Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
“The Law Of Sin” And “The Law Of Sin And Death:”
There are many definitions of the word “law” in the dictionary, but in looking at how the Word is used in Romans chapters 7 and 8, the word law refers to the life, the will, the way, and to ‘whom’ we will submit, and give the power and rulership unto whereby we will “serve,” and “obey,” and “walk” our lives unto it. Walking “after the flesh” is becoming of our identity as those who ‘live’ after the lifestyle of the men of this world. The flesh of men governs his decision making, he walks according to the ‘rule’ of what is the ‘norm,’ and this becomes the ‘way of life’ by those who choose to ‘live’ after their own flesh, and not after the Word of God.
These Are Examples Of Serving The Flesh: *NOTE* Paul is not talking about the obvious ‘lustful sins’ of the flesh, he already covered that in chapter 6! This ‘service’ deals with ‘who’ you are going to now be subjected unto, this is the context of chapters 6 and 7. Paul address the issue that they are “not under the Law, but under grace,” he now at that point deals with the worship and service aspects of godliness. In the verses prior Paul dealt with the truths of our being ‘made alive’ unto Him Who has quickened us “like as Christ.” And this ‘identity life’ in Christ glorifies our Lord to the glory of God, and ‘living’ unto the lusts of our flesh only glorifies our flesh, and is “fruit unto death” in the sight of God.
Religion: The tradition of men is viewed as godliness, but this is what Paul called having “confidence in the flesh,” it is worshipping God in the flesh, instead of worshipping God in the Spirit the way God intended. This type of ‘self-service’ includes things done within the local assembly which are “all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men.” This type of ungodliness is done day by day in our Churches, and the assumption is that this is the way God designed that the Saints ought to walk unto God, but they know themselves that nowhere in God’s Word of truth are we taught to serve God this way, but these things are taught by the commandments and doctrines of men (this will be the focus of the next study).
“Law In My Members” Politics, Patriotism, Racism, Vanity And ‘Self-Love:’
This type ‘life’ deals with the Saint being “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” And it by these ‘pleasures’ of the flesh that the Saints who have now repented from the sin of Adam by faith alone and are now in Christ; have not “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” And the Saints themselves ‘carry with them’ the ‘love’ that they have had for these things of their flesh. And even though they all will say that they are not ‘given’ unto these things anymore, the moment when a situation arises concerning these things, they desire to share the opinion, they can get excited, or angry, or have the desire to ‘get involved’ in these things, these things stay on their minds, and unfortunately; in their hearts. They ‘live by’ a law of their flesh according to these things, and they place the doctrine of Jesus Christ ‘on top’ of their own life’s loves of their heart. And things like the economy, political candidates, civil injustices, disdain for other ethnic groups, burning love and desire for country.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
The Law mentioned in the verses above are not referring to the “Law of Moses,” but is referring to The New Testament “according to the revelation of the mystery.” This “Law” is the doctrine of the life of the Testator Himself; it is the doctrine which is according to godliness. And as we can see in verses 22 and 25, the Law of God is designed to work within our “inward man” only, this is where we ought to understand and appreciate how God has made provision for His Saints. And that is; the life of His Saints must be ‘lived’ through their inward man only, and that is through the Law of God alone. And it is by our minds being renewed by the doctrine of the life of Christ after the Spirit, (the Word of God) that we are to be subject unto the Law of God, this is what it means to have a Spiritual mind.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Furthermore, as we have seen, it is by the Spirit of God that we are to live unto God. And it is by our minds being renewed by His Word, this is the Spiritual mind mentioned in chapter 8, this type of “mind” can please God, and by walking according to the Spirit the Saint now has “life” in Christ by His Word, and “therefore now no condemnation” in the sight of God “in Christ.” This condemnation is a sanctification ‘death’ (separation) from the life of living the life of the Testator according to the revelation of the mystery. And it is by the living Word of God that we ought to “walk” and live according to His Word, and by walking with the Spiritual and selfless heart, we will ‘fulfil’ the Law of God. And as we can see in the verses above, fulfilling the Law of God is done by our walk “in the Spirit” with the Spiritual mind, and in the verses below, we see it is also by the selfless love of the Saints unto others. Both of these ‘works’ is what “godliness” is all about, and what the New Testament is in Christ. The Lord Himself taught this unto His disciples, and the Apostle Paul teaches us this glorious truth according to the revelation of the mystery. And this is the doctrine that Paul mentions that he himself serves with his “inward man,” and we too ought to serve after our inward man, not according to our flesh, or after the flesh of others.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Rod Jones
Very good brother!!
Such clarity, thank you brother!