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I did this first part in Jan. 2003. It is hard to believe that I have forgotten this and not finished it in so long a time. Today is Nov. 26,2004. I am going to try and do some more and hopefully finish this message.

Ro 7:7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

This is saying that the law itself is not sin. But the law is the thing which gave mankind the knowledge of what sin is. It clearly is speaking of the Ten Commandment Law right here, for it used the law, Thou shalt not covet. This then is that tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Ro 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

The commandment gave rise to all manner of sin, for the transgression of the law is sin. Verse nine is very important. For I was alive without the law once-- now who is that speaking of? It is speaking of the beginning of life when Adam and Eve were under grace = no sin. Mankind was alive with that law. God had said, the day you EAT of that tree, you will die. Now when Adam partook of that tree, he was made dead in trespasses and sin. So He died. When the commandment came, SIN revived, and I died. He found that commandment to be unto death just as God had said it would be. It did not bring life, it brought forth death. It still brings forth death today. There is no life under law.

Ro 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

See here that this tree is both good and evil. It has the knowledge of both good and evil. Sin works death in us by that which is good, which is the law. For if you live by law and break even one tiny part of the law, then you are guilty of it all. So then death is the result.

Ro 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Now for many years, most people have used the above verses to try and say it is Paul, the great Christian man, telling us that he is powerless to quit his sinning. Nothing could be further from the truth. Go back and really READ the verses. If you cannot see that this is speaking strictly of mankind trying to live under law, then you need to learn to read. This chapter is dealing EXCLUSIVELY with the condition of mankind under law. It is showing that life under law is only death and sin-filled. For by the law is no justification. No one under law ever got free from sin. It is impossible. So under law, sin dwells inside and brings one into condemnation. He is saying that in the human flesh in no good thing with which to perform good.

Ro 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Again here are verses which carnal, evil minded people have misused and tried to say that the Christian Man, Paul is the one saying this of himself. It is not what this chapter is about at all. It is very plain that this chapter is dealing only with the state of mankind under law. He is going to take us into the way out of this dilemma. People use this chapter to try and justify their sins and still call themselves Christians. It is just not true.

Sin is not dwelling in true Christians, for the blood of Jesus Christ CLEANSES us from ALL SIN. So if He cleansed us from all sin, how then is sin dwelling in us and bringing us into captivity?

Ro 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

The law in man’s members which brings him into captivity is this law of sin and death. Under this law man is wretched. He sees no possible way out or deliverance. Do you truly believe this is the state Jesus places us in when He cleanses us from all sin? These final verses in chapter seven show the hopeless condition of mankind under that OT law of sin and death, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He asks the tormenting question --who shall deliver me from the body of this death.

Death is the condition man fell into when he ate of this forbidden tree. He is still alive physically, but he is in death. Dead in trespasses and sins. Dead away from the life of God.

Now no study on this chapter could or would be complete without going on into chapter eight. So here then is the deliverance he seeks:

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Now there is the answer and deliverance: no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. We walk not after the flesh (law) but after the Spirit (Grace; Holy Ghost).

Notice verse 2: this shows that there are TWO DIFFERENT laws: the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus--

has made me free from the Law of sin and death.

Now see that the law of sin and death is that law which brought them into death in chapter seven? How could anyone miss this truth? It is so very plain and clear!

There is a LAW that when one is in Christ Jesus, they are free from that other law of sin and death. Now there is life. Now there is no condemnation. Now there is no sin to bring us into bondage. What the old law could not do for it was weak through the flesh, God’s Son did for us. He condemned sin in the flesh. He brought deliverance.

So for you to say you are in Christ Jesus and still in sin and bondage and death and defeat, is to call the blood of Jesus of no value. It is to say his salvation is nothing. You are then still in the same horrible condition you were in while under that law of sin and death. You are STILL dead in trespasses and sin. So this is to say the blood and covenant of Jesus is no better than the blood of bulls and goats and the old covenant which God did away with. This is nothing short of BLASPHEMY!

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

You cannot teach chapter seven without chapter eight. See that he said the Son of God came to do what that law could not do? So then why is almost everyone saying that there is no difference? They say they are in Christ but still under that bondage of sin. Shew! This is terrible!

See then that he shows here that those under that old law are the carnally minded and it is death. Those in Christ Jesus are spiritually minded and this is LIFE AND PEACE.

Did you see any life and peace in chapter seven? Of course not. It was mankind still under that old law. He had no hope there. So then why are so many still today clinging to that old law when they could and should be set free from it?

Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

This shows that the carnal mind is the one under law. So it proves that the law is what took them into carnality and death. The carnal mind is that of law. These are the ones in the flesh. The law is flesh. It is the works of the flesh. They cannot please God. Those of us who have the Spirit of God dwelling in us are not in the flesh. We are in the Spirit. If you have not this Holy Ghost Spirit of God, you are none of his. So this proves none under that old law are his children. They are the bond children.

Ro 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

If Christ be in you your body is dead because of sin. In other words, either you are dead in sins and living under law, or you are dead to your body because of the sins and dead to law. If you have the Spirit of God, then you have life. So you must be dead to something, either the body of sins, law, or dead to Christ.

Ro 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

If you are led by the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, then you are sons of God and alive unto God. But if you are under law, you are dead and in despair.

Ro 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Now that sounds quite different from the ending condition of man at the end of chapter seven, doesn’t it?

Gal l5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Here we are admonished to stand fast in our liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. This is grace and total deliverance from all our sins. He said do not pick back up that yoke of bondage of law. He shows here that if you go back to one point of law, you are a debtor to do the whole law. Then you fall back under that dead, hopeless condition told of in chapter seven. Christ is of no effect unto any who go back to law, you fall from grace.

Then if you go back to law you are once again dead, in sins, defeated and wretched. You are once again under condemnation and headed to destruction in hell.

See this is why the seventh church is said to be wretched -- she went back to law. It was the dog returning to his vomit; the hog returning to his wallowing in the mire.

Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

This verse is the greatest testimony that in Christ Jesus, the Holy Ghost, we are not under the law. We are free. We are now not under any condemnation. If you go back to law and sin, then you are again in death and bondage. Why would you rather be in sins and death, law, than to have life and be free?

It is because you love sin enough to lose your eternal life to wallow in sins a few years here in this frail life.

Come in to grace and be set free from all your sins. Can one be free from sins?

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

When were you servants of sin? When you were under law. The end of those things is death, for that tree brought forth only death.

Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

See then that in Christ we are made free from sin and death. We have everlasting life.

By: Jo Smith