So I’d just like to give you some more scriptural examples of who we really are in Christ, and why Romans 7 does not apply in the way many of us have been taught.
First of all, let’s look at that first phrase in Chapter 7 “or do you not know.” The word “or” clearly makes the coming thought a continuation of the idea immediately preceding it, which is the last two verses of the previous chapter:
“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Those who are in Christ are free from sin. Period. So now let’s prove it through scripture. I’m going to contrast verses from Romans 7 with other scriptures in the Bible, and we will be left with two choices: either we will see that the Bible flatly contradicts itself, or we will have to admit that Romans 7 does not apply to those who believe in Christ.
Romans 7:14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? (Romans 6:16)
v. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Php 4:13).
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
v. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.
v. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11)
For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14)
v. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Php 4:13).
…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man (Eph 3:16)
…so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience (Col 1:10-11)
v. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
Our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin (Rom. 6:6-7)
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Php 2:13).
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Eph 2:10).
v. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
v. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me (Gal. 2:20)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25)
v. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
v. 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
He who has died is freed from sin (Romans 6:7).
It’s easy to see that Romans 7 is completely dismantled by the weight of scripture. It’s not that Romans 7 is untrue, it’s that we have commonly misunderstood it. It is a picture of those who struggle with the inner turmoil that comes from living under the law. And this, rightfully, was the precise purpose of the law—to prove that no human being has what it takes to live according to God’s high standards. That’s the very reason Jesus had to die for us—to pay the price none of us could pay!
This is why I believe Romans 8:1-2 is one of the most triumphant scriptures in the Bible:
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:1-2).
So, how do we proceed? We’ll talk about that next time!