Sometimes quote from learned and helpful commentaries

AA Milne: Winnie the Pooh, drifts up into the sky holding onto some ballons, leads to a discussion about the law of gravity and the conclusion that Winnie the Pooh has broken the law of gravity and is nothing but a common criminal!

The joke rests on the child like confusion of the two meanings of law:

1. A set of rules we ought to keep

2. An unbreakable / inviolable governing principle

God has ordered His universe in such a way that the universe runs according to a set of laws, unbreakable governing principles: the law of gravity, laws of thermodynamics, law of increasing entropy, the law of conservation of mass and energy and laws of electromagnetism.

Gods universe is to a large extend ordered and predictable.

Albert Einstein:

Our lives too on an individual level are ordered according to a set of inviolable laws:

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb 9:27)

It is this sense of law that we find the word used in verse 2: “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.”

As we go through our Bible we see this law operative and in action.

Gods Spirit is by His very nature and essence a “Life Giving Spirit”

1. Come into contact with the Spirit of God for the first time in Genesis 1: “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” With knowledge of the “law of the Spirit of Life” we could anticipate what is about to happen! Here over the murky lifeless depths of a formless world, the Spirit of God moves with explosive results! In 6 glorious days of creatorial power there are changes which; promote life, permit life and finally produce life!

2. In Genesis chp 6, the Spirit of God strives with man (6:3) ultimately to mans downfall and condemnation and destruction! Judgment is pronounced by a righteous God and yet His Spirit operates by “the law of the Spirit of Life.” Could we anticipate what will happen? God not only pronounces judgement but procures a means of salvation to the preservation of life (6:17-20). Even as the storm clouds gather and the first drops fall, the canvas is set for the first rays of a rainbow through the rain!

'I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tearless be.'

Believers 428

3. As God superintends the history of Jacobs sons and the life of Joseph, the shadow of death is cast over that life of Joseph on more than one occasion: Gen 37:18,20 – His brothers conspiracy and schemes to murder, 37:24 – the depth and darkness of the pit, 37:28 – Slavery, 39:7 – the envy and evil intent of Potiphars wife, 39:20 – prison, any one of these events ought to have been enough to finish off Joseph, and yet as Joseph comes to sum up the dealings of God over his life: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”(Gen 50:20)

4. Exodus sees God pouring out His judgement on Egypt in 10 catastrophic plaques and yet even under the shadow of the angel of death a path is being cleared to bring out a people for Himself untouched by the power of death (Ex 11:7; 12:23,30-31)

5. Moses the man of God, prophet, giver of the law. He falls with his temper and strikes the rock twice and he will die on Mount Nebo. Yet his vision will extend to the “city of palm trees” and therein lies a tale, so often linkes with an entrance to eternal rest! Will we leave Moses dead on Nebo? Matt 17:3! “The law of the Spirit of life!”

6. Job: commences with 7 sons and 3 daughters, 7 000 sheep, 3 000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 she asses (Job1:3) and all is lost. What of the “law of the Spirit of life” here? Job finishes with 14 000 sheep, 6 000 camels, 1 000 yoke of oxen, 1 000 she asses and restored sons and daughters (Job 42:12,13)!

7. The son of the Shunammite women (2 Kings 4): the boy dies, but you can't go to the man of God her husband will tell her! Why not? It's against the rules “it is neither new moon nor Sabbath” (2 Kings 4:23) – but there is a greater and infinitely more glorious law and purpose, it is the “law of the Spirit of life” and raised he will be!

8. There is of course no where more glorious that the “law of the Spirit of life” is to be seen than operative in the person of Christ! Psalm 16:10-11; Rom 1:4.

You could say there is a fatal flaw in your argument, what about:

• the old world that perished (Gen 6)

• Egypts sons that died (Ex 12)

This “Law of the Spirit of life” is only operative “in Christ Jesus”

There is no life out with Him!

In Rom 8:1-4 His Spirit is operative in me!

His Spirit will always draw me, guide me away from that which promotes death namely sin and towards that which brings me to life, that is “righteousness” (8:3-4).

When Christ came in a body (8:3) He established and completed:

1. A work “for sin” (8:3) – Salvation, ie propitiation and expiation, some translate the phrase here as “sin offering”

2. A work for sanctification “condemned sin in the flesh.”

Christ brought an end to the inevitability of being 'only human'!

That apparent law that because I am human I must sin.

Here is one who is truly human and did not sin!

He broke the mold!

What does that have to do with me?

If I am saved, I have His Spirit in me, the Spirit of one who cannot sin and who does not sin and who operates according to “the Law of the Spirit of life.”

This “the Law of the Spirit of life,” which triumphs finally in the conclusion to Gods plan for this universe:

1. “there shall be no more death” (Rev 21:4)

2. “river of water of life” (Rev 22:1)

3. “the tree of life” (Rev 22:2,14)

4. “book of life” (Rev 21:27, 22:19)

The evidence of the operation of “the Law of the Spirit of life” in my life is the manifestation of “righteousness” (8:4).

We can discern down through the pages of scripture an extraordinary, supernatural standard of righteousness:

“Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.” (Eze 14:14)

“Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.” (Eze 14:20)

These standards of righteousness were extraordinary if not infrequent!

After 1000's of years of human history Ezekiel comes up with only 3 righteous men!

But how do we explain them?

Men do not naturally tend to extraordinary righteousness?

How do we explain:

1. Daniel – who choses the lions den rather that miss his time of prayer?

2. Noah – unique and swimming against the moral tide of a whole world?

3. Job – who refuses to “curse God and die” but holds onto the God who seems to have let him down?

Is it:

1. madness

2. mistake

3. motive?

Surely not madness nor mistake?

There is too much consistent for it to be purely aberrant or mad!

There is a consistent:

1. Theology – one God, the sinfulness of man, the righteousness of God, God as Creator, God as redeemer.

2. Soterology - “I know that my redeemer liveth...” (Job)

3. Eschatology – Daniels prophesies of future events harmonises with Revelation and other scriptures.

The law of Moses agrees with the values and standards of Daniel and Job and Noah.

The prophecies of Daniel are in harmony with the prophesy of Revelation.

The Messianic predictions of Daniel and Job are consistent with NT revelation in Christ.

This consistency precludes mere madness or mistake as the reason.

We appear to have in scripture a transcendent, coherent and consistent moral standard of righteousness according to which some men have always lived their life, but the question is why?

Illust: Salmon, swim the wrong way: against the tide, against the current and up the water fall! Why? Are they mad? Is it a mistake? Driven by an inbuilt instinct, to the smell, the taste and place of their birth, they are drawn by inward compulsion to that place they know as home! There is a reason for this drive!

https://graceinchrist.org/romans

The work of the Spirit of God affects man in his:

1. Walk (8:1-4)

2. Mind (8:5-8)

3. Body (8:9-13)

4. Spirit (8:14-17)

Chp 8 is all about the work of the Spirit of God in me:

1. “fulfilled in us” (8:4)

2. “dwell in you” (8:9)

3. “Christ be in you” (8:10)

4. “dwell in you” (8:11)

5. “glory revealed in us” (8:18)

Gods work in us is greater than Gods work through us

Gods work through us: 1 Co12,14 – Spiritual Gifts

Gods work in us: 1 Co 13:1ff.

As Gods Spirit is active in man we will discern:

1. Law of the Spirit (8:2)

2. Longing of the Spirit (8:5-8)

3. Life of the Spirit (8:11,13)

4. Leading of the Spirit (8:14)

5. Language of the Spirit (8:15)

1. Walk (8:1-4)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...”

An apt summary of the whole of the Bible!

1. Condemnation: the theme of the law and the prophets

2. Salvation in Christ Jesus: the theme of Christ and the apostles

The Bible begins with the complete condemnation of humanity.

Every part of man:

1. Mans thoughts (Gen6:5)

2. Mans actions (Ex 20)

3. Mans worship (Ex 20)

4. Mans heart (Jer 17:9; Ps 51:10)

Every kind of man:

1. King on the throne (Ps 51)

2. Prophets (Jer14:14; 23:14; 23:25,26; Ezek 22:28; Isa 6:5)

3. Priests: Hophni and Phinehas, Eli (Hos4:6; 4:9)

The Bible – not the kind of book a man would write, and not the kind of book a man could write!

This is not one elite group within Jewish society condemning the rest!

This is not the prophets / the priests drumming up business for themselves!

This is an all embracive, supernatural condemnation of the whole of humanity as measured beside a transcendent standard of absolute holiness to which no one measured up.

This is a warts and all picture of the very heroes of the people who preserved these scriptures:

1. The royal line comes through Rahab the harlot and an incestuous relationship between Judah and Tamar.

2. Israels first High Priest built a golden calf and committed idolatry

3. Israels wisest king: Solomon compromised right the way down the line with pagan gods.

4. The forefathers of this nation are described in the most terrible of language and guilty of the grossest sins in the writings of Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel, sins such as child sacrifice, witchcraft and idol worship.

Why such complete condemnation of the whole of humanity?

Because it is an accurate picture of where we are before God!

That we might see our need of the person and work of Christ.

To tone down the total condemnation of humanity in the bible least we offend or upset is doing noon any kindness if we deceive men into believing that their plight is any less serious than it is.

“...who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom 8:1)

Is it not sufficient to say that:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...”

Why add “...who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” ?

In case we see salvation as a method, a past event, something we have done and got!

Salvation is a living relationship with a Living God who indwells His creature!

What is the effect of the Spirit upon my walk?

I say that this is a Spirit conquered walk, marked by:

righteousness (v4)

Righteousness fulfilled by:

1. Compulsion from within (8:2): “the law of the Spirit of life” (7:21,23)

and not by:

2. Conformity without (8:3)

The Spirit conquered and controlled walk is not a walk brought into conformity to a set of rules, regulations, traditions, formalities or patterns of behaviour, it is rather the working out of the all consuming passion for Divine life brought about by the possession of my person by God Himself.

It is not so much that I try to live a righteous life, although the will is clearly involved, but rather I have to, I am compelled to live a righteous life, or I have a thoroughly miserable existence!

Conformity to a set of rules can paradoxically result in less rather than more spirituality!

Rules can:

1. Replace the Spirit – well I've got my rules, follow them and I will be ok!

2. Resist the Spirit – human nature likes rules, you can work around the rules! Illust: Margos flat mate, didn't read Sunday papers but kept them till the Monday!

3. Restrict the Spirit – rules are always inadequate and will never allow us to break new ground for God! New people, new places, new problems – the old rules sometimes can't cope! Gods Spirit can! Columbus didn't discover America by following the map! There wasn't one!

Christopher Columbus: "...It was the Lord who put into my mind — I could feel His hand upon me — the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies-All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me... There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because he comforted me with rays of marvellous illumination from the Holy Scriptures... For the execution of the journey to the Indies I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics, or maps. It is simply the fulfilment of what Isaiah had prophesied... No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His Holy service... the fact that the Gospel must still be preached to so many lands in such a short time — this is what convinces me".

“the law of the Spirit of life”

What was it that:

1. Compelled creation to completion? Gen1:2 – The Spirit of God; Gen 2:7 – the breath of God blowing into the nostrils of Adam.

2. How did Enoch's walk with God end? It didn't A walk with God is a life giving, a life preserving, a life perpetuating experience. Walk with God and you live (Gen 5:24). “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not se death...” (Heb11:5)

3. How was it that God dealt with Noah and his family in the days when He had decided that His Spirit would not always “strive with man” (Gen6:3)? God covenanted “to keep them alive with thee” (Gen6:19).

4. What about Gods dealings with Abraham and Isaac in Gen 22? “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”(Heb 11:19).

5. How did God move in the days of Joseph and his brothers? “To save much people alive” (Gen50:20)

6. How did God work with His people in the days of Moses in Egypt?

7. How did God work in the days of Jonah? (Jonah 4:11)

8. What about Daniel in the lions den? “O King live forever” (Dan6:21)

9. The crowning Glory to Gods Spirit of Life: the resurrection of Christ!

To be linked with God and His Spirit is a life giving event, a life preserving experience!

Gods Spirit is the Spirit of Life!

In many of these occasions when the “law of the Spirit of life” moves we can also discern His operation against the background failure of the “law of sin and death”:

1. Noah – breaks free, lifted above a world condemned in sin

2. Egypt – God judges and destroys Egypt and its false gods

3. Jonah – 3 days and nights in the belly of the whale because of his sin and disobedience.

To be motivated by the “law of the Spirit of life” is to be motivated and moved by an all consuming passion for the Glory of God in my life beyond any other legitimate interest!

What was it that motivated:

1. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo to choose the furnace rather than compromise?

2. Daniel to chose being at the prayer meeting even if it meant facing the lions in the den?

3. Elijah to risk his life and face the false priests of Baal on Mt Carmel?

4. Elisha to leave his farm, his field and his family behind and follow Gods call?

This law of the Spirit of Life motivates men beyond personal safety, personal convenience, fatigue, tiredness, embarrassment and business!

This is an all consuming passion for the life of God above and beyond all things!

Why bother fulfilling righteousness in me?

Never be content with ½ answers from preachers!

Because righteousness overcomes a barrier:

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Rom 8:6-7)

The flesh pursuing sin brings separation and enmity with God

The Spirit producing righteousness brings relationship with God

How does Christ condemning “sin in the flesh” (8:3) result in the fulfilment of Gods righteousness in me (8:4)? Because we have His Spirit in us (8:4,9-11).

An exceptional movement of the Spirit of God is invariably marked by an exceptional righteousness:

1. Isaiah 6:5

2. Ex 20: Moses on the Mount

3. Job 42:6 – God speaks: “I repent in dust and ashes”

4. Zech 3: Joshua the High Priest

5. Matt 5: The Sermon on the Mount

6. Acts 5: Ananias and Saphira

In Rom 7:14-25 we found it impossible to write off this section as 'pre-conversion' and as not applying today in our struggle against the flesh.

There are certainly some parts of the section that fit best with the pre-conversion life:

1. Condition: “sold under sin” (7:14)

2. Character: “carnal” (7:14)

3. Captivity (7:23)

4. Connection with 7:8-13

There are parts of 7:14-25 which refuse to fit into the pre-conversion experience, no matter how hard we try and knock them into the square holes they are round pegs:

1. The Despair / Frustration with sin , which is not found with the sinners of chp1 – Depraved Conscience (1:32); chp 2 – Distracted Conscience (2:1-4) and chp 3 – Deceived Conscience (2:17)

2. Delight in the law of God (7:22) cf. Psalm 1

3. Deliverance (7:25) – this is not a deliverance out of the struggle but a deliverance in the struggle and over the struggle.

That all sounds like cold comfort!

You are really just committing us to a life of constant defeat!

I think I'll go and join the charismatics or buy that new book from America!

7:14-25 doesn't commit us to a life of constant defeat but rather to a life of constant dependence on Christ!

Who can help me? On whom am I dependant?

Person of Christ:

1. “in Christ Jesus” (8:1)

2. “in Christ Jesus” (8:2)

3. “Spirit of Christ” (8:9)

4. “Christ be in you” (8:10)

5. “Jesus...” (8:11)

The Spirit of God:

1. “after the Spirit” (8:1)

2. “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (8:2)

3. “after the Spirit” (8:4)

4. “the Spirit” (8:5)

5. “in the Spirit” (8:9)

6. “Spirit of God” (8:9)

7. “the Spirit of Christ” (8:9)

8. “the Spirit of life” (8:10)

9. “the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead” (8:11)

10. “by His Spirit” (8:11)

11. “if ye through the Spirit...” (8:13)

12. “Spirit of God...” (8:14)

13. “Spirit of adoption...” (8:15)

14. “the Spirit...” (8:16)

Consider also: God the Father in v11 and v15.

This is a thoroughly trinitarian section of the Word of God.

This is also a section which assumes and teaches the Deity of Christ:

1. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ (8:9)

2. Again “The Spirit is life because of righteousness” (8:10) and The Spirit of God is the Spirit who “quickens” (8:11) – is this a separate Spirit form the Spirit of Christ? The “law of the Spirit of Life” (8:2) is “in Christ Jesus” (8:2).

So then the Christ who saves (8:1) is the Christ who sanctifies (8:1ff)

The Christ who delivers from sin is the Christ whom I depend upon daily.

In what ways do I depend upon Him?

In getting messages for preaching? In overcoming particularly bad sins? Seeing souls saved? At times of particular stress or crises?

I think we have a practical break down in this chapter of the kind of dependance God has in mind:

1. 8:1-4 – The Dependent Walk – The Spirit Led Walk

2. 8:5-8 – The Dependent Mind – The Spirit Filled Mind

3. 8:9-13 – The Dependent Body – The Spirit filled Body

4. 8:14-17 – The Dependent Relationship – The Spirit Liberated Spirit

Total dependence!

1. 8:1-4 – The Dependent Walk – The Spirit Led Walk

Marked by righteousness (8:4)

2. 8:5-8 – The Dependent Mind – The Spirit Filled Mind

Marked by peace (8:6)

3. 8:9-13 – The Dependent Body – The Spirit filled Body

Marked by the life of Christ

4. 8:14-17 – The Dependent Relationship – The Spirit Liberated Spirit

Marked by prayer to God

Marked by communication / testimony from God

What is the point / purpose of all of this?

Draws me to Christ, to a deeper relationship with God.

8:1-4 – The Dependent Walk – The Spirit Led Walk

“there is therefore now no condemnation...” (8:1)

But is this the issue?

I thought the issue was power over the flesh?

Victory in the struggle?

Is it not the case that I need to move forward from a flesh dominated life?

So what is with the : “no condemnation” (8:1)?

To be able to move forward I need freedom from the past.

For Peter to move forward in John 21 he needed freedom from the past

For Paul to move forward in Acts 9 he needed freedom from the past.

Unless there is “no condemnation” there is little point in trying to move forward because we have already blown it!

Like the man with lung cancer who now decides to stop smoking!

If God worked like that: once we have the cancer of sin we've blown it!

If God worked like that there would be no point in striving over the flesh!

So long as we have life under His Grace we need not ever have blown it!

Does this encourage us to go on in the fight?

Does this remove any secret excuse: 'O well I've gone too far this time.'

There was a future for:

1. Abraham: after that incident with Sarah and Pharaoh, and after the mess with Hagar: he was yet to reach the pinnacle of Mt. Moriah

2. Moses: after he struck the rock twice, he was yet to reach the pinnacle of Mt. Nebo

3. Elijah: after his despair and despondency and unbelief, he was yet to reach the pinnacle of Horeb.

4. David: after the incident with Bathsheba and after numbering the people he would again worship and that on the altar of the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite and claim territory for Gods temple!

Praise God that “there is therefore now no condemnation...”

For it is the only way we can leave the past behind us and press on to new heights for God!

Rom8:1 allows us to move forward, but to move forward we need freedom from the past.

1. Romans 8:1 gives me freedom from the sins of the past

2. Romans 8:1 gives liberty to live in the present (eg 8:15)

“there is therefore now no condemnation...” has a reason:

1. The work of Christ for me at Calvary: Roms 3 + 4 – propitiation: man Justified, God satisfied by Christ crucified

2. The work of Christ in me (8:1-4; 9-10)! The picture painted in Romans 8 is not the salvation of the sinner, followed by the constant and repeated forgiveness of continual sin but rather of salvation followed by a transformed and Spirit filled life!

Both of these aspects of the work of Christ are brought together in verse 3:

1. “for sin” - to deal with sin by dieing for sin, ie propitiation (Rom 3)

2. “condemned sin in the flesh” - to deal with sin by living without sin! Christ broke the link between sinning and being 'only human.' Christ was truly human but He did no sin! What difference does that make to me? I am indwelt by His Spirit (8:10)!

There is “therefore now no condemnation...” because:

1. Christ is able to forgive sins (Rom 3; 8:3).

2. Christ is able to change lives (8:1-2,4).

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (8:2)

This “law” operates in us!

Driving us forward in righteousness (7:21,22).

Consider the “law of the Spirit of life” in the scriptures :

1. Genesis 1 : Gods Spirit moves in the creation of life

2. Genesis 6: God moves in preserving Noah and his family

3. Genesis 19: The angel of God moves in preserving Lot

4. Exodus 12: God moves in removing His people from the judgement upon Egypt

5. 1 Kings 17: God preserves the life of Elijah and the widow and her son

6. The resurrections of scripture

7. The resurrection of Christ from the grave!

1. Who is speaking?

2. When is it set?

3. Why bother writing it?

Is this section about:

1. An unbeliever?

2. A believer?

3. A conversion experience?

It is an unbeliever:

1. Consider his character

2. Consider his condition

3. Consider his captivity

4. Consider the connection of this section to the previous

1. Consider his character

He is carnal (v14)

This description can be used of a believer (1Co3:1,3,4)

In the context of Romans 7 would point more to an unbeliever (7:5;8:9)

2. Consider his condition

Controlled and owned by sin (7:14): “sold under sin”

The believer in contrast:

1. “is freed from sin” (6:7)

2. “sin shall not have dominion over you” (6:14)

3. “made free from sin” (6:18)

This control is apparent in 7:15,18,19.

3. Consider his captivity

This man looks for but cannot find the power to live for God

It is not simply that he has no power but it isn't there for him!

“I find not” (7:18)

He is in a complete “captivity to the law of sin...” (7:23)

This could hardly be true of someone “whom the son sets free”

4. Consider the connection of this section to the previous

Is 7:14-25 a different subject, unconnected to the previous section?

“For...” (7:14) – this section is connected to the preceding section.

In 7:5-13 we saw the problem encountered when the flesh comes into contact with the law of God, this results in rebellion, rejection and revulsion.

So is this the laws fault?

No says the apostle in 7:14, let me explain, the problem doesn't lie with the law it lies with me, that is with my flesh.

So this 3^rd section of Romans 7 is by means of explanation of the problems encountered by the unbeliever in 7:5-13.

So this 3^rd section of Romans 7 can hardly be about the struggles in the life of the believer if it is written to explain the problems encountered by the unbeliever!

It is a believer:

1. Consider his despair

2. Consider his desire

3. Consider his delight

4. Consider his deliverance

1. Consider his despair:

So what is the problem with this section being all about the unbeliever?

In a word the little title we have chosen for it: 'frustration'

There is a frustration running through this section

This is not a frustration we have detected so far in any of the sinners we have met in Romans:

Roms Chp 1: The Rotten Sinner:

Is his conscience racked with guilt and frustration at being unable to “do good” (7:19,21)?

Does this man spend a long night with a troubled conscience, racked with guilt?

Does this man get together for prayer with others to wrestle with sin in his life?

Does the rotten sinner of chp1 “hate” his sin (7:15) and how he is behaving?

“Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:” (Rom 1:31)

This mans conscience is burned out and utterly corrupted.

God has given him up.

His is a corrupted conscience.

He doesn't care that he hasn't made it.

He is marked by depravity of conscience.

Roms Chp 2: The Self Righteous Sinner

What about his conscience?

Is he caught up with frustration and self condemnation and criticism?

This sinner criticises others but not himself (2:3,5)

This sinner uses his conscience against others!

If I don't get to heaven then who will?

We can draw great comfort not from what we are before God but what we think we are before men!

He is too bust criticising others who haven't made it.

He is marked by distraction of conscience.

Roms Chp 2 + 3: The Religious Sinner

Is this sinner convicted and troubled by his own conscience?

This sinner seems more convicted and convinced of his own righteousness and acceptance before God on the basis of his race, his religion and his legal righteousness!

This man is confident (2:19)

This man is utterly convinced he has already made it.

All I have! All I do! All I am!

He is marked by deception of conscience.

2. Consider his desire

This man has a desire to do good and to please God (7:18-21)

This is not compatible with being an unbeliever (Rom 3:11).

3. Consider his delight (7:22)

If there is one verse I would point to in particular in this section to indicate that this man is not an unbeliever it would be v22.

This is a man with the character of the blessed man of Psalm 1.

Recall that such a delight in the law of the Lord has as its consequence even in OT days: roots, shoots and fruits (Ps 1:3).

Do we suppose then that in Roms 7 we have a fruitful unbeliever?

Not only is this the character of the blessed man of Psalm 1 but it is by contrast not the character of the ungodly man: “the ungodly are not so” (Psalm 1:4)

Not only does the man of Roms 7:22 “delight in the law of God” but he does it after the “inward man” cf. 2 Co 4:16.

In other words at the heart of this man is someone spiritual, a man trying to please God, but failing.

4. Consider his deliverance (7:24,25)

In this mans deliverance we might be tempted at first reading to consider this the story of an unbeliever, ie from 7:14-23 we have his struggle and in 7:24,25 we have his deliverance and then in chp 8 we have the Christian life.

Notice from what and to what he is delivered!

Look at how this section ends:

“So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (7:25)

In other words this deliverance is not from the presence of the flesh but rather is a deliverance to a place of power over the flesh.

So the change that happens at the end of this section does not wipe away the struggle of 7:14-25, relegating it firmly to the past, to pre-conversion life but rather this change / deliverance brings about the possibility and expectation of victory.

This deliverance is not a removal out of but rather a victory over the struggle.

So who is this all about?

How can we fit all of these features together?

Features of an unbeliever:

1. Consider his character

2. Consider his condition

3. Consider his captivity

4. Consider the connection of this section to the previous

Features of a believer:

1. Consider his despair

2. Consider his desire

3. Consider his delight

4. Consider his deliverance

Could we bring both of these lists together in 1 kind of person.

Could we have here a conversion experience?

Is this a transition section? What about when?

This will depend upon who we think this section is about!

But consider:

1. The change in tense to the present tense in 7:14ff

2. If this section deals with the past struggle of the pre-conversion life then what exactly is the point to it? Who is going to read this section? Is this epistle not written to believers? If so then this would be a description of the struggle you don't have!

3. If this section is all about the struggle of the believer, then what is the deliverance about (7:24,25) and why the contrast in Roms 8?

I suggest that this section isn't about a time at all but rather a truth

It is the truth of the flesh and how it impedes our service for God.

That is our present experience, hence the present tense and the features of the believer.

The flesh itself is never converted, hence the language of the unbeliever.

Victory in the battle is possible and is expected and hence the deliverance in 7:24,25 and the transition to chp 8.

https://graceinchrist.org/romans