Romans 8:1-4 In today's lesson we move from Paul's discovery of his miserable condition in chapter seven, to his explanation of what it is like to be one who lives the life of the Spirit in chapter eight. To what does the word "therefore" in verse one refer? Who does Paul have in mind when he speaks of those who are "in Christ?" What is the condemnation of which he speaks. What is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ? How are we set free from the law of sin which we learned ruled our lives in chapter seven? What had the Law failed to do that God did? How did God do that? What is the requirement of the law that is met in those who walk according to the Spirit? (49 min)

Keywords Law, Death, Life, Spirit, Flesh

Romans 7:21-25 Paul now reaches the conclusion of all that he's been saying in verses 14-25. Having spoken about the Mosaic law throughout the chapter, he now introduces us to other laws that have a bearing on his condition. What are these other laws, and how do they relate to the Mosaic law? What is the "different" law, and what does it do? Why does Paul not keep the law? Can a non-believer "delight" in God's law? To what is Paul driven by the realization of the war between the two laws within him? Is Paul's awareness of wretchedness something he encountered before or after conversion? What is the answer to his condition? What is the "inner man" to which Paul refers? What are some ways that this passage can relate to us whether we view it as speaking of a Christian or an non-believer? (63 min)

Keywords Sin, Law, Death, Christ, Flesh

Romans 7:17-20 We continue in this lesson following Paul's logical train through Romans 7 as he explains how it was that he came to understand the utter sinfulness of sin, and his own bondage to it. What does he mean when he says that he was not the one doing it (disobeying the Law) but sin in him? What are the two primary views in the Western world of what it means to be human? How does Paul reflect a dualism in his theology in this passage? What would be a serious error to conclude from this passage? How does the view that the Christian possesses two natures (an old sinful nature and a new nature) present difficulties with what Paul says in this passage? What are some other words that Paul uses to refer to the "I" in this chapter? What is the flesh of which Paul speaks here? (63 min)

Keywords Law, Sin, Death, Flesh

Romans 7:14-17 In this lesson we continue to explore one of the more challenging passages of the New Testament to interpret. Several things particularly notable about the passage have a bearing on our interpretation: the logical order of the passage, the absence of any mention of the Holy Spirit, and the prominence of the idea of bondage to sin and inability to do what is right. What are the two primary views of this passage that Christians hold? Why is it important how we understand this passage? What are two ways that the present tense can be used? How are we to determine which way Paul is using the present tense in these verses? Are there strong reasons to think that Paul is not using the present tense in a literal sense? Can an unbeliever want to obey God's law? What does Paul know as a result of the interplay of sin with the Law? How is it that Paul has come to know this? What is the dichotomy or dualism that Paul discovers about himself? A handout comparing the person in this passage with the believer in chapters 6 and 8 may be viewed or downloaded here. (57 min)

Keywords Sin, Law, Death

Romans 7:13 (14-20) We are now ready to tackle one of the more challenging passages in Scripture to interpret (7:14-25), and believers throughout church history have differed in their understanding of it. We often come with preset ideas that color our view of the passage. In this lesson we will lay the groundwork for properly interpreting the rest of the chapter by examining the importance of verse 13, and consider how it should set the direction of our interpretation of the following verses. How does Paul's own background bear on the meaning of this passage? How does the situation in the church in Rome relate to what Paul says? How do verses 14-20 demonstrate Paul's train of logic following on verse 13? What are the two chief ways this passage is understood? What is not an issue in these differing views? What things are at issue? How do verses 14-20 show how someone discovers the utter sinfulness of sin mentioned in verse 13? What does Paul mean when he says that he does "not understand" what is happening, and yet goes on to explain what was happening? A handout accompanied this lesson and can be viewed or downloaded here. (63 min)

Keywords Sin, Death, Law