Romans 7
Romans 7 deals with personal sin.
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- Verses 1-6 Paul handles the question, “If these things are so why do we (believers) still sin?” Paul’s thoughts: 1) we are not under Mosaic Law because as a widow is free to remarry, so we are dead to the Law being joined to another (Jesus Christ—verse 4).
- Verses 7-23 tackle the problem of sinning in this life. The soul and spirit are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) but the flesh still needs to die (compost in burial). Until, we physically die, we still sin. The sinful desires of the flesh has not been eradicated.
- Verses 24-25 praise God that there is deliverance through Jesus Christ. We can contentment that our soul and spirit (personality, will, mind, etc. and our fellowship with God) serve God, not the flesh, but the flesh with its sinful desires is still present in this life.
Romans 8
There are 4 great blessings in chapter 8: 1) no condemnation from God, 2) believers have been adopted by God; now, we are sons and daughters of the living God, 3) God is with us and helping us during times of afflictions, sufferings, and troubles, and 4) nothing can separate us from God’s love.
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- Verse 1 correctly reads: Romans 8:1 (LHB) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Dr Wilbur Pickering notes: “Who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” is omitted by 2.3% of the Greek manuscripts (of inferior quality, objectively so), to be followed by NIV, NASB, TEV, LB, etc. Those who follow the 2.3% like to claim that the clause was imported from verse four. But Paul is a Jew, and they like to repeat things. In Romans 7:14-23 Paul described the conflict of the two natures within himself— he was not ‘home free’. That he is not through with the topic is clear from verses 5-17 below, where he describes in detail the conflict between flesh and Spirit. The reader may rest assured that the 97% are correct. Anyone who insists on walking according to the flesh will discover that there is indeed condemnation.”
- Verses 2-4 Shows that we are free from the condemnation of Mosaic Law and are free and expected to keep the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (the “Law of Christ in Galatians 6:2).
- In verses 5-11 Paul exhorts the believers (Romans 8:5 (TCENT)) “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” We are to live a holy life as defined by the Holy Spirit, which are the Scriptures that we recognize as the New Testament.
- In verses 12-17 we learn 1) we have no obligation to fulfill ungodly desires of the flesh (sinful desires), 2) sin has consequences, 3) we have a helper, (John 14:16) the Holy Spirit of God, to guide us, teach us, rebuke us, convict us, motivate us, comfort us, etc. 4) God is the Father of all believers from Pentecost to the Rapture. We are children of God by adoption and are heirs of God, and 5) Christians are to expect suffering in this life because they are Christians.
- Verses 18-30: Paul teaches the blessed hope of eternity with God, the blessing that all of this creation will be renewed by God Himself (Revelation 21), the promise of a newly created body when we are resurrected or changed in a twinkling of an eye at the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:50-55 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), the definition of hope (verses 24-25), the help and ministry of the Holy Spirit in our prayers (verses 26-27), and in verses 28-29 all things work together for good (God has the ability; compare Joseph (Genesis 50:20)). Verses 29-30 reveal God’s plan: foreknowledge (prescience, foresight)→ foreordained → conformed to the image of His Son, the calling of God to believe the Gospel (God initiates salvation), (believers) then justified, and glorified.
- Verses 31-39 teach God’s love for believers that nothing can quench (Song of Solomon 8:7 as an example).