Bible Study Snacks, Romans 7:13-25

Hi, everyone!

Thanks for joining me again as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. I hope your week has been going well. This week, we will be studying Chapter 7 verses 13-25. As always, it's my most sincere hope that you find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

Each week, before moving on with our study, we briefly review the scripture that was discussed during our last meeting together. I really feel that doing this helps prepare us for our current study. I hope you agree!

In review, we last learned that...

Paul had just completed discussing how being baptized into Christ makes us dead to sin and free to present our bodies as instruments of righteousness unto holiness. For the benefit of his Jewish readers (those who know the Law), he then carried the concept of death and freedom one step further: the Jewish believers became dead to the Law that they might be joined to Christ. He illustrated his point by referring to the marital relationship. The result of being freed from the Law is that they might "serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter."

To prevent his Jewish readers from thinking he was implying that the Law was sinful, Paul was quick to reject that idea. The Law, he says, is "holy and just and good." The problem was that the Law only made known that which was sinful, but sin took opportunity by the commandment to produce evil desire and deceived him, resulting in death.

This week in summary...

To further illustrate his point, Paul pictures himself as man under the Law who finds himself in a terrible dilemma. With his mind he knows that which good and wants to do it. He also knows that which is evil and wants to avoid that. But he finds a "law" (or principle) in his flesh which wins over the desire of the mind. As a prisoner he cries out for freedom.

Is there no hope? Yes! God provides the solution through His Son Jesus Christ, upon which Paul will elaborate in chapter eight.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 7:13-25. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. What does Paul refer to by the phrase “that which is good” (Romans 7:13)?
2. Can the law become the cause of spiritual or eternal death (Romans 7:13)?
3. What is the cause for death then (Romans 7:13)?
4. How does Paul describe the Law in Romans 7:14?
5. How does Paul here describe himself (Romans 7:14)?
6. Rewrite Romans 7:15 in your own words? Do you sense this tension too?
7. Can sinful activity come from our spiritual nature (Romans 7:17-18)?
8. What does he want to do in Romans 7:19? Does he do it?
9. What does he not desire to do (Romans 7:19)? Does he do it?
10. What conclusion does he make about his wrong deeds (Romans 7:20)?
11. Please fill in this quote from Romans 7:21: “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil _______________.”
12. “The inner man” or “inner being” is first used here in Romans. Does it refer to his spiritual or his fleshly nature (Romans 7:22)?
13. Paul equates his inner nature with the law of his mind. What is this law of his mind waging war against (Romans 7:23)?
14. How does Paul the apostle describe himself in Romans 7:24?
15. What is the desperate question he raises in Romans 7:24?
16. His answer is split into three parts (Romans 7:25).
17. Who can set him free?
18. What part of him serves the law of God?
19. What part of him serves the law of sin?

Lastly, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans 7:13-25. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri