Romans 7:7-14: The Law and sin
Nick retraces Paul’s own story from persecutor at the stoning of Stephen to apostle to the Gentiles before turning to the question the letter has been building toward in Romans 7:7-14. He shows that the law is not sin but that it defines, exposes, and condemns sin, revealing that the real problem lies not with the law but with us.
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Romans 7:5-6: Flesh and Spirit
Nick draws on familiar before-and-after stories, weight loss, makeovers, renovations, to introduce the dramatic before-and-after Paul describes for the Christian in Romans 7:5-6. He shows the contrast between life in the flesh, bearing fruit for death, and life in the new way of the Spirit.
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Romans 7:1-4: Dead to the Law
Nick paraphrases Luther’s remark that understanding the difference between law and gospel is the key to all Christian truth, opening Romans 7:1-4 on the believer’s relationship to the law. He shows that Christians have died to the law’s claim on them through the body of Christ, freeing them to belong instead to the one who was raised.
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