit (the fruit of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22). And a part of being good workers is to make sure we rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). Paul ends with reminding us that the gift of eternal life is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Salvation is not earned by our own works, but through the shed blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace through faith alone. Faith in what? Faith in the blood of Christ. Faith in his death, burial, and resurrection. When you believe that He died for all of your sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, then you receive eternal life in Him. You become identified with Christ Himself.

O’Hair. J.C. “God’s Workmanship — God’s Workman.” Berean Bible Society. February 2nd, 1936. https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/gods-workmanship-gods-workman/

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

When we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, then we are justified or “declared righteous.” We are justified by faith apart from the law (Rom. 3:21,24,28; 4:5).

Now, what are the results of being justified by faith? First, we now have peace with God. Romans 5:10 says that we were enemies of God. But now, we have peace with Him. It is because of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the one Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5). It is because of His work on the cross that the gift of salvation is now offered unto all men.

Second, we also now have access to the Father (Rom. 5:2). It is “by faith” that we can approach God. Hebrews 4:16 talks about coming boldly unto the “throne of grace.” Since we are now justified and are at peace with God, we can stand before Him. We can come “face to face” with God the Father. We are “complete in Him” as Colossians 2:10 says. We have perfect standing before God.

Third, we also now have a hope! Everybody who believes the gospel, Jew or Gentile (there is no difference), has a hope of eternal life in Christ in heavenly places. We have a “blessed hope (Titus 2:13)” of looking for the appearing of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, at the rapture. But in time past, this wasn’t always the case. In time past, the Gentiles didn’t have a hope. The Gentiles were without hope, without God, and without Christ (Eph. 2:11,12). But now, they are brought near by the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:13,19). The Biblical definition of “hope” is a confident expectation. It is a sure thing! Philippians 1:20 says “according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.” It is not just “wishful thinking.” It is a guarantee. We rejoice in hope, because we look forward to the day when we will be in the presence of God’s glory in heaven.

The next few verses explain how we can be strengthened in our hope. Tribulations produce patience, patience then produces experience or character, and finally experience produces hope. We all suffer tribulations in our lives, but as we pray to God, letting the peace of God rule in our hearts (Phil. 4:6,7; Col. 3:15) (see post The Peace of God), and if we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our own lives we begin to learn to patiently wait for Him and His appearing. We begin to learn to let the fruit of the Spirit (specifically, longsuffering) be displayed in our lives (Gal. 5:22). Then, as we go through different tribulations patiently waiting for Him, experience starts to show up. We can now even help other believers who are going through similar things that we went through. All of this concludes with us now having our hope strengthened, so that we can continue looking forward to the day that we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:13-18). It doesn’t make us ashamed, because “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Rom. 5:5).” The love of God floods our hearts!

Speaking of the love of God, the passage continues on in verses 6-11, to say that His love was shown unto us by the death of His Son. He commendeth his love towards us “while we were still sinners (v.8).” He died for the ungodly (v. 6). We are not able to save ourselves, because we are sinners. We are by nature (speaking of our old nature), “in Adam.” Every human that has ever been born is “in Adam.” But, God is able to save us! He has provided salvation as a free gift by dying for our sins and rising again from the dead. If we believe the gospel (1 Cor. 15:3,4), then God justifies us. He imputes (counts) righteousness to our accounts. Once we have righteousness, we are no longer “in Adam,” but now we are “in Christ.” This is what Paul goes on to talk about in the rest of the chapter by showing the contrast between the first Adam (Adam himself) and the last Adam (Christ) (1 Cor. 15:45-49).

• Romans 5:15 – By one man’s sin, many died. Sin entered the world, and therefore brought death. Contrary to that, Christ brought the grace of God and the gift (gift of eternal life, Rom. 6:23).
• 5:16 – Adam’s sin brought judgment, resulting in condemnation. On the other hand, the gift that Christ brought results in justification.
• 5:17 – Death reigned because of Adam. However, those who receive the “abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness” will reign in life through Christ Jesus. The gift is offered to all men, but all are not saved. Only those who believe the gospel receive righteousness.
• 5:18 – Repeat of verse sixteen. Adam brought condemnation and Christ brought justification.
• 5:19 – Through Adam’s disobedience, we are all declared sinners. Through Christ’s obedience (Phil. 2:8), those who believe are made righteous. Unbelievers are seen by God as being “in Adam.” Believers are seen by God as being “in Christ.” Romans 6:11 goes on to tell us to reckon ourselves as “dead to sin, but alive unto God.” We have been crucified with Christ and risen with him (Gal. 2:20). We have been crucified to the world (Gal. 6:14). We are dead to sin, the world, and our old nature (referred to as the flesh or old Adam). We are now new creations individually and joined together as one to the one new man (the Body of Christ) (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:15). We are no longer seen as “in Adam.” We are complete in Him (in Christ) (Col. 2:10).
• 5:20 –  Romans 3:20 told us that “by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Where the law is, sin is increasing or abounding. How many times were you told not to do something and you did it anyway when you were growing up? But, as much as sin abounded it can never match the grace of God. “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more [super abounded].” It doesn’t matter how much you have sinned personally, you can still be saved if you believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. If you believe, then you are justified or made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).
• 5:21 – And finally, sin reigns unto death. It brings death (in the context of talking about Adam, it is both physical and spiritual death). But, “grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I pray that this was of some help to you, and that it strengthened you in hope! I pray that you will be bold in not only sharing the gospel with lost sinners (however this is extremely important), but also be bold in edifying the Body of Christ by encouraging and helping other believers so that their hope too would be strengthened.

Rejoice in the Lord! Give God the Glory!