ROMANS 7

Romans 7

The chapter has two parts: (A) vv. 1-6 and (B) vv. 7-25.

(A) marriage illustration

a. 7:1, brothers

  b. 7:2-3, she is released from the Law

a’. 7:4, brothers

  b’. 7:5-6, we are released from the Law

Law has authority while a person is alive.

Example of a married woman – should be read on two levels:

1. Practical, she should be a lawful wife as long as husband is alive.

2. symbolic, husband-wife paradigm is a paradigm of relationship between

a. LORD and Israel and

b. sinful flesh and Law    

 

(B) inner conflict 

a. 7:7-13, sin is known through the Law

  b. 7:14-17, it is no longer I do it, but the sin that dwells in me

  b’. 7:18-20, it is no longer I do it, but the sin that dwells in me

a’. 7:21-25, law of sin

Inner conflict of a believer:

Self-identity – I – is a new person, who died in baptism (cp. 6:1).

Yet, the sin still lives/dwells in “me” – the sin produces death, using good gifts of God – Law. Humans are very creative turning good gifts of God into idols.  

Romans: Realization of Faith

Realization of Faith

Passage: 4:13-25

Structure:

a. 4:13-15, righteousness of faith

  b. 4:16-17a, father of many nations

    c. 4:17b, He who gives life to the death & calls into being what does not exist

  b’. 4:18-22, father of many nations

a’. 4:23-25, having faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Commentary:

We stay with the example of Abraham, but now St. Paul is bringing his point home. It is not an inheritance based on law, it is righteousness of faith that establishes our connection with the father of our faith Abraham.

The apostle gives two examples of believing in something that is considered impossible:

(1) Abraham’s faith did not weaken for the promise of having children being 99 years old, when his wife – Sarah – was about 90 years old.

(2) Jesus being raised from the dead.

Example of Abraham:

First one is a historical example of a man of faith. It has two parts: difficult and impossible.

It is difficult to get a 99 year old man “to get going.”

It is impossible to make a barren (lit. dead) womb to conceive.    

 

“Example” of Jesus, as the center point of our faith (4:23-25):

Raised from the dead (this is difficult, but happened before)

Delivered for our trespasses and raised for our justification (impossible) 

JAMES: FAITH and WORKS

Faith and Works

(recording on YouTube [beginning 31:00]: https://www.youtube.com/live/E2CkpYqBJHI )

 Texts: James 2:1-10, 14-18 and Mark 7:31-37

I. Intro – we have three weeks of Epistle readings from the Letter of James.

Dr. Luther on the Letter of James – is it really “a straw epistle”?

Look at Luther Works v. 35, page 395: "I praise it [the Letter of James] and consider it a good book, because it sets up no doctrines of men but vigorously promulgates the law of God." 

Read it in the context of James 2:10!

 

II. Let’s cut to the chase – James 2:18

How do faith and works relate to each other?

It’s not what was first a chicken or an egg question –

it is more of a match or gas valve illustration.

Lutheran teaching – Augsburg Confession (AC) IV: Justification and

AC VI: New Obedience. 

 

III. Take away

What is a proper bridge between inner faith and external works – prayer

Mark 7:31-37 – God gives an ability to hear right and speak plainly.

First: our faith is reflected in the acknowledgement that God exists, Jesus is the Way, and Holy Spirit is your Comforter

Then (!) we have four types of prayer – connecting faith to works  

1. Confession of sins – reconciliation 

2. Praise or Glorification – evangelism

3. Petitioning – acts of mercy

4. Thanksgiving – sharing