Paul’s Epistle to the Romans
November 7, 2021
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for all of the amazing things
that you have done for us today. Thank you for making it possible for all of us
to gather together. Thank you for revealing your love and truth in you. We are
blessed to be able to gather together and read your words. Sow your words in our
hearts today so that they may grow and blossom. Help your words to take root so
that we can follow your path in life. As we learn more of your teachings, walk
with us and help us to live in your unending love. For yours is the kingdom,
the power and the glory, now and forever. Amen.[1]
Romans 7:4-6
Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the
law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him
who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for
God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our
sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to
bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released
from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in
the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
v.4
In order that we might bear fruit for God.
-
What fruit?
-
Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against
such things there is no law.
-
How hard does a fruit tree think about bearing
fruit?
o
Do we understand this as a statement of the Law?
o
Or do we understand this fruit as a gift of the
Gospel?
v. 5
For while we –
-
Note the 1st person plural as the
apostle includes himself.
-
Is it important for preachers to talk about
their own need for grace? Why/why not?
o
Is there a danger/weakness in do this?
-
Is it important for preachers to preach to
people in a way that says this message is about you, the hearer, and for you,
the hearer? Why/why not?
o
Is there a danger/weakness in focusing on the
hearer in the preaching?
We were living in the flesh –
-
People are always flesh and spirit – the apostle
uses the two parts of the whole to speak about the influence of the world and
our sin.
-
Remember that we believe in the resurrection of
the body.
Our sinful passions, aroused by the law,
-
The first sinful passion – desire that overtakes
us – is to be/become a god, or at least to not be accountable to another.
-
How is this passion aroused by the Law?
o
At the heart of the Law is the question: Who is
God?
§
First Commandment
§
“A god is that to which we look for all good and
where we flee in all trouble.” – L.C. (paraphrased)
o
1 John 3:4 - Everyone who makes a practice of
sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
o
Numbers 13 & 14
Our sinful passions were at work in our members to bear
fruit for death.
-
Note the contrast:
o
v. 4 – You were raised that you might bear fruit
for God.
o
v. 5 – Sin’s purpose for you is that you were to
bear fruit for death.
o
The “Now-Not-Yet” paradox of the Christian life.
§
Have you died?
§
Have you been raised?
§
Do you live a new eternal life?
-
What does St. Paul mean by “members”?
-
How else could we say that sinful passions were
at work in our members?
-
How does sin bear fruit for death?
o
The wages of sin
o
What kinds of sin bring death in the church?
v. 6
Buts can be beautiful – like this one is.
-
Indicates a change.
-
Buts are ugly in apologies and confessions.
o
“Everything before the “but”…
-
When speaking of the different status Jesus has
given us the but is good news and an indication of salvation.
But now we are released –
-
Passive verb – released, let go,
-
If it were active it could mean “abolish,
nullify”
-
It indicates that something’s/someone’s power is
no longer there.
We are released from the law –
-
How are we released from the law?
-
From doing what is good or right?
-
From its demands and condemnation!
Having died to that which held us captive –
-
Captive to condemnation, accusation, and the
endless demands to perform perfectly.
So that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not the
old way of the written code.
-
What is this “new way of the Spirit”?
-
How is it different from the “written code”?
The Law/Gospel dynamic is central to our worship, preaching,
and even to our living.
Salvation Unto Us Has Come
1.
Salvation unto us has come
By God's free grace and favor;
Good works cannot avert our doom,
They help and save us never.
Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone,
Who did for all the world atone;
He is our one Redeemer.
2. What God did in His Law demand
And none to Him could render
Caused wrath and woe on every hand
For man, the vile offender.
Our flesh has not those pure desires
The spirit of the Law requires,
And lost is our condition.
3. It was a false, misleading dream
That God His Law had given
That sinners should themselves redeem
And by their works gain heaven.
The Law is but a mirror bright
To bring the inbred sin to light
That lurks within our nature.
4. From sin our flesh could not abstain,
Sin held its sway unceasing;
The task was useless and in vain,
Our guilt was e'er increasing.
None can remove sin's poisoned dart
Or purify our guileful heart,-
So deep is our corruption.
5. Yet as the Law must be fulfilled
Or we must die despairing,
Christ came and hath God's anger stilled,
Our human nature sharing.
He hath for us the Law obeyed
And thus the Father's vengeance stayed
Which over us impended.
6. Since Christ hath full atonement made
And brought to us salvation,
Each Christian therefore may be glad
And build on this foundation.
Thy grace alone, dear Lord, I plead,
Thy death is now my life indeed,
For Thou hast paid my ransom.
7. Let me not doubt, but trust in Thee,
Thy Word cannot be broken;
Thy call rings out, "Come unto Me!"
No falsehood hast Thou spoken.
Baptized into Thy precious name,
My faith cannot be put to shame,
And I shall never perish.
8. The Law reveals the guilt of sin
And makes men conscience-stricken;
The Gospel then doth enter in
The sinful soul to quicken.
Come to the cross, trust Christ, and live;
The Law no peace can ever give,
No comfort and no blessing.
9. Faith clings to Jesus' cross alone
And rests in Him unceasing;
And by its fruits true faith is known,
With love and hope increasing.
Yet faith alone doth justify,
Works serve thy neighbor and supply
The proof that faith is living.
10. All blessing, honor, thanks, and praise
To Father, Son, and Spirit,
The God that saved us by His grace,-
All glory to His merit!
O Triune God in heaven above,
Who hast revealed Thy saving love,
Thy blessed name be hallowed.
TLH 377 - Paul Speratus, 1523
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