Romans - July 27, 2008

SECTION --- Four: Sanctification (6:1-8:39) .
(continued from previous Class Follow Up)

VI. {Rom 7:1-3} Death frees one from the law’s obligation
A. Introduction
1. Review — Paul has established in chapter 6 those who have been justified stop serving sin as their master and now serve Christ as their master, thus, will not continue to sin — i.e., make the choice to not continue lliving as if sin is their master.
2. Preview — All laws have established the principle at some point an accepted law is put aside when the application of the law no longer applies. To properly apply Paul’s teaching it is important to remember Paul is not discussing how one is “justified” but what it means to be “sanctified”.
B. Question For Discussion?
1. What does Paul’s illustration add to answering the question of (Rom 6:1-2)?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. (7:1-3) Is Paul establishing the standard or criteria for re-marriage? If not what is the purpose of Paul’s statement?
a. No! Is using a well-known relationship to explain the legal obligations of an old relationship with a new relationship — when it breaks the law and when is does not break the law.
2. (7:1-2) What is it the readers know for a fact, i.e., does not need to be proven?
a. A covenant or contract has three parts: something having binding force (law), the “enforcer” (husband) , the “enforcee”(wife).
b. When one ceases (husband dies) the one bound (wife) is released from that having binding force (law).
c. When husband dies and wife re-marries she is obligated to new husband, i.e., under the law of the new husband not the dead husband.
3. (7:2) PONDER: Besides the “law of marriage” being well known why do you think Paul chose the “law of marriage” as an example of a law that ceases to be binding after one dies?
a. Christians are called the bride (the church) and Christ is called the bridegroom and our relationship with Christ is as a bride. (Rom 7:4; Eph 5:23-27; Rev 19:7, Rev 21:9)
4. (7:3) What does Paul’s illustration tell us about a wife’s obligation to her living husband.
a. She is obligated (subject) to her husband as long as he is alive, to act “obligated” (subject) to another man makes her an adulteress.
OBSERVATION: Some version read “married to another”, better translation of the Greek word (not same word used in 7:2) is, “come to another man”, “joined to another man”, even better “living with another man” (being a significant other).
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — What does Paul’s illustration add to answering the question of (Rom 6:1-2)?
1. When the readers were married to law they served law , now that law has died they are married to another, i.e., they are obligated to their current husband.
2. Same would be true for one married to sin and continued to serve sin.
PONDER: How does 6:2 fit with 7:3 and a Christian’s desire to continue living in sin.
a) The person would be an adulterer for they are not serving their new living husband but the one who has died, thus, no longer their husband (the one they are subject to or under).
b) Is using a well-known relationship to explain the legal effect of an old relationship to any law of merit and their new relationship to Christ.
E. Conclusion — Those thinking they have an obligation to continue obeying a law of merit to be “sanctified” are being told it is not wrong to reject (in fact must be done) all laws of merit (Law of Moses) to serve grace when God (not man) decides laws of merit cease being an effective means for sanctification.
1. Paul’s point is not that a Christian must obey Christ, but that a mature Christian obeys Christ because they have married another — i.e., Christ

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A LOOK AHEAD

VII. {Rom 7 :4-6}
A. Introduction
1. Review — Paul has shown when one is legally obligated to one person it is to commit adultery to be joined with another person.
2. Preview — Christians no longer are to serve sinful passion. Law does not control sinful passions but arouses sinful passions.
a.
B. Question For Discussion?
1. According to Rom 7:4-6 why does one saved by grace (not law of merit) not continue to live in sin? (Rom 6:1-2)?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. (7:4) What is the similarity between the Christians in Rome and the wife?
a.
2. (7:4) What is the channel or means releasing the wife and releasing the readers?
a.
3. (7:4) What was the consequences of Christ death?
a.
4. (7:4) What was the purpose of being joined with Christ?
a.
5. (7:5) What was the weakness of and resulting consequences of the Law of Moses (all laws of merit)?
6. (7:6) What is the difference between how the readers served God in the past and should now serve God?
a.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — According to Rom 7:4-6 why does one saved by grace (not law of merit) not continue to live in sin? (Rom 6:1-2)?
1.
E. Conclusion — Before one has died to the Law if they serve another they commit adultery. After one been set free from the law (died to the law) to once again serve the law (Law of Moses) or sin is to commit adultery. The issue Paul is addressing is not marriage, per se, but our relationship to the law of merit and to the law of Christ. (cf. Rom 3:31)