The Strength of Sin is the Law, Romans 7

Chapter 3

In our study of Romans 6, we noticed the promise, “Sin shall not have dominion, for ye are not under law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14, R.V.).

What does it mean, “Ye are not under law,” and why not? The answer is, because “the strength of sin is the law.” The law can show us what we ought to be and what we are not; can show us what we are, and can curse us, but cannot save us. Unless, therefore, we are delivered from it we shall never know true liberty or freedom from sin. It is this question of Deliverance from Law that we have brought before us in this Romans 7 chapter.

The chapter is easily divided. It begins with an illustration from the legal relationship of husband and wife of what it means to be delivered from the law—or “discharged” (R.V.) from law (Romans 7:1-3). The explanation follows the illustration in Romans 7:4-6.

The rest of the chapter is divided by three questions: Firstly, in Romans 7:7, “What shall we