3 Lessons From Romans 7:10-25

Two days ago, I wrote an article explaining Romans 7:10-25, which is one of the most difficult and controversial passages in one of the most difficult and controversial books of the Bible. Even though there are many interpretations of this text, it is obvious to me that Paul here is explaining just how difficult and frustrating it was for the Jews to follow the Law of Moses, how Jesus had delivered them from the bondage of that burdensome Law, and how absurd it was for the Jews to want to return to it when they had freedom and deliverance in Jesus Christ. (Click here to access my first article on Romans 7:10-25).

Hopefully, my first article was helpful in explaining the basic meaning of Romans 7:10-25. However, when we come to controversial passages such as this, we spend so much time explaining what it doesn't say that we fail to fully comprehend the actual message. Dear reader, Paul didn't write Romans 7:10-25 just to give us something else to argue about; this passage is meant, not only to clarify a misunderstanding that existed in the first century, but to convey wonderful lessons that, when properly understood and grasped, will build up our faith. So in this second article, I'd like to move away from the scholarly analysis and focus simply on three highly encouraging lessons that can be gleaned from this wonderful text.

First of all, as was explained in the previous article, the Law of Moses was the source of so much frustration for the Jews who attempted to obey it perfectly. Despite their best efforts to keep every aspect of the Law, they found themselves failing miserably time and time again. "For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do" (Rom. 7:15). Thankfully, Christ has delivered us from that frustrating system known as the Law of Moses (vs. 24), thus implying that Christians should not be equally frustrated in their obedience to the commandments of Christ. 

"For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end" (2 Cor. 1:13).

"But I fear, lest somehow, as t he serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3).

 "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3).

If, as you read and study the New Testament you find yourself constantly frustrated, unable to understand what it says, overwhelmed by the commandments found therein, something is wrong. While some of it is hard to understand (2 Pet. 3:16), the Law of Christ is quite simple. While some of the commands of Christ are difficult to apply, they are only difficult to apply because of our pride and refusal to submit, not because the commands themselves are difficult.

Too often, I have seen men (and even brethren) take a simple concept or text and make it complicated. Sermons are preached and Bible classes are taught that overanalyze and/or abuse the scriptures to the point that brethren walk away more confused. This is sad, for by complicating the New Testament like this, we're taking away one of the greatest advantages of Christ's law over the Law of Moses, and Christians end up just as frustrated as the Jews of old. Paul says in Romans 7 that we've been delivered from that.

A second lesson to be gleaned from Romans 7:10-25 is that the Law of Christ is NOT a "law of sin." You see, the Law of Moses was called a "law of sin" (Rom. 7:23) and even a "law of sin and death" (8:2). The law itself wasn't sinful (7:7); in fact, it was "holy" (vs. 12), for God had ordained it. But the Law of Moses ultimately was not meant to deliver the Jews from sin, but rather to weigh them down with sin. In Romans 7, Paul explained how "sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in [the Jews] all manner of evil desire" (vs. 8), and how the Law brought "death." Again, the harder they tried to keep the Law, the more they realized how sinful they were, and how hopeless their situation was. Later, Paul wrote to the Galatians that the law was a "curse" (Gal. 4:14) and it's only purpose was to confine all under sin (Gal. 3:22) until Christ could come. And Christ has delivered us from this "law of sin."

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts...For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (Rom. 6:12, 14).

"But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins...But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God..." (Heb. 10:3-4, 12).

Sin does exist today. Christians can sin. We do sin from time to time, in fact (1 Jn. 1:8, 10). And yet we have an escape from sin that the Jews didn't have in the Old Testament. While the Law of Moses made it impossible to get out from under your sins, and constantly reminded you how hopeless and helpless you were, the Law of Christ (i.e. the New Testament) has made it possible for us to lay aside the weight of sin  and to "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1). Rather than live with the constant burden that I am stuck in sin, and no matter how hard I try, I cannot escape it, I need to live with the joy and knowledge that, because of Christ, I am free! I can walk in the light as He is in the light and have true fellowship with God, with Christ, and with other saints (1 John 1). How amazing is this?

The third lesson that we ought to learn from Romans 7:10-25 is that "with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin" (vs. 25). The law of sin is a reference to the Law of Moses. The Jewish-Christians of the first century who were holding onto the Law of Moses were doing so to satisfy the flesh. Galatians 6:13 says, "For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh." In other words, their desire wasn't to be conformed to the will of God, but to do what they wanted to do. Even during the Old Testament when the Law was in effect, the emphasis was placed upon outward actions that eventually (hopefully) would result in the right mind. So it often became about "going through the motions."

However, the New Testament law is a law that begins in the mind and is motivated by the mind. So many of the laws we have pertain to our attitude (Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 4:25-32; the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7). Even those commands that demand outward action are ALWAYS accompanied by inward thought and desire. The Lord's Supper involves an examination of self (1 Cor. 11:28). Singing is to be from the heart (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Giving is to be as we've purposed in our hearts (2 Cor. 9:6-7). And so many other illustrations could be given.

Again, it is regrettable that many Christians treat the Law of Christ as if it's the Law of Moses. They are completely unfulfilled and unsatisfied (spiritually frustrated) because they're just going through the motions with the expectation that their love for God will eventually grow. Instead of forcing ourselves into a ritualistic pattern of behavior, we need to first of all be "transformed by the renewing of [our] mind" (Rom. 12:2). 

As difficult as it may be to understand some of the ins and outs of Romans 7:10-25, hopefully we can agree on these three points. In the end, we need to treat the Law of Christ, not like the Law of Moses, but like the "perfect law of liberty" it is said to be. If you find yourself unendingly frustrated, burdened, and confused, and if you're stuck in the rut of ritualism, please know that you're not following Christ as He intends for you to, and you're missing out on the true joy of what it means to be a Christian.