This is the twenty-sixth in a series of verse-by-verse expositions of the book of Romans. This message was delivered at Hillcrest Baptist Church on the morning of September 22, 2013. This message deals with the the fact that our death to the law, has freed us from our bondage to the law. This post contains an audio recording of my message, along with my sermon notes and a study outline. Please note that the sermon notes are not a full transcript.
AUDIO – Listen Now:
AUDIO DOWNLOAD:
SERMON OUTLINE:
SERMON NOTES:
Romans 7:1-6
v.1:
The correlation between sin and death have been a primary focus of Paul since Romans 5:12, with the occasional reference to a third element – the law.
In chapter 6, he explained that our identification with the death of Christ, has freed us from our enslavement to sin.
Paul has pointed out that the law had increased our knowledge of sin, and now he goes on to show how Christ’s death effects a release from the law.
As he makes his point, Paul is not referring to any specific law, but to a principle that is true of all law – civil and Biblical.
Once you die, the law loses any claim to you. You can’t prosecute a dead man.
vv.2-3:
These two verses aren’t some complex allegory
They are really a simple analogy.
Paul used marriage law to illustrate the point he had just made about law’s jurisdiction (v. 1).
This passage isn’t teaching that ONLY the death of a spouse frees a Christian to remarry.
It is not teaching about divorce and remarriage at all.
Scripture has fully addressed those issues elsewhere (cf. Matt. 5:31–32; 19:3–12; 1 Cor. 7:10–15)
The simple point, is that death frees one from the jurisdiction of the law.
v.4:
As believers, our union with the law has been broken by our death to the law.
We are no longer under the jurisdiction of the law, or subject to its penalties.
Romans 8:1
Just like the woman who is free to remarry with the death of her husband, we who have died to the law are free to be united with Christ.
In fact, believers are betrothed to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:2
We become one with Christ.
Ephesians 5:30
The purpose of this marriage to Christ, is that we should bear fruit to God.
This speaks of a transformed life, which is proven in transformed works.
Such a transformation will be evident in our daily lives, and is why we were created.
Ephesians 2:10
So, what is this fruit?
Galatians 5:22-23
This fruit results in praise and glory to God.
Philippians 1:11
A believer should be bearing fruit, and if you aren’t bearing fruit, Christ issues a strong warning.
John 15:1-2
This is not to say that one can lose their salvation.
This simply means that God will get the dead wood out of the way, so that the rest of the plant can produce fruit.
There are many, even in churches, who hinder fruitfulness. Such people are probably not saved at all.
v.5:
Paul, of course, is talking to believers. “When we were in the flesh”, speaks to a believer’s pre-christian life.
Our rebellious nature is awakened when restrictions are placed on us. It makes us want to do the very things the law forbids.
We often see the same attitude among children. They are determined to do the very things which they know are off limits.
We must remember that God’s law was given to secure the well being of His people.
He knows what is best, and when we do the opposite, it leads only to death.
This is not to say that the law brings life, life comes only from Christ!
The law; however, is a guide to righteous living.
However, when you place your trust in the law, it will lead to death, because it is impossible to keep.
No one can be justified by the law.
Galatians 2:16
Galatians 3:11
Galatians 5:4
Our faith must be in Christ alone.
v.6:
Christ, the object of our faith, is our deliverance from the impossibility of the law.
We have died to the law, thereby ending its reign over our lives.
The end result is that we should serve.
Many try to serve according to the law, but God desires a service of love.
Because of our death to the law, we are free to serve out of love and gratitude for our Savior.
We are free to serve in the newness of the Spirit. That means that we serve as a new creation.
We can serve as one who has been transformed by Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
No longer are we bound to serve according to the letter of the law.
2 Corinthians 3:6
Our service will now represent our new life, rather than lead to death.
Some people try to earn their way to God by keeping a set of rules (obeying the Ten Commandments, attending church faithfully, or doing good deeds).
But if that is their hope of salvation (rather than Christ) all they earn for their efforts is frustration and discouragement.
None of these things will bring life. Without Christ, all of your good deeds will lead only to death in hell.
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, the Holy of Holies has been opened, we have access to Him.
We can become his children simply by putting our faith in him.
We are no longer trying to reach God by keeping rules. Instead, He reached us when we couldn’t reach Him.
And through the help of the Holy Spirit, we can become more and more like Jesus as we live for him day by day.
Let the Holy Spirit turn your eyes away from your own performance and toward Jesus and His performance.
It’s not about what you can do, but what Jesus can do through you.
He will free you to serve him out of love and gratitude. This is “living in the Spirit.”
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on October 12, 2013
0