Romans Worksheet - Chapter 7

 

Review:
 

In Chapters 1- 4, Paul explained to us what God's Righteousness is and how all men are guilty of falling short of that mark.  He shows that the only way to be righteous in God's eyes is through faith in the One Righteous offering, the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is by God's grace that we are saved and not a result of keeping the law or doing good works.  In Chapter 5, Paul told us that our lives would show fruit of the righteousness that is imparted to us through faith in Christ.  We saw how we are completely identified with Christ in Chapter 6 and how the old body of sin no longer held us as slaves to sin.  We have power over sin through the grace that we now stand in as justified believers in Jesus.  In Chapter 7 and 8, we will see that we are free from the Law's condemnation and how we live in the power of the Holy Spirit as justified believers. Amen.

Romans Chapter 7

1.  Paul compares dying to the law like a partner dying and one being 'free' to join themselves to another.  In this case, the One to join ourselves is to "Christ". 

• What is the purpose of our union with Him? vs. 4 -

We are the Bride of Christ. See and comment on Paul's statement in this verse:

• 2 Corinthians 11:2 -

2.  Our union with Christ is to bring 'fruit for God'.

Paul talked about in chapter 6 how we used to present the members of our body (arms, legs, hands, etc.) to be used as instruments of sin, but that now we are no longer slaves of sin, but we can present our members to produce the righteous fruit for our Lord.

What did Jesus He chose us to do?

• John 15:16 -

3.  While we were in the flesh and the sinful passions of the flesh, what did the members of our body produce in us? vs. 5 - 

4.  What have we now been released from and how do we serve God now? vs. 6 - 

5.  If the Law cannot save us or be kept to bring us righteousness, what purpose does it serve? vs. 7, vs. 13 -

• 1)
• 2)

Also see this verse and comment:

• Galatians 3:23-25 -

6.  Read Romans 7:7-13.

Note:  Paul is referring to himself here; that before he fully understood the law and the consequences of breaking the law, he was alive.  When he learned of breaking God's laws, that brought his death; his realization that he could not sin willingly against God and experience eternal life.  Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death". ... Paul goes on to say that the law was where the entrance of sin and death came to him ... for it brought condemnation and stimulated more sin in him ... a cycle.

• Have you been on that cycle before?  The more you try not to, the more you do what you don't want to do? ...

Paul goes on in Chapter 7 to talk about this struggle we all face in regard to the Law of God.

7.  To begin with, what can we know for sure in regard to God's Holy Laws?  vs. 12 -

8.  If it is not the Law's fault for our spiritual death, what is to blame? vs. 13 -

9.  Paul says next that we know the the Law is spiritual, but we are of flesh.  He presents the struggle we discussed; our mind agreeing with God's law that it is good, but the flesh not always obeying the mind because sin still rears its ugly head within our flesh.

• Read Romans 7:14-23.

Note: There is debate, but most scholars agree that Paul is talking in the present tense in these Scriptures of the on-going struggle between the Spirit and the flesh, which is the warfare of every born again believer until the day he physcially dies.

• What is good about our flesh? vs. 18 - 
• What does evil want to do in us? (surprise answer) vs. 21 -
• Why do you think it is evil to want that in light of the point Paul is trying to get across in this entire letter to the Romans so far? 
• What does Paul see happening within himself? vs. 23 -

10. Let's look at another place where Paul teaches us about this spiritual warfare:

Read Galatians 5:13-25. (Please read it before attempting to answer questions so that you get the entire context of the passage)....

Note:  As you see, the context from start to finish is relationships in the body of Christ.  Our flesh thinks of ourselves, but if we are walking in the Spirit, our spirit thinks of others.  When we are in the Spirit, brethren, we won't backbite, complain against one another, challenge or envy one another.  Instead, we will produce the fruit of His Spirit - having patience and kindness among other beautiful fruits He produces in our lives.

• What does the flesh sets its desires against? vs. 17 -
• How do the Spirit of God and the flesh relate to one another? vs. 17 -
• List the deeds of the flesh that make it evident (seen clearly) that we are not walking or living in the Spirit, applying the grace available to us ? vs. 19-21
• What is the fruit of His Spirit that will be evident (clearly seen) when we are walking in His grace, in His presence, in His Word, in His Spirit? vs. 22 -
• What has happened to those who belong to Christ? vs. 23
• What is the result when we live according to what has taken place, when we believe the truth rather than the lie, when we choose to live in the grace God has supplied to us? vs. 25 -

Back to Romans 7 for Conclusion:

11. How does Paul feel about himself when he feels a prisoner of the law again? vs. 24 -

12.  How does he break free of the weight of having that dead corpse of flesh dragging him down again? vs. 25 -

13.  What will he say as he continues the letter to the Romans (without chapter breaks in the original format) .... Romans 8:1-2 ..?

We will continue the theme from chapter 8 on the next lesson...

14. For now, let's apply what we are learning:

We are the Bride of Christ With the Spirit of Christ, in union with Him, we produce His fruit for the Father The Law of God is Holy & Good  The sin in us is death according to the Law The Spirit of God produces life and every good and productive thing We access the Spirit of God through recognizing sin, confessing sin, and choosing to walk in the Spirit of God  We are able to walk in the Spirit because we are jusitified and made whole, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus

Your summary and prayer today:

Written by Brenda LeMoine for Heart & Home Bible Fellowship© with permission to use on RTB sites. For personal or ministry related use, please email Brenda for permission and conditions.