Who is speaking?
When is it set?
Why bother writing it?
Is this section about:
An unbeliever?
A believer?
A conversion experience?
It is an unbeliever:
Consider his character
Consider his condition
Consider his captivity
Consider the connection of this section to the previous
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)
Consider his condition
Controlled and owned by sin (7:14): “sold under sin”
The believer in contrast:
“is freed from sin” (6:7)
“sin shall not have dominion over you” (6:14)
“made free from sin” (6:18)
This control is apparent in 7:15,18,19.
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”
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 3rd section of Romans 7 is by means of explanation of the problems encountered by the unbeliever in 7:5-13.
So this 3rd 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:
Consider his despair
Consider his desire
Consider his delight
Consider his deliverance
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.
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).
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.
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:
Consider his character
Consider his condition
Consider his captivity
Consider the connection of this section to the previous
Features of a believer:
Consider his despair
Consider his desire
Consider his delight
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:
The change in tense to the present tense in 7:14ff
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!
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
Posts
