As I read the section,
Romans 7:4-6 seems distinct. I would describe this section as the parenthetical part of the chapter. The use of the word "law" is different in meaning than in other appearances of the word. How do we know . . . by the context.
*"dead to the law" 7:4, restates "dead to sin" 6:2, 11
*"delivered from the law" 7:6, restates "freedom from sin" 6:7, 18, 22
Romans 7:6
I think this verse is connected to
Rom. 6:10-12.
We have been released from the "law of sin and death", not The Heavenly Law of God.
We have been delivered from disobedience to The Law.
The Law of God is not what bound us. The "law of sin" is what bound us (
Rom. 6:10-12). It is to sin we are to die.
Being "dead to the law" means we are no longer under the PENALTY of breaking It. It has achieved it's penalty with Water Baptism, that's why you die to yourself and are raised with Messiah. Under the New Covenant, God gives us the Holy Ghost upon repentance and baptism. This enables us to keep God's Law. How can someone who is dead to sin continue to live in it? (Keep in mind that for me, "sin" is defined by His Law.)
Notice YOU are dead to the law, The Law is not dead to you.
Romans 7:7 We cannot know sin but by The Torah.
"What should we say then? Is the Law sin?" Paul feels he needs to address this question because of the wording of verse 5, since Paul said that our sinful passions had been aroused by the law and produced death. If sinful passions were "provoked by The Law, is The Law sinful?" Paul unhesitatingly rejects that option. Paul here declares his continued belief that The Law is spiritual and good (
Rom. 7:12). But when we were of the flesh, sin used The Law as a catalyst in our lives to bring about our death.
Romans 7:7-11
These verses are not meant to amplify the meaning of "law" as used in the immediately preceding verses (4-6). Only to show that The Law is not Itself directly responsible for the imputation of sin, but is merely responsible only that It sets up an "occasion" for sin to work through the "law of sin".
Romans 7:10
"ordained to life".
The phrase "was ordained" was added by the translators.
Should be, "And The Commandment unto life . . ." meaning The Blessing of The Law in contrast to The Curse. If the Curse of The Law is death, the Blessing of The Law is life. this does not mean Eternal Life. mike and I are going to have to agree to disagree on this verse, because he makes a big point of insisting this verse implies Salvation Life. So much of his argument to me seems to hinge on his interpretation of
Lev. 18:5
Romans 7:21
"I find then a law . . . that (is) . . . evil present with me."
Obviously, Paul is distinguishing a different "law" other than God's Law. And then Paul goes on to contrast this "law" with "The Law of God" in the very next verse.
And is CLEARLY distinguished in 7:25.
Romans 7:22 "I delight in the Law (Torah)." (
Ezekiel 36:27)
Romans 7:23
Paul here is not talking about struggling with sin with frequent failures. He is describing complete and abject defeat. He is talking about being utterly enslaved to sin.
This description is contrary to what Paul describes in both chapters 6 and 8. Paul declared in 6:6 that the Believer is "free from sin" that enslaved us when we were unbelievers (6:16-19)
Romans 7:24
Paul cries out "wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death!" Thus ending his lament against the sinfulness of his previous life.
Immediately following this exclamation, in the next verse, Paul gives a shout of victory that he has finally found the answer to sinful Lawbreakingl.
Romans 7:25
Paul now turns his focus to the ANSWER. Victory is in Messiah, ". . . so . . . I myself serve The Law of God . . . "
Romans 8:1
"Therefore . . ." This word returns us to Paul's exultation of triumph over the law of sin in 7:25.
The "condemnation" is referring again to
Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
Here "walking . . . after The Spirit" is an identical way of saying, "The Law of The Spirit". This has freed us from that OTHER law . . . "the law of sin and death" in the next verse.
Romans 8:2
". . . the Law of the Spirit of Life . . . hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
To me it seems clear that the context demands that "law" must refer to The Torah Law.
". . . the Law of The Spirit of Life . . . hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Notice the clear juxtaposition of TWO laws here.
You see, Paul has in mind two separate and distinct "laws". And the only way to tell which "law" he is referencing, we must rely on context.
It also helps to understand parallel idioms:
* "dominion of death" 6:9 is parallel to "dominion of sin" 6:13-14
* "dead to sin" 6:2, 11 is parallel to "dead to the law" 7:4
* "free from sin" 6:7, 18, 22, 23 is parallel to "delivered from the law" 7:6
* "body of sin" 6:6 parallels "body of death" 7:24
So "sin", "death", and "law" are seen to be synonymous with each other.
Contrast that to:
"righteousness unto holiness' 6:19, or
"Newness of life" 6:4,
"Newness of Spirit" 7:6
Romans 8:3-4
Yes, we are to fulfill the requirement of The Law.
(The Law is still relevant:
1 Cor. 3:11;
Heb. 8:13)
Romans 8:7
To me, this verse is saying that not being subject to The Law of God is "ENMITY against God".
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