Up to now, Paul has repeatedly talked about how we don’t live by the law anymore. Such teaching had the same reaction back then that many Christians have today: religious rules are bad, so we don’t need the law anymore. Such thinking then leads to wanting to live however we please. So, where does the law fit into a Christian’s life? Let’s study that this week. 

Read Romans 7:7-12 and journal through the following questions: 

• How does Paul answer the idea that the law itself is sin? (v. 7)

• What is the purpose of the law? (v. 7)

• When Paul heard the commandment not to covet, what was his natural reaction? (v. 7-8)

• When someone tells you a religious rule to follow, how do you usually react?

• Paul describes sin as seizing an opportunity through a religious commandment. What does that mean? Hint: think of Adam & Eve’s reaction to the one tree they were forbidden to eat from. In the words of Harrison, “The word opportunity in the original is a military term meaning a base of operations. Prohibition furnishes a springboard from which sin is all too ready to take off.” 

• Sin is deceptive because it falsely promises satisfaction, claims an adequate excuse and promises an escape from punishment. How can we be set free from the deceptions of sin? See John 8:32, John 1:17, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 5:1, James 2:12 and 1 Peter 2:16

• Paul says that before the law came into the picture, he felt alive, but once the commandment came, the promised life proved to be death to him. What does that mean? (v. 9)

• The law shows us our sin and moral failings. For many people, that feels like an ending. But why isn’t that the case for those who accept Christ as his or her savior? See John 3:16, John 14:6, 1 John 5:20 and 1 Timothy 6:12

• In his commentary, Matthew Henry phrases the necessity of the law in this way: “There is no way of coming to that knowledge of sin, which is necessary to repentance, and therefore to peace and pardon, but by trying our hearts and lives by the law.” Read Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9, Revelation 2:5, Proverbs 28:13. 2 Chronicles 7:14 and 2 Corinthians 7:10. What do these passages teach us about the relationship between the law and repentance? 

• What does Paul conclude about the law? Why do we need the law? (v. 12)

• How does Paul come to this conclusion after saying that “we must die to sin” (Romans 6:2) and “we must die to the law” (Romans 7:4)? 

• What role have religious rules played in your life?  

• How has your view of religious rules / the law changed as a result of this week’s study? 

Reflect & Respond

• What does this passage teach me about God?

• How does this change the way I live? 

Scripture to Memorize

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yelena is the founder and editor in chief Tirzah. Yelena works as an attorney in tax and in her spare time, she is working on her first book for unmarried twenty-something women in extended waiting seasons and running Tirzah. She has a passion for pointing young women to Christ, and enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with her family.