Romans 7

Greetings in the Lord!

The memory passage for Romans 7 is vv 4-6

Romans 7:4-6
⁴ Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. ⁵ For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit.

The theme for this chapter Righteous Obedience in the Spirit.

This whole chapter is about the conflict between the believer's new regenerate nature and the lingering sinfulness that we can not escape while we live on this earth. The Law is with us all the days of our life and only stops when we die (vv 1-3).

The memory passage unites the argument. In our identification with Christ, we have died to the law and been raised with Him with a new nature and purpose; to bear fruit for God. While we lived in the old sinful nature, we served sin and bore fruit for death. But having died to the captivity of sin we now live the new life in Holy Spirit.

Verses 7-24 play out this conflict. The law brought sin to the forefront and identified it as sin for all to see. The law aroused sin by forbidding it and enticing the sinful nature with in us. But the Law is not sin or bad, it is holy and good and spiritual. For even though I do what I don't want to do and don't do what I want to do, I continue to be a servant of God and God alone. And through His power I wage war with the sinful nature; a war which He will win. Thanks be to God!!!

How does this affect my worship?
The first part of verse 25 is at the heart of any true worship; thanks to God through Jesus. Paul writes about it in Colossians 3:17, Ephesians 5:20 and elsewhere; give thanks and praise to God for everything in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Worship is from God, by God, and for God. Psalm 51:15 says "open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise". Hebrews 13:15 states "by Him let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise. That is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name". In the battle that rages in my life, my only true power to overcome is the strength of God. He leads me to worship and praise, and then stengthens me to stand fully assured in all of His will (Colossians 4:12).

How does this affect my discipleship?
Paul's description of the conflict in his life between sin and sanctification reminds me of an essential principle of warfare; it's always better to have someone to fight with. Discipleship is not just meeting for an hour a week to learn more about the Bible. It's coming alongside each other in prayer and warfare so that we can 'increase in the knowledge of God, walk in a manner worthy of Him, fully please Him, bear good fruit for Him, and know Him more' (Col 1:9-10). The battle cry comes later in that chapter; 'Him we proclaim. Warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom so as to present everyone mature in Christ' (Col 1:28).

May you walk in thanksgiving and serve in the new life of the Spirit!

Ethan