Chapter 7 contains the remainder of Paul's explanation of sanctification, dealing especially with the sort of life a Christian should lead after coming to faith in Jesus. Paul states that the Jewish law is only applicable when a person is alive, giving the example of marriage as an example (a woman may remarry if her husband dies, but if she marries while he is alive she is an adulteress). In similar fashion, we die to the law (Rom 6: 3-4). Calvin describes it as our conscience being freed from following the law and now should cling to it's second husband, Jesus Christ. Paul also states that we belong to Christ for the purpose of bearing fruit to God by serving in the way of the Holy Spirit, not out of obedience to the written law (v.6).
2) In verse 7, Paul discusses whether the law is sin, and discusses his struggles with sin. A major question is whether the discussion of struggling with sin refers to his pre-Christian experience, or is an example of his continuing life as a Christian. Both views have been heldby different commentators.
Paul begins by saying that the law is not sin, for he would not know what sin is unless the law had defined certain actions as such. Calvin states that the law does not encourage a person to sin, but does increase a person's awareness of sin. Wesley says the same thing, but includes the possibility that the law stirs up that action in us.
--With whom do you believe? What do you think of Calvin's statement that if the law could be said to cause our sin, then it would bear some guilt for our sin? Does Paul's statement in verse 8 that sin seizes the opportunity afforded it by the law and produces evil desire effect your opinion? Does Paul's statement that sin is dead apart from the law mean that it does not exist, or that knowledge of sin is not existent (Luther), or that it is less apparent and active (Wesley)?
3) In verse 9 Paul begins relating his own experience by stating that early in life he was alive apart from the law, but once the law came sin sprang to life and he died. Verse 10 states that the commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death, because sin deceived him and through the law put him to death (v. 10-11). Paul sconcludes by saying that the law is holy righteous and good.
--Luther says that the law makes sin more active and hostile because we cannot pay the debt required by the law. What is the debt requried by the law? Do you agree with Luther's statement? Why or why not?
--Wesley says that Paul's statement that he was alive apart from the law (v. 9) means that "I had much life, wisdom, virtue, strength: so I thought." However, the commandment, the characteristic of the law that restrains us, sin revives and whatever virtue and strength he had died away, making clear that he is liabile for death. What does Paul mean when he says he was alive apart from the law? Is Wesley correct that the life apart from the law is one of perception? Does verse 13 address this issue?
--In verse 10, Paul states the the commandment was intended to bring life, but instead brings death, because sin deceives us into disobedience, and we are thus put to death via the commandment. Both Wesley and Calvin state that the law is designed to show us a way that we can take to achieve righteousness and eternal life. Assuming God took our sinful nature into account in creating the law, how can it be said that the law was intended to bring life when in practice it does nothing of the sort? What does intended mean here?
--What does it mean to be deceived by sin (v. 11)?
--Wesley and Calvin both say that the law is good because it derives from the nature and personality from God. Is this the reason the law is good? Can you think of any other reasons?
4) In verse 13, Paul says that the law is good and did not itself become death to him. Rather, it produced death in him so that sin would be recognized for what it is.
--Why does God want sin to be seen for what it is? Does this statement shed lights on the previous questions addressed in this study? How does this fit into God's historical plan for humanity and our salvation?
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