DEAD TO LAW—LIVING UNDER GRACE
(Romans 6:15-7:25)

1. HOW TO LIVE SINCE FREED FROM THE LAW (6:15-23).
a. WE SHOULD LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY.

Rom. 6:15 "shall we sin?" "God forbid"--we should not.
b. HOW CAN WE LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY?

Rom. 6:16-18 We are not only free from Law, but from Sin.
Rom. 6:19-23 We are now servants of God and righteousness.

2. THE WAY GOD FREED MEN FROM THE LAW (7:1-6).

Rom. 7:1 "to them that know the law," Jewish believers.
a. THE ILLUSTRATION OF MARRIAGE.

(1) The marriage bond is in effect all through life.

Rom. 7:1,2 "the woman.. .bound.. .as long as he liveth"

(2) The marriage bond is severed only by death.

Rom. 7:2 "if her husband is dead, she is loosed..."

(3) A second marriage is permitted if death ends the first.

Rom. 7:3 "she is free from that law"
b. THE APPLICATION OF THE ILLUSTRATION.

(1) Men are bound to the law for their whole lifetime.
Deut. 6:2 "all the days of thy life"

(2) This bond HAS been broken by death (in Christ).

Rom. 7:4 "ye...dead to the law by the body of Christ"
Rom. 7:6 "are delivered from the law...being dead"

(3) We have since been married to another, the Risen One.

Rom. 7:4 "married to another.. .Him who is raised..."

(4) This second marriage is a happy one.

Rom. 7:6 "serve in newness of spirit"

3. SOME QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE LAW (7:7-14).

a. WAS THE LAW PUT ASIDE BECAUSE IT WAS EVIL?
The question: Rom. 7 7 "is the law sin?"
The answer: Rom. 7 7-11 It reveals sin, does not cause it.
Conclusion: Rom. 7 12 "the law is holy... just...good

b. WAS THE LAW HARMFUL IN ITS EFFECT?

The question: Rom. 7 13 "was...that which is good.. .death?"
The answer: Rom. 7 13 The cause is SIN, not the law.
Conclusion: Rom. 7 14 "The law is spiritual, but I..."

4. THE HELPLESSNESS OF MAN UNDER THE LAW (7:14-24).
Three things are discovered:

a. Rom. 7:14 "FOR WE KNOW THAT THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL"

Vs. 15-17, even sinners admit that the law is good.
b. Rom. 7:18 "FOR I KNOW THAT IN ME...NO GOOD"

Vs. 18-20 show that we lack the capacity to do good.
c. Rom. 7:21 "I FIND THEN...EVIL"

Vs. 22-24 show that despite the law, Sin is our master.

5. THE ONLY HOPE; JESUS CHRIST (7:24-8:3).
a. THE CRY OF A WRETCHED MAN.

Rom. 7:24 "Who shall deliver me?"
b. THE WAY WE ARE DELIVERED.

Rom. 7:25 By "God through Jesus Christ" Rom. 8:1-3.