Romans 7: Defines law versus grace.

St. Paul’s great chapter of Romans 7 emphasizes the transition from law to grace and the new covenant’s transformative power. His interpretation centers on the believer’s liberation from the law’s condemnation and the empowerment of the Spirit. Below is a structured analysis of his key points, an exegesis supported by Romans 7:

1. The Law’s Role: Revealing Sin, Not Saving

I want to emphasize that the law in the New Covenant remains holy, righteous and good (Romans 7:12), yet powerless to save. It exposes sin’s depth by provoking rebellion (e.g., coveting) and reveals humanity’s inability to fulfill its demands. For example, Paul’s struggle with coveting (Romans 7:7-11) illustrates how the law diagnoses sin but cannot cure it. The law aims to illuminate sin’s corruption, not provide righteousness.

2. The Marriage Analogy: Death to the Law

Paul’s marriage metaphor (Romans 7:1-6) explains believers’ freedom from the law. Just as death ends a marriage, union with Christ’s death releases believers from the law’s authority. Through Christ’s death, believers are freed from the law’s legalism and “married” to Christ, who empowers them to bear spiritual fruit.

3. Grace vs. Legalism: Serving in the Spirit

Contrast the old way of the written code (law) with the new way of the Spirit (grace). Under the law, sin’s power dominates, leading to death (Romans 7:5-6). In Christ, believers are freed to serve God in the Spirit’s power, not through legalistic effort. This aligns with Paul’s declaration that believers are “not under the law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).

4. The New Covenant’s Victory Over Sin

The new covenant fulfills the law’s purpose. While the law exposed sin’s reign (Romans 7:13-25), Christ’s sacrifice delivers believers from sin’s dominion. The Spirit now enables obedience, replacing the law’s condemnation with grace’s empowerment. This mirrors Paul’s cry of deliverance through Christ (Romans 7:24-25).

5. The Believer’s Ongoing Struggle

Paul acknowledges the tension between flesh and Spirit (Romans 7:14-25). Even under grace, believers experience an internal conflict between sinful desires and God’s will. However, this struggle is not a defeat but a reminder of dependence on Christ’s grace for victory. The law’s role here is diagnostic, while grace provides the cure and a path to empower obedience and sanctification.

Conclusion: Romans 7 is not a prescription for legalism but a testament to grace. The law’s inability to save highlights the necessity of Christ’s work, while the new covenant’s Spirit-empowered life fulfills God’s redemptive plan. Next is Romans 8, click here to read.

Key Contrasts: Law vs. Grace