Is Romans 7 relevant for Gentiles?

Rom 7:1-6; Rom 6:14; Eph 2:11-22. Rom 1:1-6, 14-17; 1Co 15:56-57; Rom 7:24-25; Rom 8:3-4.

WTROM-83-141210 - length: 44:07 - taught on Dec, 10 2014

Class Outline:

John Farley
Pastor-Teacher
Wednesday,
December 10, 2014

Romans 7 deals with the Mosaic Law.

Paul is always very clear in his thinking, especially in Romans. He states exactly what he is talking about.
Romans 7 is for clarification about the Law -what it is and is not - and its relationship to Christians.
Paul has set the stage for Romans 7 by several key statements he has made about the Law earlier in Romans.
The monologue in ROM 7:13-25 is notoriously tricky to interpret. The best way to understand it is to first make sure that you understand ROM 7:1-6 !
There are several other passages in other epistles that also speak about the role of the Law.
You should have a working knowledge of what the Law is in order to get the most out of chapter 7.
Romans 7 in turn sets the stage for Romans 8.
Expect to be freed up from some things in your heart as you grasp the meaning of Romans 7.

2. Romans 7 is for clarification about the Law -what it is and is not - and its relationship to Christians.

Romans 6 and 7 are a parenthesis between Romans 5 and Romans 8.

In Romans 6, Paul dealt with questions about sin.

Romans 7 is first and foremost about the Mosaic Law, the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

The Mosaic Law is recorded in the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus.

The Mosaic Law is a major subject in the New Testament epistles. Paul brings it up in most of his epistles.

The Law is very prominent in the book of Romans.

The Law takes center stage in Romans chapter 2, and it is prominent in chapters 3, 4, and 5 as well.

Yet chapter 7 is the most complete and detailed treatment of the subject of the Law in the epistles.

Major portions of the book of Romans are dedicated to clarifying the Gospel as it concerns the Jew.

Chapters 2, 4, 6, 7, 9,10, and 11 of the book of Romans all answer Jewish questions about the gospel.

What about God’s promises to the nation of Israel? Has God rejected His people?

Chapters 9, 10, and 11 of the book of Romans answer this question.

Many of us are not Jewish. Does this mean that these sections are irrelevant for us?

MAY IT NEVER BE!

There is a powerful
a fortiori at work here.

If this is true for the Jews, how much more true this must be for the Gentiles!!

The Jews are the test case. If this Gospel of grace through faith in Christ, not by the works of the Law -

- if this Gospel works for the Jews, it works for all mankind.

The main topic is the Mosaic Law.

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