Is This Normal?

I've been preaching through Paul's letter to the church in Rome. My perspective on Romans is, I suppose, fairly simple. After Paul's introduction in 1:1 - 1:15 in which he lays the foundation for the entire letter, we have the Gospel in 1:16 - 8:39. Within 1:16 - 8:39 we have two main movements, the first, which concludes in 5:11, is focused on justification through the Cross and blood of Jesus Christ. The second movement, from 5:12 - 8:39, focuses on our identity in Jesus Christ, through the Cross and our dying and rising with Him. This is a comprehensive statement of the Gospel, one movement without the other leaves us with a partial Gospel. 

In chapters 9 - 11 we see the providence of God and His election.

In chapters 12 - 16 we see, based on the preceding chapters, how we should live both in the world and in the Church. Or, as I also style it, in these chapters we see what the working out and manifestation of the New Jerusalem is to look like in our lives as God's People. 

In 5:12 - 8:39 we see that we are no longer in Adam but in Christ. We are dead to sin and alive to God. We are no longer married to the Law because we have died with Christ on the Cross (the Law has not died!) so that we may be married to Christ. We are the sons and daughters of the Living God, being led by the Spirit of God, and in Christ we are super-overcomers. 

Romans Chapter 7 is perhaps, I think, the most misunderstood passage in the Bible - and I speak in respect to both the first section and the section section. Regarding the first section, we tend not to understand that we have died with Christ to the Law, and that this death servers and ends our marriage to the Law. Consequently we are now married to "another", to Christ, so that we might bear fruit unto God.

Understanding the second section is controversial with often more heat than light. Both in the academic and pastoral communities there is disagreement - often with opposing sides imputing motives and theology to others that simply isn't true. 

Be that as it may, one principle of interpretation is that when we encounter a passage that is unclear, that we interpret that passage with passages that are clear. That is what I have attempted to do in the handout (below) that I gave to the congregation this past Sunday. I realize that not all who read this will agree with me, and perhaps it will generate some heartburn, but I am committed to shepherding others into a secure identity in Jesus Christ, a vibrant life in Jesus Christ, with a single-minded focus on Jesus Christ. I am not in any way suggesting that we do not deal with sin in this life, but I am insisting that Christ be our identity, our source of life, our everything - so that we might be His Presence in this generation. We are transformed as we behold Christ (2 Cor. 3:17 - 18; 1 John 3:1-3). Love...Bob 

Is This Normal? (Romans 7:14 – 25)

Notes – September 29, 2019

Pastor Bob Withers, Bethlehem Congregational Church

A.   Who is Paul describing in this passage and why is it important to know?

a.    It is critical to know who Paul is describing because if he is describing his present condition (the condition he was in when he wrote Romans), then we can look at this passage as being normative for Christians. However, if he is describing himself before he knew Christ, or if he is describing a hypothetical Jew under the Law before knowing Christ, then we understand this passage as an experience that should not be normative for the disciple of Jesus Christ.

B.   How do we interpret this passage?

a.    We need the Holy Spirit to illuminate God’s Word to us (1 Cor. Chp. 2).

b.    We must be willing to submit to God’s Word.

c.    What is the context? “A text without a context is a pretext for a prooftext.

C.   What is the context?

a.    The immediate context – the surrounding verses.

b.    The context within the book of the Bible we are reading.

c.    The context of the author’s other writings (if any) in the Bible.

d.    The context of the entire Bible.

D.   The immediate context of Romans 7:14 – 25:

a.    In 7:1 – 12 Paul teaches that our relationship with the Law has ended through the death of Christ.

b.    In Romans Chapter 6 we are taught that in Christ we are dead to sin and alive to God and that we are to present our bodies as instruments of righteousness.

c.    In Romans Chapter 8 we see that we are the Spirit-led children of God who are overwhelmingly conquerors through Him who loved us.

d.    Conclusion: the immediate context of Romans 7:14 – 25 indicates that Romans 7:14 – 25 should not be normative for the Christian.

E.   The context of Paul’s teaching:

a.    1 Cor. 6:9 – 11; Gal. 5:19 – 24; Eph. 5:3 – 5: If these passages are true then Romans 7:14 – 25 cannot be normative for the Christian.

b.    Colossians 3:1 – 17: What is our identity in this passage? If this passage represents our true identity in Christ, then Romans 7:14 – 25 cannot be normative for the Christian.

F.    The context of the Bible:

a.    1 Peter 2:4 – 12; 1 John 3:1 – 3; Hebrews Chp. 2; John Chp. 17; James 1:18; Isaiah 60:1 – 3; Psalm 100:3. If these passages reflect who we are in Christ, then Romans 7:14 – 25 cannot be normative for the Christian.

G.   One more question: What about us? How are we living? How am I living? How are you living? How is Bethlehem Church living?