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Romans 7:1-6

A new desire

We live in a broken world as broken people. We have no lack of rules and regulations. And yet people still do that which is incredibly dumb, people get hurt, people still cheat. Rules are not the answer to the brokenness of the world.

Nice smile, shame about the lettuce

Rules often have the opposite effect than intended. Tell a child not to and be certain they will try. We never grow out of this tendency to desire what is wrong. This explains why we have so many broken marriages, so much unfaithfulness, abuse, pain and suffering. All because our hearts crave illicit pleasure rather than being content with what God has provided.

God’s law is the basis by which all humans must relate to God. To be his friend you must be like him. To be like him you must keep all the commandments perfectly. None of us do so we are stuffed. Christ steps in and delivers us from the requirement of the law. He takes our punishment and gives us his obedience. We are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

We are no longer under the dominion of the law. Our relationship with God is one of grace. This means we don’t have to keep the law. But before you go crazy consider this. When Christ saves us he also changes us. He gives to us a desire to love God and love people. However this desire must grow alongside our old desire to please ourselves by enjoying breaking the law. There is immediately a conflict.

The Ten Commandments help us identify what our hearts crave. I may find that I am jealous of other people’s money, homes and lives. My coveting alerts me to the heart issue of discontent, of me replacing God with money. It shows that my affection has moved away from God and away from my family. I can ask God to make me content, with him and my relationships. Christ came to free us from the desires of heart by giving us a new desire which loves God and loves our neighbour. the Rev

Romans 7:1-6 Don’t dread God’s law

Exercises

• Discuss in what way we are bound to the law; just as a married couple is bound v1-3.

• How and for what purpose have we been freed from the law? v4.

• Discuss the process Paul describes in v5, share one specific example? 

• Discuss the process Paul describes in v6, share one specific example.

Prayer: Heavenly Father forgive me for so often wanting what is illicit, corrupt and evil. For the times when I have exchanged you for trash. Create in me a clean heart and restore to me the joy of your salvation. Renew my mind so that my desire is for you rather than my own pleasure. Enable me to love my neighbour in such a way that I will be a blessing to them.  Amen