Active Christians Today at The University of Toledo
Bible Study ~ "When in Romans: The Spiritual Love Triangle"
When in Romans... do as Paul asks us to do! The book of Romans is a powerful argument for justification by faith alone. This book is dangerous for those who view their faith as a set of rules that must be followed. Justification has to be found somewhere else and it can’t be through religious acts or behavior. Some have said that Romans is “hazardous to religiosity.” Paul makes it clear that no one on their own can be righteous. Only faith in Christ holds the power to make us acceptable to God. The good news? Faith is enough!
Locations & Times
Active Christians Today UToledo
Thursday 8:00 PM
In Romans 7 the apostle Paul presents such a dilemma as he represents our spiritual love triangle—the division in our heart between the part that wants to follow God and the part that doesn't. He provides a very honest insight into his conversion, and his Christian life. Though we have been betrothed (engaged) to Christ, we still must wrestle with feelings and questions of the life we forsook when we began that relationship.
Opening Questions
What were some of the basic rules of behavior you were taught as a child?
How do your present values differ from the ones you were taught as a child?
As a child, how did you respond to the commands given to you by your parents?
How do you now tend to respond to authority?
What sort of bad habits are hardest to break?
What were some of the basic rules of behavior you were taught as a child?
How do your present values differ from the ones you were taught as a child?
As a child, how did you respond to the commands given to you by your parents?
How do you now tend to respond to authority?
What sort of bad habits are hardest to break?
Unpack the Text
The love triangle...
The love triangle...
What illustration did Paul use to explain a Christian’s relationship to the written law? (7:1-3)
Whom does the husband represent in Paul’s illustration? (7:2-3)
Whom does the married woman represent in Paul’s illustration? (7:2-3)
To what did Paul compare the death of a woman’s husband? (7:2-5) Why?
The love triangle has always featured prominently in many romantic movies. Two girls are in love with the same guy, or two guys are in love with the same girl. This tension drives much of the plot in such movies. In representing the Christian life, the apostle Paul chooses to draw on the same kind of analogy. He begins Romans 7 with an illustration of a woman who is free to marry another only after her first husband has died. While there does not seem to be much conflict in such a circumstance, the way Paul uses the illustration runs in the opposite direction of what is initially obvious. Paul is saying that only through death does the wife have freedom to be joined to another. When he applies this principle to the Christian life, he's showing how wrong it is to try resurrecting our former lover. He makes it clear that the real challenge is not the existence of the former lover but the desires within us that run in that direction.
Whom does the husband represent in Paul’s illustration? (7:2-3)
Whom does the married woman represent in Paul’s illustration? (7:2-3)
To what did Paul compare the death of a woman’s husband? (7:2-5) Why?
The love triangle has always featured prominently in many romantic movies. Two girls are in love with the same guy, or two guys are in love with the same girl. This tension drives much of the plot in such movies. In representing the Christian life, the apostle Paul chooses to draw on the same kind of analogy. He begins Romans 7 with an illustration of a woman who is free to marry another only after her first husband has died. While there does not seem to be much conflict in such a circumstance, the way Paul uses the illustration runs in the opposite direction of what is initially obvious. Paul is saying that only through death does the wife have freedom to be joined to another. When he applies this principle to the Christian life, he's showing how wrong it is to try resurrecting our former lover. He makes it clear that the real challenge is not the existence of the former lover but the desires within us that run in that direction.
What is the purpose or goal of a Christian’s new life? (7:4)
What changes a person’s relationship to the Law? (7:4-6)
What are the primary differences between the old life under the Law and the new life in the way of the Spirit? (7:4-6)
What controls a person before he or she becomes a Christian? (7:5)
How is a person released from being bound by the Law? (7:6)
How does the Christian’s new life compare with the old life? (7:6)
What changes a person’s relationship to the Law? (7:4-6)
What are the primary differences between the old life under the Law and the new life in the way of the Spirit? (7:4-6)
What controls a person before he or she becomes a Christian? (7:5)
How is a person released from being bound by the Law? (7:6)
How does the Christian’s new life compare with the old life? (7:6)
What is the purpose of the Law? (7:7-8)
The main purpose of the law is to show us the character of sin. Paul would not have known what was sinful, except that he read the law. The law exposes our sin
What bad effect does knowing the Law have on a person? (7:7-8)
When a person has no knowledge of the Law, what becomes of sin? (7:9)
How does knowing the Law bring the possibility of death to a person? (7:9-11)
How does the Law put a person to death? (7:11)
What are the characteristics of the Law and the commandment? (7:12)
There are two difficult questions about this section. First, who is Paul talking about in v 7-12? In v 9, he says "I was alive apart from law." How could a Jew be "apart from law," and how could he be "alive" when Romans 1 – 3 has made clear that no one is right with God without the gospel. The answer is likely that Paul was "apart from law" in the sense of not truly understanding its requirements—he saw it as an external, behavioral code, rather than about his heart-attitudes too. So he was "alive" in his self-perception—he thought he was pleasing and acceptable to God, but he wasn't.
The main purpose of the law is to show us the character of sin. Paul would not have known what was sinful, except that he read the law. The law exposes our sin
What bad effect does knowing the Law have on a person? (7:7-8)
When a person has no knowledge of the Law, what becomes of sin? (7:9)
How does knowing the Law bring the possibility of death to a person? (7:9-11)
How does the Law put a person to death? (7:11)
What are the characteristics of the Law and the commandment? (7:12)
There are two difficult questions about this section. First, who is Paul talking about in v 7-12? In v 9, he says "I was alive apart from law." How could a Jew be "apart from law," and how could he be "alive" when Romans 1 – 3 has made clear that no one is right with God without the gospel. The answer is likely that Paul was "apart from law" in the sense of not truly understanding its requirements—he saw it as an external, behavioral code, rather than about his heart-attitudes too. So he was "alive" in his self-perception—he thought he was pleasing and acceptable to God, but he wasn't.
Have you ever done something that you had previously decided not to do? What caused you to do it? How did it make you feel?
How does the awareness of the Law produce death in a person? (7:13)
What did Paul share about his own attempts to follow the Law? (7:14-16)
What did Paul blame for his continuing failure to do good? (7:17-20)
Is Paul talking about himself as a non-believer or a believer in v 13-25? Plenty of thoughtful people have been on either side of this question. Some believe that a Christian could not say: “I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin” (v 14); and he admits he sins compulsively (v 15, 18). But the evidence that Paul is talking of his present Christian experience is stronger.
How does the awareness of the Law produce death in a person? (7:13)
What did Paul share about his own attempts to follow the Law? (7:14-16)
What did Paul blame for his continuing failure to do good? (7:17-20)
Is Paul talking about himself as a non-believer or a believer in v 13-25? Plenty of thoughtful people have been on either side of this question. Some believe that a Christian could not say: “I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin” (v 14); and he admits he sins compulsively (v 15, 18). But the evidence that Paul is talking of his present Christian experience is stronger.
Here Paul asks if the law is a killer—and answers that, no, sin is the killer. He responds honestly about himself. Read verses 24 and 25 again. Do you find these words comforting? Why or why not?
In answering this question, Paul takes us to his inner battle as a Christian, the battle between his true self, which loves God and wants to obey him, and his sinful self, which leads him to do what he does not want to do.
How did Paul describe his own struggle to do what was right? (7:21-23)
How did Paul describe himself and his situation? (7:24)
To whom did Paul turn for rescue from his agonizing situation? (7:24)
What division did Paul acknowledge in his own mind and nature? (7:24)
In answering this question, Paul takes us to his inner battle as a Christian, the battle between his true self, which loves God and wants to obey him, and his sinful self, which leads him to do what he does not want to do.
How did Paul describe his own struggle to do what was right? (7:21-23)
How did Paul describe himself and his situation? (7:24)
To whom did Paul turn for rescue from his agonizing situation? (7:24)
What division did Paul acknowledge in his own mind and nature? (7:24)
Final Thoughts
Why would coveting (ie: envy) have been the commandment that “killed” Paul, do you think? (Hint: Remember that pre-Christian Paul seems to have focused on keeping the law externally.)
Paul had been a Pharisee, thinking of sin only in terms of external actions. This made it far easier to think of yourself as an obedient, law-abiding person. So he could look at the Ten Commandments and tick them off in terms of external behavior (“I haven’t worshiped an idol-statue; I haven’t lied or stolen; etc”) But the commandment “Do not covet” has everything to do with inwards attitudes and heart issues, because it is to be discontent with what God has given you. You cannot turn that into an external rule!
Why would coveting (ie: envy) have been the commandment that “killed” Paul, do you think? (Hint: Remember that pre-Christian Paul seems to have focused on keeping the law externally.)
Paul had been a Pharisee, thinking of sin only in terms of external actions. This made it far easier to think of yourself as an obedient, law-abiding person. So he could look at the Ten Commandments and tick them off in terms of external behavior (“I haven’t worshiped an idol-statue; I haven’t lied or stolen; etc”) But the commandment “Do not covet” has everything to do with inwards attitudes and heart issues, because it is to be discontent with what God has given you. You cannot turn that into an external rule!
Your Story
What role should God’s written law play in a Christian’s life?
How can strict adherence to God’s law affect a Christian negatively?
What does it mean to be a new person in Christ?
How can the Spirit help us please God in a way that following the Law couldn’t?
How do a person’s attitudes and outlook on life change when he or she comes to Christ?
How can knowing that God loves you unconditionally change your behavior?
What is the difference between keeping religious laws and following the Spirit of Christ?
What are some of the various ways people respond to God’s law?
How can reading and understanding God’s law be discouraging to a person?
How can a Christian continue to commit sins even though God is his or her master?
How have you experienced a struggle with sin similar to what Paul describes?
What hope do we have of deliverance from sin here on earth?
How can we take hold of the power of Christ to overcome sin?
What should we do when we become discouraged and confused in our Christian lives?
How can knowing that God has achieved the ultimate victory over sin affect your prayers, thoughts, and attitudes?
What role should God’s written law play in a Christian’s life?
How can strict adherence to God’s law affect a Christian negatively?
What does it mean to be a new person in Christ?
How can the Spirit help us please God in a way that following the Law couldn’t?
How do a person’s attitudes and outlook on life change when he or she comes to Christ?
How can knowing that God loves you unconditionally change your behavior?
What is the difference between keeping religious laws and following the Spirit of Christ?
What are some of the various ways people respond to God’s law?
How can reading and understanding God’s law be discouraging to a person?
How can a Christian continue to commit sins even though God is his or her master?
How have you experienced a struggle with sin similar to what Paul describes?
What hope do we have of deliverance from sin here on earth?
How can we take hold of the power of Christ to overcome sin?
What should we do when we become discouraged and confused in our Christian lives?
How can knowing that God has achieved the ultimate victory over sin affect your prayers, thoughts, and attitudes?
Apply it to Your Life
To what am I still held in bondage? How can I find freedom?
How often do I find breaking a commandment easier than keeping it?
What is necessary in order to give the new nature the victory?
What old ideas about pleasing God through religious activity do you need to discard this week?
What can you do this week to build your living relationship with Christ instead of merely following the rules?
How can you remind yourself each day this week of God’s victory over sin?
What recent struggle with sin do you need to hand over to God today?
To what am I still held in bondage? How can I find freedom?
How often do I find breaking a commandment easier than keeping it?
What is necessary in order to give the new nature the victory?
What old ideas about pleasing God through religious activity do you need to discard this week?
What can you do this week to build your living relationship with Christ instead of merely following the rules?
How can you remind yourself each day this week of God’s victory over sin?
What recent struggle with sin do you need to hand over to God today?
Praise & Prayer
Praise God that the bondage of the Law has been broken.
Ask for help to seek a fresh commitment to live for God.
Pray for spiritual food to feed the new nature.
Praise God that the bondage of the Law has been broken.
Ask for help to seek a fresh commitment to live for God.
Pray for spiritual food to feed the new nature.