Living the Christian Life, Lesson 8

Living the Christian Life is a Bible study series that explores Paul’s teaching aboutChristian growth and sanctification in Romans 6:1–8:17.

Introductory Thoughts

After a lengthy discussion of theneed for and basis of justification by grace through faith in Christ (i.e.,salvation or conversion), Paul now explains how this same truth shouldtransform our mindset and lifestyle as Christians (i.e., sanctification orChristian growth). The believer’s close identification with Christ’s death,burial, and resurrection places him or her in a new position. He is no longer aslave to sin but serves Jesus Christ instead.

Passage: Romans 7:5-6

In English (NKJV)

v.5       For when we were inthe flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work inour members to bear fruit to death.

v.6       But now we have beendelivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we shouldserve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Key Words and Insights

Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old &New Testament Words (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006)together with an interlinear Bible, like The NKJV Greek English InterlinearNew Testament (Thomas Nelson, 1994) is an excellent way to get accurate definitionsfor your Bible study based upon Greek and Hebrew meanings.

Some words we have already consideredfrom our study of Rom 6, so you can refer to those lessons or to Mounce fortheir definitions. As you study this passage, you should review the meanings ofthese words even though they are not listed on this study guide.

• Flesh (σάρξ): “flesh; the human body; human nature; humanity.”
• Passion (πάθημα): “what is suffered; suffering; affliction; emotion; passion.”
• Arouse (*): this word does not appear in the Greek manuscripts but is supplied in our translations to complete the thought in English. A strictly literal translation would be “the sinful passions which through the law were at work in our body parts.” The idea is that certain sinful passions were caused by the law.
• At work (ἐνεργέω): “effect; put in operation; be active.”
• Deliver (καταργέω): “render useless, unproductive, or powerless; cancel, bring to an end; free from, release.”
• Held (κατέχω): “hold down; detain; retain; hinder, restrain; to hold firm in grasp.”
• Serve (δουλεύω): “be a slave or servant; be in slavery or subjection.”
• Newness (καινότης): describes our new relationship with God through Christ as being “recent,” a kind of life that was previously impossible and nonexistent.
• Oldness (παλαιότης): describes life prior to the resurrection of Christ as being obsolete, outdated, extinct, archaic, and no longer relevant or in force.
• Letter (γράμμα):  “that which is written or drawn; a letter, character of the alphabet, a writing, book.” In this case, it refers to the law of Moses in “the bare literal sense.”

Questions for Meditation and Reflection

What does it mean to be “in the flesh” (v.5)?

This refers to being controlled by our “lower nature,” our physical,baser instincts that are corrupted and twisted by sin. This phrase does notalways emphasize the sinful part of our human nature, as in Gal 2:20 when itsimply refers to our current human existence in a general, neutral sense.However, in other instances (like this one) Paul uses this phrase to identifyour lives before conversion, which was characterized by being controlled by ourbase, sinful desires. He contrasts this with our new position after conversion,which is characterized by being under the control and authority of the Holy Spirit(cf. Gal 5:24; Rom 8:9).

How does “passions” describe the way that sin operates in our lives(v.5)?

This is a fascinating way to describe our sinful desires. This wordoccasionally means “emotions” or “passions,” but it usually means somethinglike “suffering,” “sorrow,” “sickness,” or “misfortune.” This in mind, it isappropriate to describe the sinful desires that flare up in our lives as a kindof suffering and sickness that we endure throughout this life as God’schildren. We are no longer obligated to give in to this suffering or acquiesceto this sickness and we know that it will not ultimately claim victory over ourlives, but we must still suffer through these temptations in this life as welearn to recognize and reject them as necessary to obey.

What kind of effects does the law have on a nonbeliever’s sinfuldesires (v.5)?

It provokes them have these desires by intensifying and multiplyingthem. We will discuss this in more depth in our subsequent study of Rom 7:7-8.In summary, the law – ironically – causes us to want to sin rather thanto not sin. This reminds me of our impulse to touch wet paint when wesay a sign that says, “Don’t touch,” or to want to walk on the grass when wesee a sign that says, “Keep off the grass.”

In what ways do the sinful desires of a nonbeliever bring aboutdeath (v.5)?

They were active and at work within our lives, urging andcompelling us to sin. This driving, pulsating influence incited more and morewrong thoughts, feelings, words, and actions. This in turn resulted in anincreased degree and amount of physical and mental unhealthiness, relationshipbreakdowns, and increasing separation from God. In general, these desiresproduced over time an ever-depreciating quality of life.

How have we been “delivered” from the law (v.6)?

Because we have died with Christ and risen again with him into anew kind of life, we no longer live under a formal, legal obligation to observethe Mosaic laws. It should no longer cause us to feel guilty and ashamed, nordoes it have authority to condemn us to death in the end. It is possible to understandthis phrase as something like, “God has untied us from the law,” much like aperson under house arrest may be released from his electronic ankle bracelet monitoringdevice. This doesn’t mean he is free to do whatever he wants; instead, it meansthat he is now free to resume life as normal without the multiplied restraintsand restrictions of his house arrest rules. He is no longer obligated to livelike a guilty criminal under surveillance with more ways to get himself intotrouble.

What is the “newness of the Spirit” (v.6)?

This refers to a new way of living, a way of living which was notpossible prior the resurrection or prior to our conversion. It is a lifegoverned by the Holy Spirit who lives within us rather than the exhaustive collectionof rules and regulations written down in the Mosaic Law. This new way of lifedoes not abandon godly morals, but it relies on a new and close relationshipwith God that learns to love God and neighbor from the heart in reliance upon theSpirit of God for wisdom and strength to do so.

What is the “oldness of the letter” (v.6)?

This refers to living in bondage to the written regulations of theMosaic Law.

Questions for Personal Application

1. In ways do you find yourself still serving in the “oldness of the letter” even though you are a Christian?
2. Why is it challenging to serve in the “newness of the Spirit”?
3. How can we encourage one another to live in the “newness of the Spirit” as a church?