Paul Discusses the Freedom of Faith.
—Outline of Romans 7 to 8
This page is an outline, for your reference, of Romans chapters 7 to 8. In these chapters Paul teaches us about freedom in Christ.
1 Freedom from the Law
The old law no longer binds (Romans 7:1-4)
- Illustration: A husband's death releases his wife from the law binding her to him.
- Similarly, when Christ's death becomes effective for someone, the law is cancelled that was previously binding on that person.
- When one becomes a Christian, one is free to let go of all previous bondage and be bound only to the law of the risen Christ.
This freedom from the old law is good (Romans 7:5-6).
- We bring forth fruit unto God instead of fruit unto death (Paul will explain this later).
- We serve in newness of the Spirit instead of serving the oldness of the letter (cf 2Corinthians 3:6-7).
Note:— The Letters in Stone. The law engraved in stone was the paradigm or pattern of all law that bound either Jew or Gentile. Generally speaking, what was true of the ten commandments would also be true of any God-given law, except for the Law of Christ (the new covenant or gospel).
This freedom from old law is necessary (Romans 7:7-13).
- The law that previously bound was God's law and therefore good (Romans 7:12).
- The law is not sin, nor its cause. However its righteous commandments create an opportunity for lust, sin, and spiritual death. Sin took opportunity, in the law and in the weakness of the flesh, to bring condemnation and spiritual death (Romans 7:8-13, cf Ezekiel 18:4, Genesis 2:16-17).
- We delight in God's law inwardly, but the ideal in our minds is not reproduced in the flesh. Our bodies do not always work what our hearts wish.
- Thus, because of our weakness, God's good law condemns us instead of giving us life. So it becomes as it were "another law" of sin and death.
- It was necessary for the law to have this weakness, so that sin would be stripped of its disguises and be no more concealed. Through that law sin became known (Romans 7:7).
- God foresaw all this and planned freedom through the new "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1-4). Because we are carnal, that is to say of the flesh, we needed that new law, one that has no weakness and can deal with our weakness.
Note:— The Ultimate Sacrifice. The underlying strength of Christ’s law is his sacrifice on the cross. ¶“You have become dead to the law by the body of Christ. ~ Isn't Christ Jesus the one who died? Yes, and even better, the one who was raised. He is [now] at the right hand of God, [and there] he too intercedes for us” (Romans 7:4, 8:34).
2 Freedom from Sin
Free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-4).
- We have no condemnation now, because we are in Christ.
- We have been set free from the law of sin and death.
- We are under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
- God made possible this transition by sending hos own Son to die in the flesh for sin (cf Colossians 2:12-14).
Free from the flesh (Romans 8:5-13).
- We are not "in the flesh" neither do we "walk after the flesh".
- We are now "in the Spirit" and we "walk after the Spirit".
- We still dwell in fleshly bodies, however we do not have our "mind set on the flesh", but rather we have our "mind set on the Spirit".
- This is true only "if the Spirit of God dwells in you".
- We mortify (kill) the body in order to give the body life. In other words (without the metaphor and paradox) we subject both mind and body in obedience to the law of God through the indwelling Spirit.
3 Freedom from Fear
In Christ we have no fear of the following... (Romans 8:14-39).
- No fear of bondage for God treats his slaves as sons and heirs (v.14-17)
- No fear of suffering for we have the incomparable hope of glory (v.17-18).
- No fear of corruption for we will be redeemed from physical death (v.19-25 cf Hebrews 9:15, 1Corinthians 15:53).
- No fear of speaking to God because the Holy Spirit helps us (v.26-27)
- No fear of the future because our calling and destiny is quite certain if we keep walking in the Spirit (v.28-30)
- No fear of condemnation because God has justified us and therefore no one else however mighty can charge us (v.31-34).
- No fear of any foe because the love of God protects us in Christ Jesus (v.35-39).
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