How does Romans 7:5 describe our past life under the law? Our Former Condition Unmasked “For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sin, aroused by the law, were at work in our bodies, to bear fruit for death.” – Romans 7:5 • “In the flesh” – life governed by fallen human nature, powerless to please God (cf. Romans 8:7-8). • “Passions of sin” – strong, inward drives that bend the will toward rebellion (James 1:14-15). • “Aroused by the law” – God’s good commandments exposed and even stirred up the dormant sin within (Romans 7:8, 11; 5:20). • “At work in our bodies” – sin’s activity permeated mind, emotions, and actions (Ephesians 2:1-3). • “Bearing fruit for death” – every thought, word, and deed outside Christ produced the inevitable harvest of spiritual and physical death (Romans 6:21, 23). Why the Law Could Not Rescue Us 1. It revealed sin but could not remove it (Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 10:1-4). 2. It declared guilt but offered no power to obey (2 Corinthians 3:6). 3. It intensified our awareness of bondage, driving us to seek a Savior (Romans 7:24; Galatians 3:24). Contrast With Life in the Spirit Romans 8:2: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” • From “fruit for death” to “fruit for God” (Romans 7:4). • From powerless striving to Spirit-empowered obedience (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Galatians 5:22-23). • From condemnation to no condemnation (Romans 8:1). Takeaway Romans 7:5 paints our pre-conversion reality with stark honesty: dominated by flesh, inflamed by sin, and destined for death. Only union with Christ breaks that cycle, replacing deadly fruit with a harvest of righteousness and life. |
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