ROMANS CHAPTER 7
(1) “KNOW YE NOT, BRETHREN, (FOR I
SPEAK TO THEM THAT KNOW THE LAW,)
HOW THAT THE LAW HATH DOMINION
OVER A MAN AS LONG AS HE LIVETH?”
Romans Chapter 7 is at least one of the
most important Chapters in the entirety of
the Word of God, respecting the Christian
walk and its Victory. And yet, most Believers
pay scant attention to its contents, and
for a variety of reasons.
Many simply don’t understand it and,
therefore, ignore it, or else just scan it
when they come to its place in the order
of Scripture.
I would pray that the Lord would help us,
at least in some measure, to open up this
Text, which is of such tremendous significance
to any and all Believers.
Others give it little credence because they
have been taught that it pertains to Paul’s
before-Conversion experience, of which they
have little interest. However, that is error.
I pray we will be able to properly expose
that error and portray the Truth of this
great Chapter.
That which makes the teaching in this
Chapter so important to the Believer, is because
Paul had some of the same problems
that all of us have had. He thought surely
after he was Saved and Baptized with the Holy
Spirit, that he could live a victorious, overcoming
Christian life, but to his dismay,
found that he could not, at least with the
Light he then had. That terrible situation
caused him to exclaim, “O wretched man
that I am! Who shall deliver me from the
body of this death?” (vs. 24).
In that frame of mind Paul went to the
Lord seeking an answer. The answer was
gloriously and wondrously provided, and
given to us in these three Chapters, 6, 7,
and 8 of Romans.
In this 7th Chapter, the Holy Spirit
through the Apostle outlines the reason for
the failure of the Believer. Sin is not to have
dominion over us, but yet sin does have dominion
in the lives of many Christians.
Romans Chapter 7 tells us why, and if that is
correct, and it is, then we are made to understand
how vitally significant this Chapter
really is.
The phrase, “Know ye not, Brethren, (for
I speak to them that know the Law,)” presents
Paul addressing himself to the Law
of Moses.
Verses 1-6 reveal the Divine method of
Sanctification, and sets out its impossibility
under the bondage of Law and its certainty
under the Freedom of Grace.
First of all, Paul is addressing his information
to “Brethren,” meaning that he is
speaking to Believers, as should be obvious.
These were Believers who were having difficulties
and problems with the sin question,
and were seeking answers, exactly as Paul had
sought such answers and which had been
given unto him by the Holy Spirit.
As well, Paul is writing to Romans who
are Gentiles, so why does he bring up the
Law of Moses, when that in effect was strictly
and more particularly a foundation of Judaism?
The Law of Moses was totally fulfilled
in Christ, and is not binding on Believers in
the New Covenant, at least in a strict sense.
To portray the reason for the Believer’s
lack of Victory in his personal life, the Holy
Spirit had Paul to address this Law, because
in effect this figures into the dilemma that
Believers find themselves, even though they
are really not conscious of that fact.
Paul is now addressing his remarks to
Gentiles who have gained some knowledge
of the Law of Moses after coming to Christ.
Inasmuch as this was a great controversy in
the times of the Early Church, most Gentile
Believers probably became at least somewhat
acquainted with this Old Testament
Foundation. So they knew what Paul was
talking about.
Considering all the things that Paul says
about the Law, and which some were apt to
take wrongly, which he will address later, one
is apt to think that the Law of Moses was
evil, etc. However, nothing could be further
from the Truth. In fact, the Law of Moses,
which was really the Law of God, was Holy
and Righteous, actually perfect in every respect.
The giving of the Law by God to the
Children of Israel, placed them in a position
of a far greater advantage over all other Nations.
While others had laws, they were all
man-devised. But Israel’s Law had come from
God, and, consequently, gave these people a
tremendous advantage in every respect.
SO, WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM
WITH THE LAW?
First of all, the problem was not the Law,
but rather Israel. Instead of accepting and
using the Law of Moses as it was intended
by God, they attempted to make Salvation
out of its Commandments, which God never
intended.
The Law of Moses, among many other
things, was intended to point out and define
sin. As well, it was to portray to man his
total inadequacy and inability to keep the
simple Commandments which God laid down
(the Ten Commandments). He was then to
throw himself on the Mercy and Grace of God
for help and Redemption. While some few
did exactly that, most did not.
Most of Israel became puffed up in their
own self-righteousness, and despite the fact
that they couldn’t even keep the few Commandments
that God had given, multiplied
hundreds of others to go along with what was
already there. Consequently, by the time that
Jesus came, Who in effect was the Giver and
Keeper of the Law, actually the only Man Who
ever lived Who did such, they would not accept
Him. Not only would they reject His
Message, but in their evil they felt they had to
destroy the Messenger, which they did by crucifying
Him. Again we state, the Law of Moses
was not the cause or fault of this, but rather
the evil, wicked hearts of these people.
SO, HOW DOES THAT
AFFECT GENTILES?
Whether it is the Law of Moses, or a Law
of our own devising, man seeks to try to
satisfy his spiritual needs by his own efforts.
He tries to do it with laws of one kind or
the other, exactly as Israel did with the
Mosaic Law. There is an innate spirit in
man, even Believers, which is loathe to admit
to himself or God that he cannot solve
his own spiritual problems. All of this is a
result of the Fall.
Among all the other reasons that the
Holy Spirit had the Apostle to use the Law
of Moses as an example, is that if man could
not gain Righteousness by his attempts to
keep the Law of Moses, considering it was
from God and perfect in every respect, how
in the world does he think he can bring
about the same results through some pitiful
laws of his own making? But yet, I think
all of us have fallen into this trap in one
way or the other.
Our trust is in our own laws, or efforts,
etc., rather than in Christ. That in a nutshell,
spells out our failure.
Man’s self-sufficiency is his greatest enemy.
In other words, we have met the enemy
and he is us!
It is strange, Believers will look at the
world and chide them for refusing to admit
that they need Jesus, while we are at the same
time doing the same thing. Too often we
claim that we are leaning on Jesus, when in
reality we are leaning on our own arm of
flesh. All of it is so subtle and religious,
and, consequently, deceives so many people.
SATAN AND LAW
The Evil One is quite content to allow us
to struggle and strive in efforts of our own
making, instead of trusting Christ. He knows
that not only are we not going to get Victory
in that manner, but that our situation is going
to become progressively worse. For all
attempts to bring about Victory in this way,
can only lead to defeat, with each defeat becoming
worse than the one preceding.
Satan is very content for man to be religious,
even very religious, and for the simple
reason that he knows that there is no Victory
or Salvation in that sector. Actually, he
even encourages these efforts. But the moment
the Believer begins to depend totally
on Christ, then the war begins as well.
Strangely enough, most of the opposition
will come from fellow Christians. That is
sad, but true!
In this Chapter, Paul is going to open his
soul as few Preachers ever have. He is going
to portray his own failures, and the reason
for those failures. While we are studying this,
do not forget that the reason for his failures,
is the reason for our failures as well! If the
great Apostle could not bring about Victory
by his own efforts, do any of us seriously
think that we can succeed where he failed?
VICTORY AND THE LAW
The conclusion of the question, “How
that the Law hath dominion over a man as
long as he liveth?”, describes the person who
is attempting to gain Victory by the Law,
whether of Moses, or of his own making,
which is more generally the case.
If a person attempts to gain Victory by
using Law, in other words in his own strength
and power, he will find that the Law has dominion
over him. He will not obtain that of
which he is seeking, Victory over the flesh,
but rather the very opposite. So, Paul is
now going to press home the point that the
Believer is not under Law anymore, and that
a Christian putting himself under Law and
thus failing to avail himself of the resources
of Grace is a defeated Christian, which was
Paul’s own experience after his Conversion,
before he came into the knowledge given to
him by Christ, and to which He gave us in
Romans Chapter 6.
However, even though the Law will incite
the Christian to more sin, which is the very
opposite of what he wants, yet the Law is
not responsible for that sin, but rather, the
Sin Nature which is in the Believer, and
which the Law excites, which it is actually
intended to do.
The idea is, that as good as the Law of
Moses was in itself and in the Divine intention,
nevertheless, owing to the corruption
of man’s nature, which God knew all along,
instead of the Law helping to make him good,
actually did the very opposite. That sounds
strange to the Bible Student.
One would quickly ask, if the Law of Moses
stimulated sin in God’s people, how could it
be called good?
Once again, the problem was not in the
Law, but in the corrupt nature of man. The
Lord desired to show man just how corrupt
he really was, and this was the best way to
portray this fact.
It is somewhat like placing a certain type
of medicine over a boil on the human body,
which has a tendency to draw the corruption
to the surface. The medicine has not
caused the boil, nor is it the reason for the
corruption. It just merely portrays the fact
that the corruption is already there, by drawing
it to the surface. So, if man attempts to
gain Victory by attempting to keep the Law,
he will have no more success than all who
preceded him. The reason is simple.
Man has no power or ability to keep the
Law.
IF GOD DEMANDED THAT IT BE KEPT,
WHICH HE DID, WHY DID HE NOT GIVE
MAN THE POWER TO DO SO?
To the natural mind it seems unfair, that
God would give Law, demanding that man
keep it, all the time knowing he could not.
It becomes even more serious, when we realize
that there is a severe penalty attached to
not keeping the Law. Of course, for Law to
truly be Law, there must be a penalty attached
for disobedience.
While it is true that God did not give
man any power to keep the Law, He did this
for a purpose.
Man’s problem has always been Pride,
which was actually the cause of the Fall in
the Garden of Eden. So, if God had given
man the power to keep the Law, he would
have only been lifted up further in his Pride,
seeing less need of God than more, which
was the intention to begin with. The Law,
as stated, was intended to show man his inability,
not to increase his problem with even
more Pride.
DID NOT GOD KNOW THAT ISRAEL
WOULD RESPOND TO THE
LAW WRONGLY?
Of course He did! However, the Law did
exactly what it was intended to do:
1. The Law gave man a correct pattern
for living.
2. As stated, it pointed out sin and defined
what it was.
3. It showed man his gross inadequacy to
keep or obey the simplest of Commandments.
4. It pointed to the ideal.
5. It addressed every single thing that
pertained to man whether economically,
physically, and socially. All of this along with
the spiritual.
6. The Law portrayed man’s obligations
to his fellowman and his obligations to God.
So, even though the Law of Moses must
be addressed in what seems to be a negative
way, in fact, the Law was not negative at all,
but the very opposite. As stated, the problem
was on the part of man and not the Law.
In fact, some few Israelites down through
the centuries treated the Law as God intended,
and were blessed abundantly.
(2) “FOR THE WOMAN WHICH HATH
AN HUSBAND IS BOUND BY THE LAW
TO HER HUSBAND SO LONG AS HE
LIVETH; BUT IF THE HUSBAND BE
DEAD, SHE IS LOOSED FROM THE LAW
OF HER HUSBAND.”
The phrase, “For the woman which hath
an husband is bound by the Law to her husband
as long as he liveth,” presents the first
statement of an analogy used by Paul to describe
the Law and Believers under the New
Covenant. First of all, the Bible Student
must understand that Paul is not here teaching
on the subject of divorce and remarriage,
but rather using this as an analogy or comparison.
Even though it seems somewhat
confusing at first, it will become more clear
as we go along, as to why the Holy Spirit
chose this particular illustration.
The “husband” is here likened to the Law.
The “woman” (wife) is likened to the Believer.
As long as her husband (Law) is alive,
she (the Believer) is bound to him (bound
to the Law, which was the state of Israel before
Christ).
The phrase, “But if the husband be dead,
she is loosed from the law of her husband,”
simply means that she is now free in the
Eyes of God and man to marry again, if she
so desires.
Continuing with that analogy, the Law is
now dead, i.e., fulfilled by Christ. Consequently,
the Believer is no longer bound to
the Law, simply because it no longer exists.
(In verse 4, Paul changes this analogy a little
bit as we shall see, which tends to confuse
the Reader, but which is done with purpose.)
The argument here is: that just as death
is the only force that can liberate from the
demands of sin (the Death of Jesus), so is it
the only force that can liberate from the demands
of the Law. This will be explained
more fully as we go along.
(3) “SO THEN IF, WHILE HER HUSBAND
LIVETH, SHE BE MARRIED TO
ANOTHER MAN, SHE SHALL BE CALLED
AN ADULTERESS: BUT IF HER HUSBAND
BE DEAD, SHE IS FREE FROM
THAT LAW; SO THAT SHE IS NO ADULTERESS,
THOUGH SHE BE MARRIED TO
ANOTHER MAN.”
The phrase, “So then if, while her husband
liveth, she be married to another man,
she shall be called an adulteress,” presents
the very opposite of the previous verse. Here,
Paul uses the analogy of the husband not
dying, but rather his wife divorcing him and
marrying another man. Consequently, in
the Eyes of God, and continuing to use this
analogy, the woman now has two husbands.
Those two husbands are the Law and Christ.
Really, this is the gist of the entire analogy.
Paul is using this to portray the Believer
attempting to serve two husbands, the Law
and Christ, which is a literal impossibility.
But yet, that is where many Believers, if not
most, find themselves.
Paul is also saying, that irrespective as to
what man may say of the woman (Believer),
God calls her an “Adulteress.”
That means that if the Believer attempts
to serve Christ, but at the same time tries to
hold on to some type of Law, in effect, that
Believer is committing spiritual adultery.
The Believer has pledged himself in totality
to Christ, but as well is playing footsie with
another effort or Law, attempting to attain
the results which only Christ can give.
So, not only will the Believer not gain
anything by this action, but will greatly hurt
himself not only in the results, but in his
relationship with Christ as well!
I realize that the Believer has some difficulty
in understanding this. Perhaps we can
be a little more clear:
ONLY CHRIST
What makes this scenario somewhat
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:2-3
NOTES
218
confusing, is that the Believer most of the
time is not deliberately trying to find Victory
from other sources. He actually thinks
he is depending solely upon Christ, while
all the time depending on his own strength
or even the strength of others. As well,
his efforts are probably very spiritual, and
he thinks even Scriptural. As stated, the
effort is made mostly in ignorance.
Nevertheless, as should be obvious, irrespective
of the good intentions, or Scriptural
ignorance (most of the time that’s what it
is), the results are the same — wreckage.
Having good motives and being sincere, as
well as having good intentions, while good
within themselves, never compensates for
error. Wrong direction is wrong direction,
irrespective as to the reasons why.
As we have repeatedly stated, most of the
problem, at least as it pertains to the personal
Victory of the Child of God over sin,
is an ignorance of the teaching given in the
6th Chapter of this Book. We have all been
taught greatly and grandly concerning the
Price paid by Christ at Calvary regarding
the terrible sin debt, making it possible for
the sinner to be Saved; however, most of us
have heard very little about the second benefit
of Calvary, which is the Victory won by
Christ in destroying the dominion of sin
over the Believer.
Coming to Salvation is wonderful and
great, but the Believer, even in the face of
the Powers of Darkness, with all its attendant
wickedness, must walk straight and
clean before the Lord thereafter. Even
though Jesus did pay the terrible sin debt
and paid it in totality, sin, as a fact, was not
eradicated or dissolved at that time. It is
still very much real, and its bite causes just
as much problem as it always did. What Jesus
did in respect to breaking its dominion, was
to literally build a spiritual shield between
the Sin Nature and the Believer, effectively
isolating that monster. However, even though
that was done at Calvary and the Resurrection,
and done in totality, most Believers
little understand it, and even less know how
to appropriate this great benefit.
CONTINUING FAITH
The second difficulty is that there must
be a continuing Faith, which should not
present a problem, but sometimes does.
Christians love to make everything final;
however, while there is certainly a finality to
what Jesus did respecting the destruction of
the dominion of sin over the Believer, in another
sense of the word it is not final. By
that I mean that the Believer must continue
to exercise Faith even on a moment-by-moment
basis. To be sure, this is all done for
our benefit, but at times it seems like anything
but a benefit.
Once again, we come back to the foundation
of the Word of God which demands that
man go God’s Way, and that nothing must
be taken from that Way, or added to that
Way. And this is man’s great problem, even
Believers. We either do not know the Way,
or else we try to change the Way. Perhaps
we do it in ignorance, even as I have already
stated, but also as stated, the end results are
the same — failure.
The phrase, “But if her husband be dead,
she is free from that Law,” presents Paul proclaiming
the situation as it ought to be.
The husband being dead, represents the
Law being dead, in effect fulfilled by Christ.
As a result, the Believer is no longer obligated
to the law. He is free from its demands,
simply because Christ has fulfilled those demands
on his behalf.
The phrase, “So that she is no adulteress,
though she be married to another man,”
presents the Believer as now married to
Christ, and no longer under obligation to
the Law, because the Power of the Law is
dead, at least as Paul draws the analogy.
Israel was obligated under the Law, because
Christ had not yet come. However, when
Christ came, He took the place of the Law,
and is to be the only husband. With Christ
as the only Husband, the Believer is not
looked at by God as committing spiritual
adultery, as He did when the Believer was
attempting to exert loyalty to both.
MARRIED TO CHRIST
In further pursuing the matter of the
Christian’s relation to Law as a method of
Divine Dealing, Paul recurs to the substance
of his statement in Romans 6:14, “You are
not under Law, but under Grace,” i.e.,
ROMANS 7:3 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
219
“married to Christ.” NOTES
To be under Law in a sense, is to be in
the state of an unsaved person obligated to
obey God’s Law. However, the Law gives
neither the desire nor the power to obey its
precepts. Instead, it brings out sin all the
more, because that’s what it was designed
to do. Its very presence incites rebellion in
the totally depraved nature of the individual
(Rom. 5:20).
Conversely, to be under Grace is to be a
Christian, who has had the power of the evil
nature broken in his life so that he does not
need to obey it anymore, and has been given
the Divine Nature which gives him both the
desire and the power to do God’s Will.
Consequently, we can now see how deadly
it is to resort to any other method of Victory
other than Christ. He is not only our Saviour
from sin (the sin debt), but He is also
our Saviour respecting the dominion of sin.
It no longer rules us, and in fact cannot rule
us, that is, as long as we depend on Christ.
(4) “WHEREFORE, MY BRETHREN, YE
ALSO ARE BECOME DEAD TO THE LAW
BY THE BODY OF CHRIST; THAT YE
SHOULD BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER,
EVEN TO HIM WHO IS RAISED FROM THE
DEAD, THAT WE SHOULD BRING FORTH
FRUIT UNTO GOD.”
The phrase, “Wherefore, my Brethren, ye
also are become dead to the Law by the Body
of Christ,” presents the Passage which causes
some confusion respecting this analogy drawn
by Paul, respecting the husband who had
died, etc.
Continuing that analogy, Paul would have
said that the Law died, inasmuch as the dead
husband represented the Law; however, he
does not say that, rather saying that the Believer
has become dead to the Law, instead
of the Law being dead to the Believer.
The real point that Paul is making in
this symbolism is of the woman, who is a
type of the Believer, who attempts to be
married to two husbands — the Law and
Christ. Of course, such cannot be, as would
be obvious.
Also, when he used the statement, “Are
become dead to the Law,” he is referring to
fellowship with Christ in His Death.
As well, he is using another analogy,
which in a sense turns the entire scenario
around, by saying that when the husband
(Law) dies, the wife also dies as far as that
particular marriage relationship is concerned,
and she is free to marry another.
So, when Jesus died on Calvary, the Believer
(wife, and continuing the analogy), died
with Him (Rom. 6:6); therefore, the Believer
is now free to marry Christ.
The phrase, “Are become dead,” in the
Greek is “thanatoo,” and means “Ye were
made dead, put to death,” which speaks of
great violence. Alford says, “The more violent
word is used instead of ‘apethanete (you
died),’ to recall the violent Death of Christ,
in which, and after the manner of, Believers
have been put to death to the Law and sin.
In other words, there is absolutely no doubt
that the Believer is dead to the Law and sin.”
THE STRUCTURE OF THE LAW
Now why did Paul change the structure
of the analogy, and make the Believer dead
to the Law, instead of the Law dead to the
Believer, as was originally typified by the
dead husband?
As we have already stated, the original intent
was to portray the impossibility of the
Believer attempting to be married to two husbands
— Law and Christ. However, the reason
that Paul did not say that the Law is
dead to the Believer, but rather that the Believer
is dead to the Law, is because the Law
is not dead. It is very much alive, even at
the present time.
Let me explain:
The Law of Moses although one, was
somewhat divided into two parts: A. The
Ceremonial Law, which consisted of the Feast
Days, Circumcision, Sabbath-keeping and
Sacrifices, etc.; and, B. The Moral Law,
which consisted of the Ten Commandments
(minus the Fourth).
The Ceremonial or Ritualistic part of the
Law, which all the time pointed to Christ,
and was meant to symbolize Christ, was all
fulfilled when Christ came. Consequently,
there was no more need for the symbolism.
In regards to the Moral Law, which as stated
was the Ten Commandments, minus the
Fourth, was brought over into the New Covenant.
In other words, that part of the
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:4
NOTES
220
Mosaic Law is still incumbent upon Believers
today, because Moral Law cannot change.
(The Fourth Commandment, “Remember
the Sabbath to keep it holy,” was not brought
over into the New Covenant, because it was
between Israel and God exclusively. As well,
it was the only One of the Ten Commandments
which was not moral but rather ceremonial.
If one carefully looks at the New
Testament, after the Four Gospels, one will
find that the Fourth Commandment is nowhere
in view. In other words, Christians did
not keep the Jewish Saturday, which was the
Sabbath, but rather Sunday, which was the
Day of the Resurrection.)
THE MORAL LAW
However, even though the Moral Law is
very much alive and incumbent upon all
Believers, that Law was and is kept in Christ,
meaning that He lives in us, keeping the
Moral Law (Gal. 2:20).
As well, Jesus Personally and perfectly kept
the Moral Law (Ten Commandments) in every
respect in the some 33 1/2 years of His
earthly Life, and our Faith in Him grants us
in the Eyes of God, the status of Law-keepers,
instead of Lawbreakers.
The “Body of Christ” speaks of Christ offering
His Physical Body as a Sin-Offering
on Calvary’s Cross. In the vehicle of His Body,
He died to the Law, which means that Faith
in Him and what He did, means that we died
to the Law also. His dying means He suffered
its penalty and met its demands.
The Believer is to never forget, that all of
this was done for us, and not at all for Himself,
because He had never broken the Law or
incurred its curse. Inasmuch as He has done
this strictly for us, surely it would stand to
reason that He would want us to have all that
His Great Victory affords. Once again, we go
back to the fact that all of this (payment for
sin and Victory over sin) was done at Calvary,
and that its immediate effectiveness is carried
out within our lives on a day-to-day basis, by
continued Faith in what He did and our place
in Him. This must never be misunderstood
in that the Believer died in Him, was buried
with Him, and rose from the dead with Him,
to Newness of Life (Rom. 6:4). This is what
is meant in Romans 6:3, “Know ye not, that
so many of us as were Baptized into Jesus
Christ were Baptized into His Death?”
The believing sinner in order to be Saved,
simply has to believe that Jesus died on Calvary
for him, paying his terrible sin debt.
Accepting what He did, and accepting Him
as Saviour, guarantees Salvation.
DOMINION OF SIN BROKEN
However, the Believer, who is now in
Christ, meaning he is already Saved, must
now take his Faith to a much greater degree
than that of the believing sinner. He must
also believe that he was in Christ when these
great things were done, including the Resurrection,
and that this great happening
broke the dominion of sin, and continued
Faith in this great event and his part in it
guarantees that it stays broken, even to where
the Sin Nature is so isolated that it no longer
is a bother or trouble to the Believer.
The phrase, “That ye should be married
to another,” refers to Christ. He Alone can
provide all that is needed and in whatever
capacity. Now that we are dead to the Law,
meaning that it has no more hold on us and
because Jesus met its every requirement, we
are free to marry Christ, which we have done.
(The keeping of the Law of Moses was incumbent
upon all; however, all failed until
Christ. As the Representative Man, Christ
kept the Law of Moses in every single respect,
and Faith in Him grants to the Believer the
satisfaction of the Law in every respect also.
Consequently, the Believer is no longer obligated
to the Law because its demands have
been met, with the Believer now free and
qualified to marry the one who met those
demands, namely Christ.)
The phrase, “Even to Him Who is raised
from the dead,” presents the believing sinner
as identifying with Christ in His Death,
Burial, and Resurrection. Consequently, the
Law now has no more jurisdiction over him,
and for the obvious reasons. The “old man
(sinner)” (Rom. 6:6) died and was buried with
Christ, meaning the Law now has no more
dominion over that person, especially considering
that he has passed out of the realm
where the Law holds sway. He is resurrected
with Christ, in effect in Christ, “to walk in
Newness of Life,” a life incidentally, free of
ROMANS 7:4 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
221
the Law, because as stated, its demands have NOTES
been met in Christ.
Paul’s purpose now is to press home the
point that the Believer is not under Law anymore;
consequently, a Christian putting himself
under Law and thus failing to avail himself
of the resource of Grace is a defeated
Christian, actually Paul’s own experience before
he came into the knowledge of Romans
Chapter 6. While the Law incites the Christian
to more sin, even as it always does, yet
the Law is not responsible for that sin, but
the evil nature, which only can be conquered
as the Believer cries “Who shall deliver me?”,
and thus looks away from himself and selfdependence
to the Lord Jesus.
The phrase, “That we should bring forth
fruit unto God,” proclaims the only way that
such fruit can be brought forth. The hindrance
to our living such a life is dependence
on the flesh instead of Christ.
(5) “FOR WHEN WE WERE IN THE
FLESH, THE MOTIONS OF SINS, WHICH
WERE BY THE LAW, DID WORK IN OUR
MEMBERS TO BRING FORTH FRUIT
UNTO DEATH.”
The phrase, “For when we were in the
flesh,” can refer to the unsaved state, or to
the Believer who is attempting to overcome
the powers of sin by his own efforts, i.e., “the
flesh.” The end result is going to be the
same in either case — failure. Actually, the
entirety of this Chapter deals with the Believer
who is trying to overcome sin in the
wrong way. Actually there are only two ways
that one can make this attempt, by the flesh
or by the Spirit of God. If the Believer does
not take advantage of what Jesus did for him
at Calvary, understanding that Christ not
only paid the sin debt, but as well broke the
dominion of sin, then his only other recourse
is the flesh. In other words, his attempts at
Victory will be no more successful than the
Alcoholic attempting to quit drinking
through “Alcoholics Anonymous,” or one of
a hundred other efforts made by men. There
is Victory only in Christ, and only in following
His prescribed Path.
THE FIVE OFFERINGS OF
THE OLD TESTAMENT
It took Five Offerings as outlined in the
Old Testament to properly exemplify the one
Sacrifice of Christ at Calvary. Those Five
were: Burnt Offering, Food Offering, Peace
Offering, Sin Offering and Trespass Offering.
All were Offerings of clean animals (a lamb,
a bullock, or a goat), with the exception of
the Food Offering (Meat Offering). This was
an Offering made of Grain and baked into
cakes (Lev. Chpts. 1-7).
THE PEACE OFFERING
Of these Offerings, the Peace Offering typified
the teaching given by Paul in Romans
Chapter 6. It typified the Believer partaking
of Christ in His Death, Burial and Resurrection
(Rom. 6:3-6). The Type was carried out
by the Worshiper partaking of the slain animal
in a Feast after it had been cooked and
prepared in a special way. He was even permitted
to call in his friends to enjoy this
Feast with him.
This is one of the reasons that the Believer
should know and understand the Old
Testament as well as the New. It lays the
foundation for all that was done by Christ
in His Perfect Birth, Perfect Walk, and Perfect
Sacrifice. Actually, it is not really possible
for anyone to understand the New Testament,
unless they have a working knowledge
of the Old.
THE LAW OF THE PEACE OFFERING
This is found in Leviticus Chapter 7. Unleavened
cakes were to be used, which symbolized
the sinless humanity of Christ. Leavened
bread was to be used, symbolizing the
sinful humanity of the worshiper. The One
had sin on Him but not in Him; the other,
had sin in him but not on him.
The Peace Offering for Thanksgiving was
eaten the same day that it was offered; the
Peace Offering for a vow, the same day or the
next day — because a vow, or a voluntary
offering, necessarily affected the heart more
than an ordinary Thanksgiving.
This Law taught the Offerer to closely associate
the Death and Sufferings of the slain
lamb with the blessing that he gave thanks
for. This Thanksgiving Offering was to be
for every Blessing, for all Blessings come from
God, but more primarily for that which the
Lord would do at Calvary for the Believer, as
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:5
NOTES
222
typified by the slain lamb. Of course, the
Offerer in Old Testament times, would not
have had the full understanding of the things
we are now discussing, but they definitely
knew that the Sacrificial Offering of the clean
animal represented the Sacrifice of the Coming
Redeemer. The glass they saw through
then was of necessity more shaded than
present. Due to what Christ has already done,
we at the present time have greater spiritual
vision. Nevertheless, even now “We (continue
to) see through a glass, darkly.” However,
when He comes back, we will “then see
face to face” (I Cor. 13:12).
The lesson then taught to the worshipers
continues to teach the same today. To disassociate
worship and thanksgiving from the
anguish and bloodshedding of the Lord Jesus
is to offer to God an abomination and to bring
death into the soul and into the Church.
CEREMONIAL CLEANLINESS
Ceremonial Cleanliness was obligatory before
eating the Peace Offering (Lev. 7:20-21).
Disobedience in this matter entailed death.
To profess Faith in the Person and Atonement
of Christ, and claim fellowship with
Him, and be secretly unclean, ensures the
Wrath of God.
Then, and of necessity, the cleansing was
only ceremonial. Today it is a literal fact
in that Christ makes one clean and keeps
one clean, which the Peace Offering was
all about.
THE FAT OF THE PEACE OFFERING
The fat of the Peace Offering was to be
wholly given to God, because it symbolized
the excellent affections and prosperity of God’s
dearly-beloved Son. In other words, God gave
Heaven’s very best when He gave Jesus. The
“fat” which was to be burned upon the Altar,
and the only part of this particular Offering
which was so treated, was a sign of the
Prosperity of God in every capacity. It pictured
the Grace, Glory, Prosperity, Beauty,
Health, and every other positive aspect of
God’s Gift to man, His Son, Jesus Christ.
Actually, the fat of any animal that died,
or was accidentally killed, might be used for
other purposes, but never eaten. Similarly
was the Blood Precious.
THE WAVE BREAST AND
HEAVE SHOULDER
Some parts of the slain and roasted animal
were to be eaten by the Offerer, after it
was cooked and suitably prepared. As stated,
he could feel free to invite as many friends
as he so desired to partake of this Feast. As
the Offerer partook of this Feast, literally
eating the flesh with the prepared cakes and
bread, such symbolized the actual partaking
of Christ in His Atoning Work at Calvary,
and more perfectly, in His breaking
the dominion of sin in the life of the Believer.
Among other things, this is actually
what it represented.
This tells us that the Believer is not only
to accept the Vicarious Sacrifice of Jesus at
Calvary concerning the terrible sin debt, but
that also he is to liken himself as having
died, been buried, and Resurrected with
Christ. All of that was symbolized in the
“Peace Offering.”
Any type of sin in the life of the Believer
destroys that Peace. It is only reinstated after
proper Repentance, etc. However, to sin
and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent,
etc., is not God’s Way, as should be obvious.
And yet, that is where many Believers are,
and the very reason that the Holy Spirit gave
Paul this great solution in Romans Chapters,
6, 7, and 8. As the Offerer of old partook
of the Peace Offering, the Believer is to
partake of what Christ did at Calvary and the
Resurrection, likening himself in the very
acts which were carried out by the Son of
God. This is what the Peace Offering represented,
and which we are to enjoy today.
As is obvious, this was to be a Feast, which
typified Joy, Peace, Prosperity, and Godliness.
None of these things can be had by a sinning
Salvation, or a constant Repentance, even
though Repentance occasionally is always
needed. The Lord intends for us to have
total and complete Victory, which in effect
we already have, and should maintain, and
can do so in Christ, but only in Christ.
THE ONE WAS HEAVED . . .
This means that the shoulder of the animal
after being prepared was lifted up before
God as expressive of its preciousness
ROMANS 7:5 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
223
and acceptability to Him. Christ’s Shoul- NOTES
der upholds.
This also means, as is obvious, that the
Believer’s trust in Him respecting His breaking
the dominion of sin in our lives, says that
His “Shoulder,” typifying His Strength, has
done for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Paul said, “For when we were yet without
strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). As obvious, this speaks
of the person before Salvation. However, the
Believer is also without strength when it comes
to the dominion of sin, at least within himself.
Our “strength” is in Christ, typified by
the “Heave Offering.”
THE ONE WAS WAVED . . .
The prepared Breast of the slain animal
was lifted up and “waved” before the Lord,
in effect presenting him to the four quarters
of the Earth, as setting forth the sufficiency
of this Offering to give life to the world.
Further, Christ’s Shoulder upholds and His
Breast consoles, all those who trust in Him;
and they nourish those who serve Him in
any form of Christian Ministry to others.
The reverence due to the Person and to
the Work of the Messiah was enjoined by the
two Laws respecting the “fat” and the “Blood.”
They expressed excellency and efficiency.
“This is My Beloved Son” declared the One;
and “Peace through the Blood of His Cross”
proclaimed the other (Col. 1:20) (Williams).
All of the Peace Offering was a form of
Thanksgiving, typifying the present Believer
who should thank the Lord daily that Jesus
not only paid the price for our Redemption,
but as well, broke the dominion of sin within
our lives, that it no longer rule over us. We
actually should thank Him constantly, and
which the Thanksgiving will always build
Faith, never forgetting this which Christ did,
which is an ever-present, effective work within
our daily walk.
MOTIONS OF SINS
The phrase, “The motions of sins,” denotes
being under the power of sin, and refers
to the “passions” of sins. This speaks of
the Sin Nature operating full blast, bringing
about one sin after the other, which will always
happen when the Believer relies on the
flesh instead of the Spirit. In other words,
and as we have repeatedly said, he is attempting
to obey some type of law which he has
made up himself, or was made up by others,
thinking that the obedience to such will
bring about Victory, etc. Even though the
intention may be good and the motive right,
the results will be the same as it was before
the Believer was Saved. While sin is “motionless”
in the life of one who trusts Christ,
it begins very much to stir into activity,
when reliance shifts to something else.
That’s one of the reasons that the Catholic
Church has their Confessionals and why
it is in operation constantly. Catholicism is
a religion of works, as such, there is no Power
of Christ represented. Therefore, the people
are constantly sinning and constantly confessing.
However, the Catholic has a threefold
problem:
1. Very precious few Catholics are actually
Saved.
2. They are depending on works to do
with and for them whatever is needed, which
can never be done.
3. Even their confessing has no effect,
because they are confessing to a man expecting
him to absolve their sin, which no
man can do.
The phrase, “Which were by the Law,”
seems to be negative on the surface as it regards
the Law.
The effect of the Law, reveals sin, which
it is actually designed to do, and because it
does that, many think it is evil. However,
the answer is that, on the contrary, “the Law
is holy” (vs. 12).
Others say, granting that the Law is good
in itself, yet it becomes evil to men because
of its effects on them (vs. 13).
The reply to this is that its moral effect in
them is beneficent, for its action reveals to
them how evil they are, which is its intention
all along.
An illustration may make this plain.
A piece of ground is barren. The Sun
rises and shines upon it. Very quickly it is
covered with weeds. Using the same analogy
toward the Sun as many do toward the Law,
they think, therefore, that the Sun must be
to blame.
However, good Science rejects this, replying
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:5
NOTES
224
that the Sun is good in itself.
Some may object to that saying that the
Sun which might be good in itself becomes
evil to the ground, and because the weeds
were made manifest. To this Science replies
that the Sun does not become evil to the
piece of ground, but that the effect of its
action is to reveal the evil that is in the ground
and not in the Sun.
GOD’S LAW IS GOOD
God’s Moral Law is holy and just and good.
Man’s fallen nature is evil. The effect of Law
acting on that nature manifests not only the
fact of the disease of sin, but the exceeding
malignity of the disease.
Sin, i.e., the principle of evil lodged in
fallen man, is manifested as exceedingly sinful,
which the Law of God brings about, and
is made evident to man’s own consciousness
(Williams).
The phrase, “Did work in our members
to bring forth fruit unto death,” means that
God’s Moral Law does two things:
1. The Law of God, which of course is a
Moral Law, does not cause the sin in the
person’s life, or have anything to do with
its origination. It only reveals what is already
there.
In other words, man was and is so deceived
that he simply would not believe that
his condition was as bad as it actually is.
So, the Law of God showed him just how
bad it was.
2. Not only did the Law of God show man
how bad he was, in other words, revealing
what was already there, but as well, showed
man how weak he really is, respecting his
efforts to address this terrible problem.
The Moral Laws of God as they were originally
given in what is referred to as the “Law
of Moses,” are ensconced in the Ten Commandments,
minus the Fourth. To be frank,
all Civil Law in the world has as its foundation
the Moral Law of God, at least in one
way or the other.
While the first Two of these Commandments,
which deal with man’s obligations to
God, are basically ignored, the remaining
Eight (minus the Fourth), form the groundwork
and foundation of all Civil Law. These
Moral Laws speak of taking God’s Name in
vain, the honoring of one’s Father and
Mother, murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and
covetousness.
MAN’S INABILITY
“Thou shalt not bear false witness,” or
“Thou shalt not steal,” etc., sound very
simple, but man soon finds that he is unable
to keep these Laws irrespective of how
hard he may try. The problem is his depraved
nature, which resulted in the Fall,
and which has no power at all to do that
which is right.
So, not only cannot he obey these Commandments,
he as well, has no way within
himself, and in any capacity, to remedy the
situation. Man’s every activity can only bring
forth death, because man has no life within
himself whatsoever.
However, man refuses to believe his situation
is as bad as it actually is, and as a result,
that he has no solution within himself. As
we have stated in past Commentary, deception
is a terrible thing. Such is man’s problem,
and is acute beyond belief. That’s what
Jesus was speaking of when He said, “The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He
hath Anointed Me to . . . recover sight to the
blind” (Lk. 4:18).
He wasn’t speaking of physical blindness,
but spiritual blindness. In fact, man is so
spiritually blind, that he cannot be reached
intellectually. It takes a Revelation from God
for this darkness to be penetrated, which can
only be done by the Word of God and the
Moving and Operation of the Holy Spirit
upon that Word (Jn. 16:7-15).
As is now known, the word “members” as
Paul uses it here, speaks of the physical members
of our bodies, i.e., eyes, ears, tongue,
feet, hands, etc. Acts of sin are carried out
through these “members.” Irrespective of
what man may do regarding education, intellectualism,
various philosophies, money,
religion, etc., it can only “bring forth fruit
unto death.”
What does Paul mean by “death?”
He is speaking of the wages of sin which
is death, which is produced by unregenerate
man, and without fail! And as we have repeatedly
stated, there is no way that man
can ameliorate or change this direction, at
ROMANS 7:5 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
225
least within himself. Man’s problem is sin, NOTES
which actually is a spiritual problem, and
cannot be addressed from the economical,
social, philosophical, religious, intellectual,
psychological, etc. The only answer is Jesus!
The “death” mentioned here, is “spiritual
death,” which means separation from God,
Who Alone is the Life Source.
(6) “BUT NOW WE ARE DELIVERED
FROM THE LAW, THAT BEING DEAD
WHEREIN WE WERE HELD; THAT WE
SHOULD SERVE IN NEWNESS OF
SPIRIT, AND NOT IN THE OLDNESS OF
THE LETTER.”
The phrase, “But now we are delivered
from the Law,” means that its demands were
met in Christ. Inasmuch as we were in Christ
(Baptism into Christ) when He died on Calvary
and was raised from the dead, our Faith
in Him, means that the demands of the Law
were met in us as well.
In other words, the Law of God (Law of
Moses) demanded and demands that all of it
be obeyed by all, as should be obvious. Law
is not law unless it demands obedience, and
all Law has a penalty attached for failure.
The problem was and is, man within himself
could not and cannot keep the Law; consequently,
it hung over his head as the sword
of Damocles. And as well, there was no way
out. The Law made its demands and man
could not meet them, but yet must do so.
However, when Jesus came, He kept the
Moral Law in every single respect, and then
He satisfied the Curse of the Law by offering
up Himself as a Sin-Offering at Calvary. So,
in reality, man was delivered in a twofold way:
DELIVERED FROM THE CURSE
1. The terrible Curse (penalty) of the Law
was satisfied by Jesus, when He offered up
His Sinless, Perfect Body as a Sin-Offering,
which satisfied the claims of Heavenly Justice
and wiped the slate clean. He took the
penalty Himself, which God accepted, and
by simple Faith in Him, the charge and penalty
of sin is instantly removed. So, at Calvary
man was delivered from the penalty of
the Law.
2. When Jesus came to this Earth, He
perfectly kept in His daily Walk the Moral
Law of God, never failing in even one point.
Consequently, as the Representative Man,
Faith in Him also grants the Believer His
Victory respecting the perfect keeping of
the Law. Therefore, God grants to the
Believer the Perfect Walk of Christ, in effect,
as we have previously stated, making
the Believer a Law-keeper, where he was
once a Lawbreaker.
The phrase, “That being dead wherein we
were held,” would have probably been better
translated, “Having died to that in which we
were constantly being held down.”
Held by what?
That in which the Believer was constantly
held before he was Saved is the evil nature.
In the Greek, the manner in which Paul uses
the term, portrays that the Sin Nature had
absolute control over the unsaved person.
Some claim that Paul is speaking of the
Law here being dead, but that is not so, due
to the fact that he says the very opposite in
the 4th verse. The Law does not die as he
said, but the Believer dies to the Law. The
Believer has now been delivered from the
power of the Sin Nature, and in effect, it has
no more control over him.
When Israel was under the Law, or if anyone
puts himself under any type of Law at
present, such will tend to bring out of the
Believer infractions, and, consequently failure,
even as Law is designed to do. But now
that we are serving Christ, and at least have
a rudimentary knowledge of what that service
means, the power of the Law is broken
within our lives, and, consequently, the Sin
Nature is left without power as well.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The phrase, “That we should serve in
newness of Spirit,” refers to the Holy Spirit
and not man’s spirit. While the spirit of
the Believer is certainly renewed at Regeneration,
still, even the renewed spirit does
not have the power to effect the work which
is here noted and needed. That takes the
Holy Spirit, which Paul graphically outlines
in the next Chapter.
The distinction here is made between the
Holy Spirit as the new method of Divine Dealing
and the Law, which was God’s old
method. Paul’s thought here is not that the
Believer serves only in a new spirit, that is,
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:6
NOTES
226
in a new attitude and with new motives,
which definitely does happen, but that he
serves now in the Power of the Holy Spirit,
under a new energy and control, rather than
in an attempt to obey an objective Law. Once
again we will quote the poet:
“Do this and live, the Law demands,
“But gives me neither feet nor hands.
“A better word the Gospel brings,
“It bids me fly and gives me wings.”
The phrase, “And not in the oldness of
the letter,” refers to the Law of Moses. The
word “letter” in the Greek is “gramma,” and
means “a bond, a document, a letter one
writes.” Here it refers to the Written Law of
God as found in the Old Testament.
In the previous phrase, the word “newness”
in the Greek is “kainos,” and means
“that which is new as to quality, as set over
against that which has seen service, the outworn,
that which is marred through age.”
The Gospel as looked at here as “new,” as in
respect it replaces the Law, which is old and
worn out.
The word “oldness” in the Greek is
“palaios,” and means, “that which is old in
point of use, worn out, useless.”
The Law of Moses fulfilled by Christ,
which was abrogated at the Cross, is looked
upon as outworn, useless, so that it has been
set aside. Now, Spirit (Holy Spirit) and Law
are contrasted.
Service in the “letter” means seeking Salvation
by works, i.e., in union with the first
husband (vss. 1-3). Service in the Spirit
means enjoyment of Salvation in union with
the second husband (vs. 4).
Thus, the Believer learns that association
with Christ in His Death liberates him from
Death as a King (Rom. Chpt. 5); from Sin as
a Master (Rom. Chpt. 6); and from the Law
as a Husband (Rom. Chpt. 7).
Romans Chapter 5: Sin on a person, i.e.,
condemnation. Romans Chapter 6: Sin over
a person, i.e., domination. Romans Chapter
7: Sin in a person, i.e., desperation.
The only power that can deliver from these
is not Law, but Grace; and the mode of liberation
is death, i.e., the judicial death of
the Believer at Calvary (Rom. 6:3-4).
In a sense, Death, Sin, and Law triumphed
over Christ at Calvary, but only momentarily,
and because He allowed it. But their dominion
over Him ended directly when He
was dead, which is what God planned, and
which paid the sin debt and broke the grip
of sin upon humanity.
In His Death the Believer died; and, consequently,
their authority (Death, Sin, and
Law) ended there for Him also, so that He is
no longer in their dominion.
Risen with Christ — united to Him the
New Husband — a life of Liberty and Sanctification
is enjoyed in the life and energy of
the Holy Spirit (Williams).
In these Passages, as well as scores of others,
the Believer should easily see how that
the Law pointed to Jesus. When He came,
He fulfilled all its demands, with it no longer
being held over the heads of God’s people.
To which we have alluded, in all of this it
may seem as if Paul is degrading the Law,
but as he will show in the next verse, he is
not doing so at all, only pointing out its true
purpose, which it carried out very well. However,
in that it very well fulfilled its task, even
as designed by the Lord, and is now replaced
by the Lord Jesus Christ, surely the Believer
would not want to go back under the “oldness
of the letter.” But sadly, that is what we
actually do so many times, and as well, we
always reap bitter results — actually, the very
opposite of what we intend.
(7) “WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN? IS
THE LAW SIN? GOD FORBID. NAY, I
HAD NOT KNOWN SIN, BUT BY THE
LAW: FOR I HAD NOT KNOWN LUST,
EXCEPT THE LAW HAD SAID, THOU
SHALT NOT COVET.”
The question, “What shall we say then?”,
now addresses the question of Law (the Law
of Moses), as to its purpose and effect.
In verses 1 through 6 of this Chapter, Paul
has shown that the Believer is no longer under
Law. In the remainder of the Chapter he
shows that a Believer putting himself under
Law, thus failing to avail himself of the resources
of Grace, is a defeated Christian. He
teaches that while the Law incites the Christian
to more sin, that is, if the Christian
tries to put himself under Law, which is actually
what the Law was designed to do, yet
the Law is not responsible for that sin, but
rather the Believer himself, actually, the evil
ROMANS 7:7 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
227
nature in the Believer’s heart and life. NOTES
PAUL’S EXPERIENCE
As well, in the remainder of this Chapter,
Paul gives his own experience as a Christian
before he came into the knowledge of Romans
Chapter 6. Consequently, he opens
himself up that all may see.
In other words, and to which we have already
alluded, once Paul was Saved while on
the road to Damascus, and shortly thereafter
Baptized with the Holy Spirit, noting the
tremendous change within his life, he
thought surely he could live the type of life
he wanted to live and in fact, must live.
However, to his dismay, and as we shall see,
he found himself failing and failing repeatedly.
In other words, his willpower was being
overridden by the Powers of Darkness,
which left him confused as to what was really
happening. That is when he cried, “O
wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver
me from the body of this death?” (vs. 24).
It was then that the Lord gave him the
great Truth of the “Double Cure” which he
gave us in Chapter 6.
He learned that Jesus not only paid the
sin debt at Calvary, but as well, broke the
dominion of sin in the Believer’s life. In
fact, he learned many things.
He learned that even though the Believer
was a New Creature in Christ Jesus, still the
Sin Nature remained alive in that Believer,
which could spring to life very quickly, which
Paul had ingloriously experienced. In answer
to that, he learned that the Believer
actually died in Christ, was buried in Christ,
and Resurrected in Christ. When the Believer
understands this, and has Faith in that
which Jesus has done, realizing that it was
done for the sinner, he then learns that the
power of the Sin Nature is broken, with him
now able to walk in Victory as an Overcomer.
In other words, before he learned this, he
was constantly trying to gain the Victory and
trying to be an Overcomer, actually attempting
to fight battles all over again which Jesus
had already fought and won. He was frustrating
the Grace of God.
VICTORY NOW!
Paul learned that the Believer, even the
moment that he accepts Christ as his Saviour,
is Victorious, and is an Overcomer. It
is not something he strives to do or strives
to be, but in fact already is, but through what
Jesus Christ did. However, if he does not
know and understand that, there will be no
Victory, and neither will he be an Overcomer.
Before these great Truths were shown to
him by the Holy Spirit (which Truths he gave
to us), Paul found himself attempting to
keep the Law (the Moral Law) within his own
power and strength, which he was unable to
do. This is what frustrated him so very
much. Surely, he thinks, inasmuch as I am
Saved and Baptized with the Holy Spirit, I
can do these things, which he knows must
be done. But yet he found he could not
keep these Moral Laws even though a Believer,
and neither can anyone else — at least
in their own strength. But then he found
out as the Holy Spirit portrayed to him, how
in fact, they can be kept and actually kept
very easily! Consequently, what the Holy
Spirit related to him, he relates to us.
As I dictate these words on November 10,
1997, I have to wonder in my spirit, considering
today’s modern Church, just how much
it would accept Paul’s words if being written
presently? Self-righteousness is so rampant
at the present time, and I say that with a
grieving heart, that I’m not sure that Paul
would have been given any credence at all.
After all, Paul is openly admitting that he
had failure in his Christian experience before
he learned and understood these great
Truths. So, I suspect that many, that is if
Paul were writing these words presently,
would hardly think that he would be entrusted
by the Holy Spirit to write almost
half the New Testament, and in fact, be given
the New Covenant of Grace. But he was!
In Truth, I’m not so sure that his words
were not met in his day and time with skepticism
and even sarcasm. In fact, the questions
he asked bear that out I think. Nevertheless,
that which he was given was of God,
and in fact, some of the greatest Truths found
in the entirety of the Word of God.
That’s the reason that the Believer must
judge everything according to the Word of
God, and never according to so-called popular
opinion, and above all, they must not
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:7
NOTES
228
allow others to do their thinking for them.
The Bible must be the criteria at all times,
and, in fact, the only criteria. The tragedy
is, most in Christendom blindly follow their
Denominational Heads, irrespective as to
what they say or do. This is a tragedy, and
has led untold millions to die eternally lost.
THE BIBLE
When all of us stand before God, we will
be judged according to that which is written
in the Book called the Bible, and not according
to what our Denomination said,
taught or believed. Whatever policy they had
or have, is one thing. What the Bible says,
is something else altogether.
Regrettably, far too many Believers take
the position, that these are things for Church
Leaders to work out, and really does not involve
them. Right and wrong involve everyone!
Consequently, the moment that Denominational
policy, or the policy of anyone
for that matter, strays from the Word of God,
the Believer had better follow the Bible, irrespective
of what it means otherwise.
The question, “Is the Law sin?”, is asked
because of the manner in which Paul has
repeatedly addressed the Law.
In effect he is posing the question, “What
shall we say then to the fact that the desires
or impulses in the evil nature in me were
stirred into activity by the Law? Is the Law
sinful or evil which does that?”
The two words, “God forbid,” present his
answer. These two words in the Greek are
“me genoito,” and mean “may it not become,”
that is, “let not such a thing be
thought of,” or “away with the thought.”
This condition of man is not caused by the
Law of God, but rather exposed. In other
words, the Law brought out what was already
in man’s heart, exposed it to the light of day,
showing what man really was.
WHAT THE LAW DOES
The phrase, “Nay, I had not known sin,
but by the Law,” means that the Law defined
what sin actually is. The Law did not
originate sin or institute sin. In fact, it had
nothing to do with the fact of sin, except to
expose it. This it was designed to do, and
this it did and very well.
I heard a Jewish Journalist being interviewed,
asked the question, “Why is there
such an animosity against the Jews?”
The man’s answer was somewhat revealing.
“God gave to the Jews the Ten Commandments,
which informs as to what is right and
wrong,” he said, “and the world has never
forgiven us for that fact.”
Many erroneously believe that the Law of
Moses was meant only for the Jews. It was
meant for the entirety of the world.
Even though the Ritualistic and Ceremonial
parts of the Law were definitely for the
Jews, and for a particular purpose, however,
the Moral Law was for all, because Moral Law
cannot change. What was morally wrong
for Jews was and is morally wrong for all.
Please forgive our repetition, but due to
the complexity of some of these issues (and
the Law is definitely one of those issues),
some things have to be repeated more than
once, and some things several times.
Even though there was only one Law of
Moses, it was divided into two parts, the Ceremonial
and the Moral. The Ceremonial consisted
of the Sacrifices, Sabbaths, Feast Days,
Circumcision, etc. This would have also included
all of the Sacred Vessels of Furniture
in the Tabernacle or Temple. Actually, all of
these items and things pointed to Jesus. In
other words, all were symbolic of Jesus.
The Moral part of the Law consisted of
the Ten Commandments minus the Fourth.
That Commandment alone was not Moral,
but Ceremonial.
When Jesus came, He fulfilled all the Ceremonial
parts of the Law, with it consequently
no longer needed. He also kept
completely and met the demands of the
Moral Law. But due to these Commandments
being Moral, they are still incumbent
upon humanity as would be obvious.
Nevertheless, man is no more capable of
obeying these Commandments now than
before. However, they are obeyed by the
Believer totally in Jesus, with His obedience
becoming our obedience.
Giving us the Power and the Strength,
along with our understanding of what He
has done for us, and our part in what He
did at least according to Identification, we
now keep these Moral Laws as well. But it
ROMANS 7:7 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
229
is only through, by, of, and with the Lord NOTES
Jesus Christ.
So, the Law of Moses very clearly and
plainly portrayed the reality of sin which
was already present, and as well, succinctly
defined it.
The phrase, “For I had not known lust,
except the Law had said, Thou shalt not
covet,” tells us that the desire for what is
forbidden is the first conscious form of sin.
Paul is saying that the consciousness of sin
awoke in him in the shape of a conflict with
a prohibitive Law. In other words, the Law
defined the covetous passion in Paul’s heart.
He wanted or lusted for something which
belonged to someone else, or something
which was not right, with the Law telling
him and all others for that matter, what type
of sin that he (or they) was now committing.
The Law portrayed the presence of sin
and its definition. “Thou shalt not covet” is
the Tenth Commandment (Ex. 20:17).
(8) “BUT SIN, TAKING OCCASION BY
THE COMMANDMENT, WROUGHT IN ME
ALL MANNER OF CONCUPISCENCE. FOR
WITHOUT THE LAW SIN WAS DEAD.”
The phrase, “But sin, taking occasion by
the Commandment, wrought in me all manner
of concupiscence,” speaks to the fact that
the moral effect of the Commandment manifested
the depth of covetousness hidden in
man’s nature, and not only covetousness, but
insensibility, for in the absence of Law sin is
dead — not dead in relation to God, but dead
to the sensibility of corrupt man (Williams).
“Sin” as here used by Paul, is once again
“The Sin,” referring to the “Sin Nature.”
“Occasion” in the Greek is “aphormen,” and
means “to make a start from a place.” It is,
therefore, “a starting place, a base of operations,
the means with which one begins.”
“Wrought” in the Greek is “katergazomai,”
and means “to accomplish, achieve an end,
carry something to a conclusion.”
“Concupiscence” is “epithumia,” and
means “evil desire.”
The phrase, “For without the Law sin was
dead,” means that the Law of Moses fully
exposed what already was in man’s heart. It
not only exposed it, but as well, defined it.
Consequently, the state of man thereafter was
even worse, as would be obvious. That’s the
reason our Jewish friend said that the world
has never forgiven the Jews for God giving
them the Moral Law. He meant that man
now knowing the way, has no cloak for his
sin. In other words, he can no longer plead
ignorance.
THE LAW DID TWO THINGS:
1. It revealed sin, in other words what
was already in man’s heart. Law, and irrespective
of what kind, excites men in one of
two ways: it makes him either desire to break
the Law, or to keep the Law. In other words,
it has sort of compulsion to its nature. Respecting
the Law of God, a desire to keep it
of course is the right thing; however, man is
shot down in either case.
First of all, if he sets himself to break
these Laws, even as most do, he incurs the
Wrath of God, which must come upon all
sin. Such is the very Nature of God, and
cannot be abrogated.
If he sets out to try to keep the Law, which
some few attempt to do, he finds that he is
woefully unable to do so. He simply does
not have the moral capacity to obey. That’s
why he desperately needs Jesus!
2. According to the Law, he now knows
what type of sin he is committing. As well,
the Tenth Commandment puts a cap on the
entirety of the Law, by actually saying in a
sense that it’s not only not good enough for
man to not physically disobey these Commandments,
but he must not even desire to
do so. That is what covetousness means,
desire, and in this case, “evil desire.”
So, the Law portrayed to man what he
actually was, depraved, without spiritual life,
without ability to even obey the most simplest
of moral commands. Consequently, he
was then to throw himself on the Mercy and
Grace of God for His Help, which He Alone
could give. A few did, most didn’t!
(9) “FOR I WAS ALIVE WITHOUT THE
LAW ONCE: BUT WHEN THE COMMANDMENT
CAME, SIN REVIVED, AND I DIED.”
The phrase, “For I was alive without the
Law once,” actually points to a double
meaning:
1. Paul is speaking of himself and of the
time of his Conversion. The Law had absolutely
nothing to do with his Conversion,
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:8-9
NOTES
230
played no part, at least directly, in that which
Jesus did for him in the matter of Redemption,
and with all for that matter.
At that moment, because of his acceptance
of Jesus Christ he became spiritually
alive unto God. It is the same with all, Law
plays absolutely no positive part whatsoever
in man’s Redemption. While it is true that
Jesus on our behalf, suffered the penalty of
the broken Law, still, that does not affect
the Believer at least as far as direct involvement
is concerned.
2. The Fall of Adam illustrates verse 11,
but also pertains to verse 9.
After Adam’s creation and before the Commandment
was given concerning his not eating
of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good
and Evil (Eve as well), there was no Law of
any kind whatsoever.
During that time, ever how long it was,
Adam and Eve were alive unto God, which
enjoyed a state of bliss, of which now is little
comprehension.
The phrase, “But when the Commandment
came, sin revived, and I died,” once
again points to two meanings:
1. Going back to Paul, after his Conversion
and Baptism with the Holy Spirit, he
enjoyed an abundant life which he had never
known before. However, at the same time
Satan brought about temptation regarding
the Moral Law. At that time, Paul fell back
on his own efforts attempting to throw aside
the Temptation, and failed as fail he must.
In fact, the harder he tried, the more he
failed. Not understanding the great Truth
which he was eventually given by the Lord,
and attempting to keep the Commandment
of Moral Law, he woefully found that he was
unable to do so. Sin revived, and revived
mightily. This means that he now found
himself failing God just as much as he had
before he had come to Christ. That’s what
he meant by the words “And I died.” He was
not meaning that he physically died, but that
he died to the Commandment, in other
words he failed to obey as hard as he tried.
In fact, the failure became worse and worse,
with him ultimately crying the words of verse
24, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall
deliver me from the body of this death?”
Of course, the answer to that is the great
Truths of Chapters 6, 7, and 8 of the Book
of Romans.
THE SIN NATURE COMING ALIVE
The word “revived” in the Greek is
“anazao,” and means “to live again.” It
speaks of the Sin Nature coming alive once
again, giving him the same trouble he had
before Conversion. Tragically, many modern
Believers are in that very situation right
now, and do not really know the reason for
their problem, especially considering that
they are trying with all their strength. They
have little knowledge, if any at all, that even
their trying is working to their detriment
and not their good. Considering this is very
little preached at the present time, puts these
people in a dilemma, even as it did Paul so
long ago. Observing the climate of the modern
Church, most of them dare not say anything,
for if they do, especially Preachers,
they are consigned to spiritual oblivion,
drummed out. So, such climate basically
breeds hypocrisy. To be sure, it is not intentional
hypocrisy, but nevertheless, that’s what
it amounts to.
2. Only one Commandment was given to
Adam, he was not to eat of the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 2:15-17).
However, sin profited by that one Commandment,
and used it as a point of attack, i.e.,
took occasion by it, deceived Adam and so
slew him; for in that hour he died morally.
(10) “AND THE COMMANDMENT,
WHICH WAS ORDAINED TO LIFE, I
FOUND TO BE UNTO DEATH.”
The phrase, “And the Commandment,
which was ordained to Life,” refers to the Ten
Commandments, or any one or more thereof.
In other words, these Commandments as
given by God were right, and, therefore, pertained
to Life. The idea is, that it is not the
Commandment which is at fault. And yet
this is where the great bone of contention is
respecting much of modern Psychology and
the Gospel.
Unconverted man carries with him guilt,
which has a direct bearing on verse 10.
GUILT
In ordinary speech today, “guilt” most often
indicates a feeling. However, in Scripture,
ROMANS 7:10 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
231
“guilt” is a fact, not a feeling. For Believers, NOTES
God forgives the sin that makes people guilty.
GUILT AND MODERN PSYCHOLOGY
Unconverted man carries guilt, but does
not quite know how to define it, nor does he
know or understand its cause.
Modern psychological counseling attempts
to rid the person of that uncomfortable
feeling by the use of therapy. Of
course, such is impossible, simply because
it in no way addresses the real problem,
which is sin. So it attempts to address the
situation in another way.
Modern Psychology basically claims that
the Bible, i.e., The Commandment, is a
throwback to superstition, and, accordingly,
should be ignored. In other words, they are
blaming “The Commandment” for the guilt,
and if one does away with the Commandment,
one then does away with the guilt.
They do not understand that the Commandment
only exposes the real problem of
sin, which causes the guilt. So, Psychology
holds no answer whatsoever for man’s guilt,
because the problem cannot be treated externally,
which is the only means available
to Psychology, and anything that man may
have to offer for that matter.
GUILT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
While Hebrew words that mean “iniquity”
and “wickedness” are sometimes translated
“guilt” in particular versions of the Bible,
the Hebrew term that means “to be guilty”
is “asam.”
This word and its many derivatives focus
our attention on the full impact of guilt,
which always involves three distinct aspects:
A. There is an act that brings guilt; B. There
is the condition of guilt that results from
the act; and, C. There is the punishment
that is appropriate to the act.
The stress in a particular verse may lie on
the act itself, on the human condition, or
on the punishment. But the Biblical concept
of guilt always includes these elements.
Because all sin is an offense against God,
guilt can be understood only by relating it
to God. The issue in guilt is not how a person
may feel about his or her actions; rather,
the focus is on the fact that each human
being is responsible and will bear the consequences
of his or her actions. In order to
avoid those consequences, each person must
let God deal with the sin and guilt.
GUILT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
In the New Testament, “guilt” is a judicial
concept, affirming criminal responsibility.
This is true whether the court is human
or Divine.
“Guilty” in Romans 3:19 in the Greek is
“hypodikos,” and means “to be guilty,” or “to
be held accountable,” in the sense of being
forced to answer to the Divine Jurisdiction.
So, the New Testament reaches a little further
than the Old, by counting the whole
world as “guilty before God.” Consequently,
the world is not guilty merely because of a
particular act which brings guilt, but rather
because of original sin.
However, the difference is not noticeable
simply because, unconverted man cannot
help but commit acts of sin which automatically
bring guilt.
THE DIVINE REMEDY FOR GUILT
The Bible’s Message that human beings
are accountable and must bear the consequences
of wrong moral choices is taught in
many ways.
However, the Divine emphasis is not on
our failure. Instead, God comes to us with
His unique Message of Hope. Even though
you and I are guilty before God, we can be
acquitted in the Divine Court!
The Lord shares with us in Scripture, especially
in the teaching and actions of Jesus,
His willingness to forgive.
Guilt is a reality. But so is forgiveness.
In Jesus we find the perfect remedy for those
tragic choices that have made us liable to
judgment. In Jesus we have the Promise
that no one can bring any charge against
those whom God has Saved by their Faith
in, and their acceptance of, His son, The Lord
Jesus Christ.
The phrase, “I found to be unto death,”
means that the Law revealed the sin, which
wages are death.
The words, “I found,” literally in the Greek
says, “Was found.” That is, Paul expected
his Christian Life under Law to issue in the
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:10
NOTES
232
production of a Testimony and Experience
that would be a living one, alive with the
Life of God. This was to be brought about
and accomplished through his attempt at
Law-Obedience. One must remember, all of
this transpired after his Conversion.
But he found that mere effort at obeying
an outside Law resulted in defeat. The Law,
using the evil nature as a fulcrum, brought
out sin all the more, and this condition he
calls “death.”
(11) “FOR SIN, TAKING OCCASION BY
THE COMMANDMENT, DECEIVED ME,
AND BY IT SLEW ME.”
The phrase, “For sin, taking occasion by
the Commandment,” in no way blames the
Commandment, but that the Commandment
actually did agitate the sin (the Sin
Nature) and brought it to the fore, which it
was designed to do. (The Commandment
actually speaks of any of the Laws of God,
but more particularly, the Moral Laws ensconced
in the Ten Commandments.)
The phrase, “Deceived me, and by it slew
me,” means that something happened which
Paul did not in any way expect. He thought
his great efforts to keep the Law (the Moral
Law) would be met with success, especially
considering that he now has Jesus in his
heart, and is Baptized with the Holy Spirit.
However, he was deceived respecting these
thoughts, but the deception was on his part
and not on God’s.
How was he deceived?
Due to his new status in Christ, he
thought surely that he now had enough
strength to keep the Law. He was to find
that God never intended for us to keep the
Law by our own strength. That was never
His Plan at all. The Law instead, is to be
kept by Jesus living in us and by the Power
of the Holy Spirit carrying out this which is
demanded (Gal. 2:20).
Sadly, Paul was not the only one deceived,
for literally millions of others have fallen
into the same trap, and in fact, continue to
do so. Now that they have the Lord, they
think surely their strength is sufficient.
They do not seem to realize that it is not
strength which God is requiring, but rather
Faith and Obedience.
He wants us to understand what Jesus did
for us at Calvary and the Resurrection, have
Faith in that, in which the Power of God
will then effect the situation, with sin being
completely defeated within our lives. In fact,
it is not a process, but rather an “Act,” i.e.,
the Act being that which Jesus did.
SIN AND THE LAW
Sin as an evil principle in man’s nature
makes use of Law to provoke men to the practice
of sins that the Law forbids, and so
plunges the soul into a conflict that, apart
from Law, could not take place. But Law
originates this conflict, which it is designed
to do, and by making the sinner responsible,
deposits the sentence of death in his conscience.
The result is death in the conscience
without any deliverance for the heart from
the power of the disobedience.
THE COMMANDMENT AS THE
INSTRUMENT OF DEATH
Law as a barrier to the will excites it; and
the consciousness of sin thereby awakened,
produces in the Presence of God a conscience
under sentence of death. Thus, the Commandment
ordained unto life becomes, in
fact, the instrument of death. “This do, and
thou shalt live” (Lk. 10:28), which is the
Commandment, becomes death to man because
his sinful nature refuses to obey; and
in so refusing his own conscience condemns
him to death.
Thus, the Law was holy and each of its
Commandments just and good, but it condemned
to death, even as Law must do, all
who fail to render to it a perfect obedience,
which none did except Jesus.
THE EFFECT OF DIVINE LAW
Such is the effect of Divine Law upon
man’s carnal nature; and the rest of this
Chapter illustrates the Doctrine by showing
how fruitless is the effort of the “old man”
to live as the “new man.” This emphasizes
the absolute necessity of Regeneration; for
it is impossible for an unconverted man,
however moral and highly cultured he may
think he is, to live the Christian Life. He is
carnal, sold under sin, and all his Righteousness
are as filthy rags in the sight of God.
(12) “WHEREFORE THE LAW IS HOLY,
ROMANS 7:11-12 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
233
AND THE COMMANDMENT HOLY, AND NOTES
JUST, AND GOOD.”
The phrase, “Wherefore the Law is holy,”
points to this fact, because it is God’s Revelation
of Himself. As we have repeatedly
stated, the Law was designed by God for a
particular and specific purpose, which it accomplished
greatly so.
The reason that Paul is having to do all
of this explaining is because of two problems:
1. Israel perverted the Law, actually adding
over 600 more Laws of their own making.
They tried to make Salvation out of
the Law, which basically reduced Judaism to
a mere ethical form, which in effect made it
little better than the religions of the world,
etc. So, due to the manner in which the
Law had been perverted by Israel, Paul’s explanation
is necessary.
2. The problem with Israel is the problem
with us all, in that there is something in man,
which came about as a result of the Fall, that
makes him believe that he can actually live
up to God’s Holy Standards. In fact, most of
the population of the world now, and in fact
for all time, actually believe that they live up
to God’s Requirements. The Truth is, they
have made up their own Moral Code, and in
fact, don’t even live up to it. Nevertheless,
they are deceived, even as Paul said, making
themselves believe that they are correct.
As we have already stated, this problem
bleeds over into the hearts of Christians. We
still like to think that we have contributed
something toward whatever it is we are looking
for respecting the Lord. The Truth is,
we have contributed nothing at any time,
before we were Saved or after we were Saved.
The answer is simply Faith in what Jesus has
already done.
The phrase, “And the Commandment
holy, and just, and good,” addresses the demands
of God as given in the Law:
1. These demands are “holy” and because
their parent, the Law, is holy.
2. As well, they are “just,” meaning
“Righteous or right” in their demands.
3. And last of all, they are “good” because
they are “right.”
The Holy Spirit through the Apostle goes
into all of this explanation for the simple
reason that man wants to blame God for his
dilemma. In the Garden, Adam blamed Eve,
with Eve blaming the Serpent (Gen. 3:12-
13). If we knew the full story, the poor Serpent
probably blamed the Devil, which we
all do in one way or the other, unless we are
blaming God. The idea is, that man does
not want to take responsibility for himself,
which in one sense, the Law was actually
designed to force him to do.
The idea is, “Lord, You made me this way,
so I am not responsible.”
No, God did not make anyone the way
they are respecting sin, disobedience, and
failure. They are that way as a result of their
own actions.
However, it is not so much that which
man has done, but rather that which man
refuses to do. In other words, man really
cannot help what Adam did, even though
he suffers the consequences. What he can
help, and that for which God holds him accountable,
is his refusal to accept God’s
Atonement for the terrible dilemma in which
he now finds himself. That Atonement is
Jesus and what He did at Calvary and the
Resurrection.
(13) “WAS THEN THAT WHICH IS
GOOD MADE DEATH UNTO ME? GOD
FORBID. BUT SIN, THAT IT MIGHT APPEAR
SIN, WORKING DEATH IN ME BY
THAT WHICH IS GOOD; THAT SIN BY
THE COMMANDMENT MIGHT BECOME
EXCEEDING SINFUL.”
The question, “Was then that which is
good made death unto me?”, is answered
readily by the Apostle. Once again, it is not
the Law that is at fault, but rather the sin in
man which is opposed to the Law.
The two words, “God forbid,” places the
Apostle in the position of responding emotionally,
and rightly so! He will not tolerate
the idea of God or His Word claimed as being
the cause of all of these problems. He
strongly denounces such a thought which
some have suggested.
Man must always take the position that it
is never God Who is at fault, and irrespective
of what the situation may be. Admittedly,
the fault may be with others or it may be
with us, but it is never with God. Instead,
“His (Thy) Word is a Lamp unto my feet,
and a Light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105).
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:12-13
NOTES
234
The phrase, “But sin, that it might appear
sin,” proclaims the Divine intention
of the Law, namely that sin might show its
true colors.
This was necessary, because man before
the Law would little admit that he was a sinner,
but even if he did, he believed that he
could effect his own Salvation. So, he has
to be shown exactly what he is (without spiritual
life, and, consequently, morally depraved),
and that in no way can he live up to
God’s Standards, at least within himself.
A perfect example of this is found in the
answer of Cain, after he had killed his
brother Abel.
“And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is
Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not:
Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:9).
He would not admit to sin, would not confess
the sin, and complained at the restriction.
So, Law was necessary in order to force
mankind into the realization of what he is.
The phrase, “Working death in me by
that which is good,” refers to Sin turning
God’s intended Blessing into a Curse. Nothing
like the Law could more clearly show
what sin is, or excite a stronger desire for
deliverance from it. The excesses of sin reveal
its real nature. Only then do some
people get their eyes opened.
The phrase, “That sin by the Commandment
might become exceeding sinful,” proclaims
that as exactly what happened.
The Law demanded obedience, as all Law
does, but which man could not carry out,
irrespective as to how hard he tried. Actually,
the more he tried, the worse the situation
became, making an already out of control
fire into a conflagration.
(14) “FOR WE KNOW THAT THE LAW
IS SPIRITUAL: BUT I AM CARNAL, SOLD
UNDER SIN.”
The phrase, “For we know that the Law
is Spiritual,” refers to the fact that the Law
is totally of God and from God.
“Spiritual” in the Greek is “pneumatikos,”
and means “non-carnal, not of man,” in
other words, of the Holy Spirit.
The phrase, “But I am carnal, sold under
sin,” refers to the fact that man within
himself, has no spirituality whatsoever. In
other words, he is completely void of a
Spiritual or Divine Nature.
Here, Paul describes himself as carnal, in
other words, as a Christian living, however
unwillingly, more or less under the control
of the evil nature from which he had been
liberated; however he is back under its control,
because he is living under Law instead
of Grace. To be sure, it was done in ignorance,
but the results were the same.
As such, he is sold as a slave under sin.
“Sold” in the Greek is “piprasko,” and means
“sin has foreclosed the mortgage and owns
its slave.”
Many may read this and claim that such is
impossible respecting a Believer. However, not
only is it possible, but in fact, the problem is
pandemic throughout the Christian world.
I think the description as given to us here
by Paul tells us, that unless the Believer
knows and understands what Christ has actually
done for him, and how that he figures
into the entirety of that great Act at Calvary
and the Resurrection, that it is inevitable
that it conclude exactly as Paul describes
here. There is no other alternative!
Having preached all over the world and
for many years, while some few Believers do
know and understand these great Truths, I
know that most not only do not know them,
but in fact, have never heard of such. So, if
that is true, and it is, then one can readily
see how serious this problem actually is.
Jesus said, “And ye shall know the Truth,
and the Truth shall make you free” (Jn.
8:32). However, I might quickly add, it is
only the Truth that one knows, which will
make one free. Truth which is not known,
which is the case with most Christians, has
no effect whatsoever.
While it is true that the Holy Spirit
“guides . . . into all Truth,” still, this is not
by any means automatic but rather potential
actually dependent on many things, such
as obedience, consecration, dedication, and
a sense or desire for all Godly things. Regrettably,
many Christians do not fall entirely
into these categories (Jn. 16:13).
Paul is the most perfect example of all.
As sincere as he was, he only came by these
great Truths, when in the position of acute
desperation (vs. 24). Regrettably, it takes
the same for most other Believers as well!
ROMANS 7:14 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
235
(15) “FOR THAT WHICH I DO I ALLOW NOTES
NOT: FOR WHAT I WOULD, THAT DO I
NOT; BUT WHAT I HATE, THAT DO I.”
The phrase, “For that which I do I allow
not,” presents not the words of an unsaved
man, but rather a Believer who is trying
and failing.
FRUSTRATION
“Allow” in the Greek is “ginosko,” and
means “to know by experience, to understand.”
In effect he is saying, “For that which
I do, I do not understand.” He does not
understand his experience as a Christian.
As stated, it is clear that Paul is recounting
his experience as a Saved man, and not
before his Conversion as many Preachers contend.
He desires to do good and hates sin.
To be frank, no unsaved man does that. The
failure to achieve his purpose is found in the
fact that he is attempting in his own strength
that which can only be accomplished in the
supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.
The phrase, “For what I would, that do I
not,” refers to the obedience he wants to render
to Christ, but rather failing.
The phrase, “But what I hate, that do I,”
refers to sin in his life which he doesn’t want
to do and in fact hates, but finds himself
unable to stop.
To be frank, this is the plight of untold
numbers of Christians.
Why?
As we have stated, Paul’s problem as all
others in the same predicament, is that of
attempting to carry out by one’s own
strength, which only the Holy Spirit can do.
So, how do we come to the place, that we
are depending on the Spirit and not on ourselves?
To be frank, untold numbers of Spiritfilled
Believers are in this same category,
which leaves them exactly as Paul, meaning
that they do not understand their predicament.
They are Baptized with the Holy
Spirit, just as Paul at this time was, so should
not that take care of the problem?
Within itself, no!
OPERATING IN ONE’S OWN STRENGTH
I think I exaggerate not, when I say that
the greatest problem with the Child of God,
especially the one who seeks to do the Will
of God, is the problem of operating in our
own ability, rather than in the Power and
Ability of the Holy Spirit. It is so easy to do
that whenever we load up our efforts with
Scriptures, good intentions, even the doing
of good things such as prayer or fasting, etc.
While all of these things are extremely
commendable and helpful and even necessary
in their own way, neither those things,
nor any other attributes of the Word of God
will bring about the Victory which one seeks,
simply because the Holy Spirit will only function
and operate in that which is Truth as it
relates to the subject at hand.
Our problem too often is, if it is Biblical
such as prayer, etc., then it is right.
While that is certainly true as far as it
goes, however, we must ask ourselves, right
in what capacity?
And then again, and as we have already
stated, there is something in man, even Believing
man, which wants to contribute at
least something, as small as it may be, toward
one’s Victory, etc. We like to feel that
we have contributed toward accomplishing
the task, which makes us in our own eyes,
big or greater than others. All of this, of
course, is nothing more than pride. It is
also an insult to Christ, because the very
thought, in essence, says that what He did
at Calvary and the Resurrection was not
enough, and needs our little effort added to
make it complete. Such is nothing short of
crass, and as stated, an insult.
Other than the True Plan which the Lord
laid out for the Apostle Paul, which is given
in Chapters 6, 7 and 8, one can carry out any
type of program they like respecting the overcoming
of sin, and it is doomed to failure.
THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit guides only into Truth
(Jn. 16:13-15). That means Truth respecting
the need at hand. While prayer, or fasting,
or studying the Word of God, or witnessing
to the lost, are all true things within
themselves, and will benefit one greatly,
still, one cannot set oneself to pray so much
time each day thinking that such will overcome
sin. It will certainly help in other
ways, but it will not give one the Victory
that one desires as Paul addresses here. The
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:15
NOTES
236
same goes for any other Biblical attribute
or quality. These things definitely help the
Believer in their own way, but once again,
if we attempt to promote these things other
than what Jesus has done as an answer to
this problem, we have turned those great
qualities into “works,” which God cannot
recognize or bless.
I am not by any means saying that the
Believer should not pray or fast, or any of
these things we have named, but rather do
them even in a greater way, but for the
right purpose.
The Holy Spirit will only bring His Power
to bear, whenever we are operating in Truth.
He will not bless efforts of the flesh, irrespective
as to how noble or right they may
be within themselves.
Whenever we step into God’s Plan, trusting
and having Faith in what He has done
for us, the Holy Spirit then brings His Power
to bear, which assures all and sundry, is able
to do whatever is needed. But it is only the
Truth which He blesses and promotes.
WHAT IS THE TRUTH RESPECTING
VICTORY OVER SIN?
Of course, we have given it in Commentary
any number of times respecting Chapters
6 and 7, but due to the tremendous significance
of that which we are discussing,
and which the Holy Spirit thought so important
that He would devote to the subject
all this space, we will give it again.
THE DOUBLE CURE
1. The Believer must understand according
to the Word of God, that Jesus not only
satisfied the terrible sin debt which hung
over the human race, but as well, broke the
dominion of sin in the heart and life of the
Believer. It is the “Double Cure.”
IN CHRIST
2. As it deals with the breaking of sin’s
dominion, the Believer must understand that
he was literally in Christ when Christ died
on Calvary. Paul used the term, “Baptized
into His Death” (Rom. 6:3). So, it is proper
to say that we were literally in Him, at least
by Faith, when He did this great thing.
Being in Him at His Death, we were also
“. . . buried with Him by Baptism into Death”
(Rom. 6:4).
We must also know and understand that
it was “. . . our old man which was crucified
with Him” (Rom. 6:16), which speaks of the
time we were dominated by the Sin Nature,
in other words, a slave to sin and ungodly
passions. We must know that all of that was
buried with Him.
As well, we must understand that when
He was Resurrected, we were Resurrected
with Him, and in fact, in Him. However, it
was not the “old man” that was Resurrected,
but rather the “new man” walking in “Newness
of Life” (Rom. 6:4). So, we now have a
new life.
ENTIRELY FOR US
3. We must understand, that all of this
was done for us. It is not that He merely
allowed us to accompany Him in this great
transformation, but that it was done exclusively
for humanity in totality. Understanding
that, we should also understand that He
wants us to have the great Victory which He
has paid for at such price.
FAITH
4. Knowing that we were not really there
when Jesus died on Calvary and was Resurrected
from the dead, we are to have Faith in
this which Jesus did, and a continuing Faith
at that. However, it is impossible to have
Faith in something which is unknown. In
other words, if the Believer does not know
and understand this second part of what Jesus
did at Calvary and the Resurrection regarding
the breaking of sin’s dominion, it is quite
impossible for him to have Faith in such a
thing. The Holy Spirit through Hosea said,
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”
(Hos. 4:6).
So, to have Faith in what Jesus did, one
must at least know something about what
He did.
CONFESSION
5. Along with one’s Faith one must
reckon himself, or account himself as being
“. . . dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto
God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom.
6:11). Such is the proper confession.
ROMANS 7:15 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
237
THE HOLY SPIRIT NOTES
6. Inasmuch as the Holy Spirit always
responds to Truth and Faith, His Power is
then brought to bear regarding the Sin Nature,
with the reality of deliverance then instantly
effected in the heart and life of the
Believer. In other words, the Sin Nature was
broken the moment Jesus died on Calvary.
Consequently, its dominion was wrecked and
destroyed regarding its hold on the Believer.
However, inasmuch as the Believer did not
know this, it again gained ascendancy. Now
that the Believer knows and understands
what Jesus has done for him, and he has Faith
in that, the Holy Spirit will begin to apply
His great Power to the problem, with it falling
away easily and quickly. In other words,
what was literally impossible for us, is not
only entirely possible for Him, but in fact,
very easy.
Satan does not dare attempt to usurp authority
over the Holy Spirit, but to be sure,
he will usurp authority over our error all day
long and cause us tremendous problems, even
as he did Paul.
ALL SIN
7. As well, the Believer must understand,
that what Jesus did in the breaking of sin’s
dominion, includes every single type of sin
that one could ever begin to think. In other
words, nothing is left out with all included.
VICTORY
8. Consequently, and as we have stated,
the moment the Believer accepts Christ, he
has Victory and is an Overcomer. While there
is a struggle, which we will address next, it is
not from a position of trying to gain Victory,
but rather from the position of maintaining
the Victory.
The idea is, that the Believer is thinking
wrong when he thinks of himself as having
to try to gain something, especially considering
that the Lord has already won that
battle and His Victory is our Victory. We
must understand that and act upon that.
Sadly, Satan is very successful at getting
all of us to fight battles that we do not need
to fight. In other words, the Lord has already
fought these particular battles and won them
at great price. Also, the very reason He fought
them, is simply because we could not hope to
win in any case. Our Victory is only in His
Victory, as stated, and in fact, can only be in
His Victory. There is no other recourse, as
there need not be any other recourse.
DISCIPLINE
9. Whenever the Believer comes to Christ,
even though the Sin Nature has its power
broken and is isolated, still, it remains in
the heart and life of the Believer. The Lord
does that for a purpose. It is for our discipline,
which teaches us trust, obedience, confidence
in the Lord and dependence on Him.
As we have stated, man’s greatest problem,
even with Believers, is self-dependence. That
is probably the hardest thing for the Believer
to break. God wants the Believer to depend
totally and exclusively upon Him for everything.
The reasons are obvious:
First of all, this situation is of far greater
magnitude than any of us realize, and none
of us are capable of coping with the Powers
of Darkness on our own. We must look to
the Lord and for all things.
THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT
10. As well, even though we do not like
to admit such, irrespective of the Believer
knowing every single thing that Paul has
taught in these Chapters, still, there will be
occasional times of failure. To some that
would seem like a bad confession. However,
it is the Truth. This is what constitutes the
tension between the flesh and the spirit (the
regenerated spirit of man as well as the Holy
Spirit in opposition to self-will, etc.).
However, the dominion of sin has been
broken in the heart and life of the Believer,
and properly understanding the Word of God
totally brings to a halt the habitual sinning,
i.e., habitual failures. The Believer can live
a life of total and complete Victory as an Overcomer,
but only as he understands his place
and position in Christ, and properly walks
after the Spirit (Rom. 8:1).
It is not the Will of God as should be obvious,
for the Believer to live a life of failure,
in other words, constantly sinning and repenting.
While God will always forgive (I
Jn. 1:9), it is the Will of God that we walk in
Victory. The Work of Christ at Calvary and
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:15
NOTES
238
the Resurrection is a Finished Work. In other
words, He did all that He set out to do, and
did it totally and completely. He left nothing
undone. His Victory is complete; therefore,
our Victory is complete. He is a complete
Overcomer and we are a complete Overcomer
(Jn. 16:33).
(16) “IF THEN I DO THAT WHICH I
WOULD NOT, I CONSENT UNTO THE LAW
THAT IT IS GOOD.”
The phrase, “If then I do that which I would
not,” presents Paul as doing something which
is against his will. In other words he doesn’t
want to do it, and is trying not to do it, but
finds himself doing it anyway.
In reading what I have just said, many
would conclude if Paul, or anyone for that
matter, was doing something against his will,
in other words, trying not to do the thing,
then surely God would not hold him responsible
for such action?
Yes, God did hold Paul responsible for
these failures, and He holds all other Believers
responsible as well.
It is the same principle with the sinner.
He cannot help his condition because of original
sin, and in Truth, God does not actually
condemn him for that. No, that does not
mean that such a condition or situation constitutes
Salvation, for it does not. While God
may not condemn the individual as such,
the individual stands condemned already due
to the very fact of original sin.
The idea is, that the accountability comes
in by man refusing to accept God’s Plan of
Salvation which He has provided in the
Atonement. In other words, God has the
antidote for man’s problem of sin, but most
men refuse to accept it. That is where the
condemnation comes in.
ACCOUNTABLE?
It works identically with the Believer. The
fact of him having a Sin Nature is not his
fault, being born into the world with this
condition. However, the Lord has provided
a remedy for the situation in what Christ
did at Calvary. The Believer not taking advantage
of that, whether through ignorance
or self-will, is the problem. In other words,
the solution is there if the Believer wants
the solution. As with Paul it may not be
easy in coming, and there might be quite a
few failures before the Truth is reached. Nevertheless,
the remedy is available. If he earnestly
seeks God even as Paul did, which
should serve as an example for us, the Holy
Spirit will see to it that the remedy is found.
In fact, we are giving here the remedy which
is available to all.
So, no matter how hard one tries in the
flesh, or how sincere one may be, or wellmotivated,
if one’s efforts are misplaced, one
will not find the victory which only Truth
brings. So, the Believer is accountable in
any case.
The phrase, “I consent unto the Law that
it is good,” simply means that the Law of
God is working as it is supposed to work. In
other words, My wanting to do the opposite
of what I do proves My acceptance of God’s
Law as good.
The idea is, that the Law has pointed out
the sin in the Believer’s life, also showing its
terrible wrong. However, the Law gives no
power to obey the Commandment, because
it was never meant to give such power.
“Consent” in the Greek is “sumphemi,”
and means “to speak together with, concur
with.”
Paul is saying, “I don’t want to do this
thing which is wrong, and the Law does
not want me to do this thing which is
wrong.” Consequently, this whole scenario
proves that the Law of God is performing
its intended purpose.
Paul is also saying that it is not the Law’s
fault that he is failing, but rather his own
fault. However, men have a tendency to
want to blame the Law of God instead of
their own evil and wickedness. No, the Commandment
is not wrong, in fact, it is good.
It is the sin in us and our approach to that
sin, which is wrong.
(17) “NOW THEN IT IS NO MORE I
THAT DO IT, BUT SIN THAT DWELLETH
IN ME.”
The phrase, “Now then it is no more I that
do it,” has been grossly misunderstood by
many, which they think is a license to sin.
Twisting and perverting Paul’s words,
many claim that they are not responsible for
their sins. However, they are responsible for
their sins, and Paul will now explain what
ROMANS 7:16-17 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
239
he is saying. NOTES
The phrase, “But sin that dwelleth in me,”
does not really refer to particular acts of sin,
but rather the “Sin Nature” which dwells in
every Believer.
In other words, and as Paul has already
said, he does not want to do these things
which are wrong, and neither does any True
Believer. As we have stated, these are not
the words or thoughts of an unsaved man.
This is a Person who wants to do right and
is actually trying to do right, but failing, and
not really understanding the reason why. As
we have stated, his Christianity is a mystery
to him, at least before the great Truths of
Victory in Christ were given to him.
Paul is activating the Sin Nature within
himself, which is causing all kind of problems,
and he really doesn’t know how it is
happening. He fights it very hard even as
the next verse portrays, but instead of the
situation growing better, it is actually growing
worse.
Paul is not speaking here of the right or
wrong of the situation, but rather the cause of
what is taking place, which is the Sin Nature.
To be frank, when this problem was taking
place in Paul’s life, which was immediately
after his Conversion, he did not really
know or understand any of the things he is
now explaining. Looking back, and considering
that the Holy Spirit has led him into
Truth, with its resultant Victory, he can now
explain as to what was taking place at that
time, and what brought on the failure.
(18) “FOR I KNOW THAT IN ME (THAT
IS, IN MY FLESH,) DWELLETH NO GOOD
THING: FOR TO WILL IS PRESENT WITH
ME; BUT HOW TO PERFORM THAT
WHICH IS GOOD I FIND NOT.”
The phrase, “For I know that in me (that
is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing,”
speaks of man’s own ability, or rather the lack
thereof, at least when it comes to spiritual
things, in comparison to the Holy Spirit.
The idea is, that Paul found out that all
of his struggles by his own self-efforts, even
as dedicated or as sincere as they may be,
brought about no Victory whatsoever. As
the sinner has no solution to his spiritual
dilemma within himself, likewise, the Believer
has no solution within himself regarding these
problems. The answer in all cases is Jesus.
The Truth is, “flesh” in the Believer is
just as ugly as “flesh” in the unbeliever. Actually,
it is more ugly in the Mind of God,
because so very unnecessary.
THE FLESH
As we have explained several times, the
“flesh” speaks of man’s frailty, inability, and
the absolute futility of depending on such
to bring about a spiritual change in one’s
life. Salvation is all of the Lord, and that
means “all.” Man does not need to add anything
to this great Plan, and in fact, if he
attempts to do so, which all of us have done,
and Paul is here describing his own experience,
all we do is “frustrate the Grace of God,”
which means our efforts hinder Him from
doing what He Alone can do (Gal. 2:21).
Likewise, many misunderstand this very
verse also. They conclude that Paul is saying
that the flesh is weak and, therefore, it is
going to sin, and there is nothing the Believer
can do about it. That is not what Paul
is saying.
He is referring not to a sinning Salvation,
but rather at the futility of trying to overcome
sin in the flesh, i.e., by one’s own efforts.
Actually, the entirety of this scenario
is a portrayal of what causes failure and how
to have Victory over failure.
THE WILL
The phrase, “For to will is present with
me,” in effect is saying that the “will” is not
strong enough to overcome sin, at least
within itself. That also means and as we
have said, that Satan can override a Believer’s
will, that is if the Power of God does not
accompany the will.
While it is true that the Believer has to
will that which God wants, which is absolutely
necessary, still, the will of man ideally,
is only the trigger. It is not the actual
power itself, exactly as the trigger on a gun
is not the power of the gun, but rather the
explosive charge. Likewise, it is the Holy
Spirit Who is the Power, but is triggered by
the will of the Believer.
However, that within itself is not enough.
While the trigger for the gun is necessary, it
must be pointing in the right direction to
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:18
NOTES
240
be effective. The Truth is, that the explosive
power of the Holy Spirit will not work on
our behalf unless we are pointed in the right
direction, i.e., in the way of Truth. This
pertains to the Believer knowing and understanding
the Truth about what Jesus has done
for us at Calvary, and how that in effect, we
were in Him when this was done.
So, while the “will” of man is very important,
it within itself cannot effect what needs
to be done, as should be obvious.
GOD’S WILL
The idea is, that the Believer’s will coincide
with God’s Will, which can only be done
if the Believer satisfactorily knows God’s Will.
Merely saying it will not suffice. We must
know God’s Will, and we can only know that
Will according to His Word.
“To will” in the Greek is “thelo,” and
means “being constantly desirous.” That
is, Paul was constantly desirous of doing God’s
Will, but it still was not being done.
“Present” in the Greek is “parakeimai,”
and means “to lie beside.” This came from
his Divine Nature (II Pet. 1:4), which meant
that the Nature of God was in Paul which
made him desire God’s Will.
The phrase, “But how to perform that
which is good I find not,” presents the problem.
The will was there, but not the ability
to do so.
The two words “how” and “find” are not in
the Greek Text concerning this phrase. The
word “find” was added by the translators to
complete the thought. The word “find” one
could probably say is a bad translation.
The literal Greek reads, “But to perform
the good, not.” Paul is saying that while
the desire to do God’s Will was always with
him, the ability or power to perform it was
not. Ignorant of the Truth of Romans
Chapter 6, 7, and 8, he was depending upon
his own efforts to do God’s Will, which is
never sufficient.
The Reader may wonder as to why the
Lord has so constructed the situation in this
manner? To one’s thinking, the leaving of
the Sin Nature in the Believer after Conversion,
seems to be unnecessary, especially
considering that in a sense it is the cause of
so many problems. As well, I might quickly
add that one denying the presence of the
Sin Nature really does not change anything.
To be sure, one’s friends and loved ones
know it’s there, because it is very obvious.
In other words, if one thinks one has reached
the stage of sinless perfection, let one know
and understand at the same time that one’s
friends know better.
SPIRITUAL PRIDE
Man is so constituted, even Believers, that
if we experience too much blessing even to
the slightest degree, we quickly respond with
spiritual pride. In other words, we become
puffed up very quickly and very easily.
Allowing the Sin Nature to remain in the
Believer, although isolated, has a tendency
to constantly warn the Believer of his obvious
frailty, whether he thinks so or not. We
are quickly made to know and realize just
how vulnerable we are, and, consequently,
how much we must depend on the Lord, and
depend upon Him constantly. In other
words, the very moment we cease to look to
Him, is the moment we veer off track, with
the Sin Nature then springing to life, and
quickly letting us know that the situation is
going wrong. As a result, at least if we want
to walk close to God, we find that we must
constantly seek His Face, depend totally upon
Him, ever learning more about Trust and
Faith in Him. So, as stated, it was done for
purpose and reason.
While Paul actually did find a way to perform
that which was good, he did not find it
within himself, which is what the Text actually
means.
(19) “FOR THE GOOD THAT I WOULD I
DO NOT: BUT THE EVIL WHICH I WOULD
NOT, THAT I DO.”
The phrase, “For the good that I would I
do not,” means simply that no matter how
hard he tried, and despite all the effort put
forth, he simply could not live up to the
Moral Law of God.
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
I realize that many who have been touched
somewhat by the plague of self-righteousness,
contend that while some very weak Believers
may fall into this category, that surely such
does not touch them, especially considering
ROMANS 7:19 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
241
that they are Faith giants. NOTES
However I remind such people, that if they
believe such a thing, that means they are
referring to the Apostle Paul as “weak.” I
also remind that person that Paul wrote almost
half the New Testament and in fact,
was given the New Covenant. Consequently,
I would hardly think that the term “weak”
could be rightly applied to him.
The Truth is, that all Believers and irrespective
as to whom they may be, are “weak”
within themselves. If we do not rightly understand
that, then our fall will be even harder.
As well, if one truly understands that, one
will never look askance at others who seem
to be having difficulties in this area. In fact,
they will have had the same difficulties themselves,
and will realize that what they now
have is not because of their own power or
strength, but rather that of the Lord. Consequently,
there is no room to boast.
The phrase, “But the evil which I would
not, that I do,” completely lays to rest the
idea that Paul is speaking here about minor
things that are of little consequence. Paul
is speaking of “evil” which means “sin.”
I realize it is very difficult for us to grasp
the fact that the mighty Apostle Paul actually
failed God after his Conversion. However,
the Text is very plain here that in fact
he did, and repeatedly. I think the Reader
would have to understand that Paul was a
man of great personal courage, of strong
determination, and of great resolution.
However, these things within themselves
were not, and are not, enough. No one,
even the strongest among us, can overcome
sin within his own strength. No matter how
much he hates the thing, even as Paul did,
the very evil which he does not want to do,
that he will do.
IS SIN A MATTER OF CHOICE?
In the strict sense of the word, yes! However,
it needs some explanation.
Anyone reading this Text will have to understand
that Paul’s choice was to do good.
As well, his choice was not to do evil. So the
“choice” which in effect is the “will” is not
strong enough within itself. So, sin in that
capacity is not merely a choice. If it was, Paul
would not have had these great problems.
As well, there are many Christians even at
this very moment who have made the choice
not to do certain things which are wrong, but
they have had that choice overrode time and
time again. So, what is the answer?
WHAT TYPE OF CHOICE?
As we have already stated, and which the
Text plainly bears out, if we try to make a
choice respecting sin on the wrong basis, we
will fail. In other words, it is not a matter of
simply saying “no” to sin, etc. Were that
true, then Jesus wasted His time in coming
down here and paying the terrible price which
He paid at Calvary.
I realize that the unconverted world does
not say “no” to sin, and in fact, does not
desire to say “no.” In fact, they say “yes” to
sin, and gladly so!
However, with the Believer the situation
is altogether different. The moment the
person comes to Christ, at that moment the
power of the Sin Nature is broken, with the
Divine Nature implanted within his heart and
life. The Believer is now a New Creature in
Christ Jesus (II Cor. 5:17).
But then the Believer finds that old sin
impulses begin to come back. If he knows
who he is in Christ Jesus and more particularly,
what and why he is, he merely says “yes”
to Christ, and the impulse dies as it is attempting
to be born. Consequently, his Sin
Nature remains dormant and doesn’t come
into play. The Believer is walking in Victory,
even as intended.
HOWEVER!
Most of the time and regrettably so, it
doesn’t happen that way. The Believer attempts
to overcome the evil impulse with his
willpower and fails. In other words, he does
what the sin impulse demands, which is evil,
and which is sin. He feels terrible about the
thing, instantly repents, and God instantly
forgives, as He always will do (I Jn. 1:9).
However, the Sin Nature has now become
active again, and because of the failure brings
back the sinful impulse which rears its ugly
head again, and again, and again, etc. The
failures continue, even as Paul here explains,
and the Sin Nature which has been dormant,
with that dominion of sin broken, is now
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:19
NOTES
242
once again roaring into a conflagration, in
other words out of control. The Believer,
even though loving Jesus with all of his heart,
and even though he will probably not even
admit it to himself, is once again being controlled
by the Sin Nature, exactly as he was
before Conversion. This is the frustration
which Paul felt, and which millions of others
have felt after him.
To combat this thing, the Believer almost
in panic, sets about to do whatever he can do
which he thinks or hopes will bring Victory.
For instance, he asks for prayer in
Church, with hands laid on him. Many
times, the Power of God is very effective,
with the Believer being touched mightily.
He thinks surely that his problem is now
solved, but finds that almost as quickly as
he walks outside the Church Door, that the
sinful impulse returns, and once again he
is off to the races — a race incidentally,
which he always loses. He is now more frustrated
than ever. Doesn’t the Power of God
work? Isn’t prayer effective?
He then resolves to try harder, which does
not help the situation, but rather exacerbates
it. Actually, and as we have stated, it tends
only to frustrate the Grace of God (Gal. 2:21).
HOW LONG WILL GOD FORGIVE?
Despite what some Preachers say, God
places no limitations on how many times
He will forgive. As long and as often as the
person is sincere in his heart, and truly seeking
forgiveness, forgiveness will always be
granted (Mat. 6:14-15; 7:1-5; I Jn. 1:9).
However, even though forgiveness is
greatly needed and greatly appreciated, as
would be obvious, that is really not the answer.
Sinning and repenting, sinning and
repenting, which regrettably is the case with
many if not most, certainly should be obvious
that such is not the Will of God. Jesus
Christ did not die on Calvary, paying the terrible
price which He paid, in order for the
Believer to live a defeated life. While forgiveness
is always afforded, at least if it is
sought, that is only a temporary respite, and
not the answer.
IS DELIVERANCE THE ANSWER?
Yes, but not in the sense in which most
people think. While deliverance plays a
much greater role in all that God does for
us than most anyone would be able to comprehend,
still, deliverance in the sense of
which most think, is not the answer. The
reason is very simple:
If the person is delivered, without understanding
what the Word of God says about
this subject, they will be right back in the
same position of defeat almost before the last
Hallelujah dies down.
WHAT ABOUT DEMON SPIRITS?
While demon spirits definitely do play a
part in anything which is not of God, still, it
is not demon possession that is the problem,
even though it certainly can go into
demon oppression, which is a different thing
altogether.
Nevertheless, as Biblical as is Anointing
with Oil, and as Biblical as is Laying on of
Hands, and as Biblical as is Deliverance, these
things are not the answer for this of which
Paul addresses.
And yet deliverance does play a role, but
in a different way than most people realize.
When Jesus addressed His hometown of
Nazareth, He made a bold and beautiful announcement.
He said, “The Spirit of the
Lord is upon Me, because He hath Anointed
Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath
sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives . . .” (Lk. 4:18).
If one is to notice, He said “to preach deliverance,”
rather than laying hands on the
person and delivering them, which is a valid
Scriptural Doctrine in certain situations.
What did He mean, “preach deliverance?”
He meant the same thing that I am saying
in this Commentary, whether it is written,
witnessed, or preached behind the pulpit.
The deliverance comes by the Truth being
pointed out to Believers, exactly as the
Holy Spirit pointed it out to Paul, with them
seeing that Truth, acting on that Truth, and
then deliverance coming by that Truth. I
speak of Romans Chapters 6, 7, and 8. That
is what He means by “preach deliverance.”
In fact, it is the only “deliverance” which
will work in this type of situation, which
incidentally, is available to all. Jesus said,
“Ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall
ROMANS 7:19 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
243
make you free (deliver you)” (Jn. 8:32). NOTES
CAN PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING
HELP IN THESE TYPE OF SITUATIONS?
For anyone to ask such a question, shows
they have scant knowledge of the Word of
God, or else they simply do not believe the
Word of God.
The breaking of the dominion of sin by
Christ in the lives of Believers, which was
accomplished at Calvary and the Resurrection,
presents a monumental Victory, as
should be obvious. That tells us that the
problem was and is of such magnitude, that
man could not even begin to hope to deal
with this monster. If he could, Jesus underwent
this horror unnecessarily.
It is understandable as to how the world
would resort to such choices. They do not
know God and, consequently, do not believe
God. So they resort to whatever they can.
However, for Preachers who claim to believe
God and claim to know the Bible, to even
remotely suggest such a thing is an insult of
the greatest magnitude to Christ and His
Finished Work at Golgotha.
The problem is sin, not a quirk of nature,
not a simple aberration, not a slight mendacity,
nor even a personality problem. As
stated, it is sin.
And if it is sin, and it is, even as Paul
plainly states over and over again, then how
does man think he can address himself to
this situation with psychological counseling
and expect favorable results? Don’t Preachers
know that this is the very reason that
Jesus came to this world? Don’t they know
that He came to deliver men from sin? And
paid a terrible price in order that this deliverance
may be ours? In fact, deliverance from
sin is the very foundation of the Gospel. It
is what Redemption is all about. It is what
Jesus did at Calvary and the Resurrection.
That is the very reason He came.
So, how can the poor, pitiful, foolish, arcane
prattle of man, which passes for wisdom,
and in fact, is earthly wisdom, which
is sensual and devilish — how can such help
anything? (James 3:15-16).
The only answer to sin is Jesus. And this
is that to which Paul is addressing himself.
To be frank, rather than gross unbelief on
the part of Preachers, which is a sin of tremendous
proportions, I would rather think
that most Preachers have resorted to Psychology
(psychological counseling) simply
because they do not know the Truths presented
here by Paul of Romans Chapters 6,
7, and 8. Not knowing what to do, and realizing
that the laying on of hands although
helping, has not really solved the problem,
they had no answers; consequently, they
turned to other sources.
However, even though that reason may
be more noble, if in fact that is the reason
with some, the end results will be the same,
no help at all!
BELIEVERS LOVE TO PLACE
THE BLAME ELSEWHERE
We have already addressed this, concerning
the propensity of Adam after the Fall,
blaming Eve. However, the world of Psychology
offers another excuse for the Believer.
Of course, Psychology does not really believe
there is such a thing as sin. They claim
that man’s problems, rather from originating
inward, actually originate outward. The
Bible claims the opposite, which is what this
7th Chapter of Romans is all about. They
claim that all men are basically good and if
they aren’t, it is because of outward influences,
which if corrected, the goodness will
return. Of course, they claim they can correct
the problem.
The Bible teaches the very opposite, in fact
that man is inherently bad, and as such there
is no good in him (Rom. 3:10-18). The Bible
claims that this is the reason for all of man’s
problems. As well, it claims that the only
solution is a miraculous change on the inside
of man, called the “born-again” experience
(Jn. 3:3, 16). The Bible claims that Jesus
Alone can effect this miraculous New Birth
experience, and that it comes only by one
having Faith in Him (Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8-9).
The Bible places the responsibility squarely
on the person, while Psychology, as stated,
blames outside forces, such as environment,
lack of education or wrong education, abuse
as a child, etc. Consequently, many Believers
enjoy resorting to psychology, because
this makes them think, at least for a short
time anyway, that this problem of sin is not
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:19
NOTES
244
their fault or responsibility, but that of someone
else, or something else. Consequently,
it is eagerly embraced by many, because many
enjoy shifting responsibility.
The matter with the Lord is very simple.
He only asks that the Believer admit that
the situation or problem is sin, whatever type
of symptom it may have. As well, he must
ask the Lord to forgive him, and then to show
him the Truth of the great Deliverance and
Victory paid for by Jesus at Calvary and the
Resurrection. The Lord will do exactly that,
exactly as He did with Paul, and Victory can
be instantly obtained.
Once the Believer knows what Jesus did,
and his part in Jesus, and has Faith in that,
the Holy Spirit will instantly take control, with
Victory assured. Satan doesn’t mind too very
much what we do in the realm of personal
opposition against him, but he cannot stand
at all against Christ and the Spirit of God.
THE STRUGGLE!
If the Believer is fighting and winning,
after a while he will fight and lose. That is a
guaranteed conclusion.
The Believer is commissioned to fight only
one fight, and that is the “good fight of
Faith” (I Tim. 6:12). Other than that fight,
we are not to fight at all, and because there
is no need to fight.
That is why Jesus said, “Come unto Me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest” (Mat. 11:28).
Christianity is to be a “rest” in Jesus, not
a continuous struggle against sin. While it
is true that the flesh and the Spirit are constantly
opposed to each other, still, if we
follow after the Spirit, the “rest” will always
be ours.
(20) “NOW IF I DO THAT I WOULD NOT,
IT IS NO MORE I THAT DO IT, BUT SIN
THAT DWELLETH IN ME.”
The phrase, “Now if I do that I would
not,” is very similar to verse 17, but with
one distinct difference.
In verse 17, Paul is establishing the fact
of the Sin Nature in the life of the Believer.
In verse 20, he begins his teaching by declaring
in essence, that the Sin Nature is powerful
because a particular Law enforces its
activity. As we will see, this “law” mentioned
by Paul, is not the Law of God, but rather
“the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2).
The phrase, “It is no more I that do it,
but sin that dwelleth in me,” emphatically
states that the Believer has a Sin Nature. The
idea is not getting rid of the Sin Nature,
which actually cannot be done, but rather
controlling it, which the Apostle has told us
how to do in Romans Chapters 6 and 8.
“Dwelleth” in the Greek is “oikeo,” and
means “to occupy a house, reside, remain,
to cohabit.” In other words, the Sin Nature
will remain in the Believer, until the
Trump sounds, and the Believer is then
Glorified. Then and then alone, will “. . .
this corruptible (must) put on incorruption,
and this mortal (must) put on immortality”
(I Cor. 15:53).
However, even though it does remain in
the Believer, even with a powerful law attached
to it which makes it very effective,
ideally it is to be isolated from the Believer,
causing him no problem, and in fact is, as
long as the Believer is fully trusting Christ
(Gal. 2:20).
As should be obvious, the 20th verse shoots
down the idea held by many Preachers, that
there is no such thing as a Sin Nature.
(21) “I FIND THEN A LAW, THAT, WHEN
I WOULD DO GOOD, EVIL IS PRESENT
WITH ME.”
The phrase, “I find then a law,” does not
refer in this case to the Law of Moses as stated,
but rather to “. . . the law of sin and death”
(Rom. 8:2).
“Law” in the Greek is preceded by the article,
in other words, “the law.”
The phrase, “That, when I would do good,
evil is present with me,” carries the following
idea:
As sure as “. . . the Law of the Spirit of
Life in Christ Jesus . . .” guarantees Victory
for the Believer, providing the Word is followed,
as sure is the defeat if “. . . the law of
sin and death” is allowed to have its way,
with the Word being ignored (Rom. 8:2).
“Present” in the Greek Text is
“parakeimai,” and means “to lie near, be
at hand.” The idea is, that this evil nature
(Sin Nature) is always going to be with the
Believer. There is no hint in the Greek,
considering the words “dwelleth” and
ROMANS 7:20-21 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
245
“present” that their stay is temporary. NOTES
Paul brings out the same Truth in Galatians
5:17 where he says, “The flesh (evil nature)
has a passionate desire to suppress the
Spirit, and the Spirit has a passionate desire
to suppress the flesh. And these are set in
opposition to each other so that you may
not do the things which you desire to do.”
(22) “FOR I DELIGHT IN THE LAW OF
GOD AFTER THE INWARD MAN:”
The phrase, “For I delight in the Law of
God,” refers in this case to the Law of Moses,
and more particularly to the Moral part of
that Law. Due to now having the Divine
Nature in him, Paul now loves the things of
God, which he once hated, despite this war
that is going on in his soul.
“Delight” in the Greek is “sunadomai,”
and means “to rejoice.” Once again, we know
from this that Paul is not speaking of a preconversion
experience, as many claim, for the
simple reason that no unsaved person delights
in the Law of God. It is simply not
possible for him to do so, inasmuch as he
has no Divine Nature in him whatsoever.
Despite the failure he loves God, wants to
please God, loves the things of God, and all
because he is a New Creature in Christ Jesus.
The phrase, “After the inward man,” refers
to the new creation which has been
brought about by and through the Lord
Jesus Christ, in effect, creating a “new man.”
Before conversion, “the inward man” was
corrupt, vile, ungodly, totally controlled by
the sin nature. Now, “the inward man” is
to be controlled by the Divine Nature (II
Pet. 1:4). However, it refers as well to the
following:
To which we have previously referred,
man’s real problem is from deep within himself.
It is the law of sin and death which
once bound him, but from which he is now
free. Whenever Jesus saves the sinner, He
does so by Regeneration, which is actually a
Restoration (Titus 3:5). This takes place in
the “inward man,” referring to the soul and
the spirit. The Salvation process then works
from inside outward, versus man’s efforts
which attempt to work from the outside inward,
which are impossible. The latter is
like attempting to assuage a poisoned well
by building around it a garden. The garden
may be nice and beautiful, and even smell
wonderful, but it doesn’t change the poisoned
water. For that to be changed, one
has to go to the source, stopping that which
is poisoning the spring. Only then will the
water be pure and fresh. Thus, is the bornagain
experience.
(23) “BUT I SEE ANOTHER LAW IN MY
MEMBERS, WARRING AGAINST THE LAW
OF MY MIND, AND BRINGING ME INTO
CAPTIVITY TO THE LAW OF SIN WHICH
IS IN MY MEMBERS.”
The phrase, “But I see another law in my
members,” refers to “the law of sin and
death” of Romans 8:2.
This has to do with the Sin Nature, and is
that which provides its power. This “law” is
not in the soul and the spirit, but rather in
the physical members of the physical body,
such as the eyes, ears, tongue, etc.
That does not mean that the soul and the
spirit are unaffected by whatever happens regarding
this law, but it does mean that the
members of the physical body of the Believer
is that which carries out the wishes of the
Sin Nature, that is if the Believer yields to
the evil impulse.
The phrase, “Warring against the law of
my mind,” presents another “Law.” This is
the law of desire and willpower; however, let
the Reader understand that this law is not
more powerful than the law of sin and death.
So, we have three “laws” mentioned in
verses 21-23. They are:
1. The law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2).
2. The Law of God (Rom. 8:2).
3. The law of the mind, which is the law
of desire and willpower.
Of these three, the Law of God is far and
away the most powerful, actually, All-powerful.
But as stated, the law of sin and death is
stronger than the law of the mind. Paul
wanted to do right, as millions have, but the
law of sin and death overrode the law of the
mind, which it always will. So, Paul must
find how to bring the Law of God to bear,
which he does.
The phrase, “And bringing me into captivity
to the law of sin which is in my members,”
plainly tells us, as stated, that the law
of sin is stronger and more powerful than
the law of the mind.
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:22-23
NOTES
246
The idea is, that the law of sin and death
is warring against the mind, attempting to
bring the Believer once again into bondage,
actually a slave to the Sin Nature, even as
was the case before coming to Christ.
I think one could say without exaggeration,
that he succeeds most often, even as
he succeeded for a period of time with the
Apostle Paul.
Some people erroneously think that when
this happens that the person is lost. That is
ridiculous! And for the simple reason that
there will be no “war” if the person is lost.
The war is raging because the person belongs
to God, loves God, and as in the case of Paul,
may be in the process of being mightily used
of God. In fact, this is the case oftentimes.
Some may wonder as to how a Believer
could be used in this state, especially considering
that he doesn’t have Victory in this
area, and at this point that he has once again
become a slave to sin.
As to how long that Paul remained in this
situation, we do not know. The Scripture is
silent. However, it was long enough for him
to learn these valuable lessons, which probably
could not have happened over a period of
only several days. Ever how long it was, however,
the evidence surely is clear that the Lord
was continuing to use Paul even during this
time. The answer is not so complicated.
First of all, Paul loved the Lord very much,
and was doing everything within his power
to overcome this problem, whatever it was.
As well, the Lord knew what the outcome
would be, in that Victory would be obtained.
While the Holy Spirit definitely could not
use Paul to the extent that He desired during
this time, He still was continuing to work
and to work mightily within his life.
It is the same with many modern Believers,
and in fact always has been this way.
There are many who are being presently used
of God in a great way, but with problems of
this nature in their lives, over which they
are struggling and actually “warring.” There
is failure involved, even as Paul exclaims here,
but as bad as that may be (and it is bad),
that doesn’t mean that Paul was lost, nor
any other Believer who has fought this same
battle. Were that the case, there would be
few Saved, because all have fought this battle
in one way or the other, I think I can say
without fear of exaggeration.
Once again in this last phrase, Paul brings
out the Truth that this “law of sin” carries
out its evil desires through the physical members
of the physical body. While sin begins
in the heart, it has its conclusion in the members
of the physical body. In other words,
the eyes look at things at which they should
not look, and the tongue says things it should
not say, with the hands doing things they
should not do, etc. This is why the physical
body is the battleground!
(24) “O WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM!
WHO SHALL DELIVER ME FROM THE
BODY OF THIS DEATH?”
The exclamation, “O wretched man that
I am!”, presents Paul now being brought to
the place to where he can receive help. He
has exhausted all of his own efforts, which
worked not at all. His condition forces him
to cry out to God for help.
It is unfortunate that most of us have to
come to this place before help can be received.
The battle and struggle is not necessary
in the strict sense of the word, but it
does seem to be necessary for most of us,
even as it was for the Apostle Paul. Man,
even Believers, must come to an end of themselves.
In other words, the hope of the flesh
must die in every respect. With no more hope
left from that sector, we then cry out to God.
To be sure, the word “wretched” adequately
describes the situation. It is a Christian who
does not have Victory, but yet wants Victory
with all of his heart. It might even possibly
be an individual who is being mightily used
of God while all of this is going on, even as
Paul. However, Paul had one great disadvantage
that none of us have, at least in a sense.
Even though this great Plan of Redemption
which provided for Salvation from sin
and Victory over sin, had been gloriously and
wondrously consummated by Jesus Christ,
and was now available to all, still, I am probably
not exaggerating, when I say that not
one single person in the world had this segment
of Truth respecting this of what Jesus
had done. Most likely it was Paul who was
the first one to face this monster and also
seek God until the answer came, which is
given to us here.
ROMANS 7:24 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
247
And yet, I am not so certain if that was a NOTES
disadvantage at all!
Most of the time other Believers can be of
little help, and much of the time, even harm.
Blessed is the Believer who does have the
privilege of having someone join with him
in seeking God and maybe, hopefully, one
who knows the great Truths of these Chapters.
Sadly, those are few and far between!
In fact, if Paul had been a member of
some modern Pentecostal Denominations,
the chances are great that he would have been
unceremoniously drummed out of that particular
organization. They could hardly afford
to have had someone in their ranks, irrespective
as to the Call of God on his life, or
how much God was using him, who had obvious
failure. Thank God, that albatross did
not then exist.
The question, “Who shall deliver me from
the body of this death?”, presents a wail of
anguish and a cry for help. This was Paul’s
cry during the spiritual experience he describes
of himself in this Chapter, Paul the
Saint, ignorant of the Delivering Power of
the Holy Spirit, concerning Whom he has
so much to say in the next Chapter.
The minute he cries “Who” he finds the
path to Victory, for he calls upon a person for
help. Actually, the Greek Text is masculine,
indicating a person. That Person is Jesus.
The words “this death” refer to the miserable
condition of the Christian who is yet
dominated more or less by the evil (sin) nature
over which all the while he is desiring
to gain Victory. It is the death Paul speaks
of in verse 9.
The body here is the physical body, in
which the sinful nature dwells and through
which, when it is in control, it operates.
Paul is not crying out for egress from his
body but for deliverance from the condition
of defeat which his residence in his physical
body makes a possibility, and his lack of spiritual
knowledge up to that moment, resulted
in (Wuest).
(25) “I THANK GOD THROUGH JESUS
CHRIST OUR LORD. SO THEN WITH THE
MIND I MYSELF SERVE THE LAW OF GOD;
BUT WITH THE FLESH THE LAW OF SIN.”
The phrase, “I thank God through Jesus
Christ our Lord,” presents Paul giving the
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 7:25
answer to his own question. Deliverance
comes through Jesus Christ, and more particularly
what Jesus did at Calvary and the
Resurrection. Paul gives thanks to God for
that fact.
In the words “I thank God,” one can see
and feel the Victory which has now come to
the Apostle, and for which he is so grateful.
No longer does sin dominate him, and no
longer does this battle rage within his soul.
He has found “rest” in Jesus Christ.
While it is true that Satan will continue
to oppose him greatly in respect to his work
for God, which resulted in stonings, shipwrecks,
imprisonments, etc., never again
would Satan ever be able to rob him of this
great Victory of Sanctification, which he now
has in Jesus Christ.
THE WORD OF GOD
One can almost hear Paul crying to God
in respect to this problem which threatened
his very soul, for that was Satan’s intentions.
However, the answer came, and it came in
detail, and it was meant to be given to all of
us, hence it being written down in the Word
of God, for it was and is, The Word of God.
No doubt, his thanks to God never ceased
respecting this which the Lord had done, revealing
the tremendous Truths imparted to
him which meant not only his Victory, but
the Victory of untold millions of others.
Please allow me to say the following:
It is regrettable but true, that most great
Victories are won and great Truths presented,
even in that which seems to be terrible defeat,
even as it was with Paul. Unfortunately,
due to the Fall, man is so constituted that
he is very reluctant to throw himself at the
foot of the Cross, crying in desperation for
help. And to be sure, even though these
Victories always come through Jesus Christ,
they all came through what He did at the
Cross of Calvary.
God took that evil instrument of torture
(the Cross) which Satan thought surely was
the defeat of Jesus Christ, and turned it into
the greatest Victory that man has ever known.
JESUS CHRIST
There is One, and One Deliverer only —
The Lord Jesus Christ; for in response to the
NOTES
248
anguished cry, “Who shall deliver me?”, the
answer is: that God can, and that the vehicle
of the deliverance is through the Work
and Person of Jesus Christ the Lord.
Thus, the three mighty Princes: death,
sin, and law, lose their authority over all who
by Faith become associated with Christ in
His Death and Resurrection. With Him the
Believer enters a new realm of Life and Righteousness;
and, energized by the Holy Spirit,
lives a life of True Sanctification.
If the Believer makes “death” his refuge,
the Death of Christ, he is safe from the domination
of sin. For what can Satan do with a
dead man? (Williams).
The phrase, “So then with the mind I myself
serve the Law of God,” presents the will of
Paul, and all other Believers for that matter.
As stated, the will is the trigger, but it
within itself can do nothing unless the gun
is loaded with explosive power. That Power
is the Cross, and more particularly, Jesus on
that Cross. There He made it possible for
Believers to “serve the Law of God.” He actually
does it through us (Gal. 2:20).
The phrase, “But with the flesh the law of
sin,” is merely saying that if the Believer resorts
to the “flesh,” i.e., self-will, self-effort,
religious effort, he will not serve the Law of
God, but rather “the law of sin.” In other
words, irrespective of his sincerity, motivation,
consecration, or desire to do right, the
end result of self-effort will always be “the
law of sin.”
The Holy Spirit emphasized through the
Apostle, the term “law” over and over, and
in respect to different situations. In effect
He is saying, that these laws are immutable
— not capable of or susceptible to change.
Even though the Apostle has spoken more
of these negative laws in this Chapter, the
positive “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ
Jesus” will be explained fully in the next
Chapter. To be sure, this great and wonderful
Law is magnified and proven to be so
much greater than the laws of Satan, etc.
Consequently, I think that tremendous blessing
awaits us in the Commentary on the
coming 8th Chapter of Romans.
“My spirit, soul, and body, Jesus, I give
to Thee,
“A consecrated offering, Thine evermore
to be.
“My all is on the Altar; Lord, I am all
Thine Own;
“Oh, may my Faith never falter! Lord,
keep me Thine Alone.”
“Oh Jesus mighty Saviour, I trust in
Thy Great Name;
“I look for Thy Salvation, Thy Promise
now I claim.
“Now, Lord, I yield my members, from
sin’s dominion free,
“For warfare and for triumph, as weapons
unto Thee.”
“Oh, blissful self-surrender, to live, my
Lord, by Thee!
“Now, Son of God, my Saviour, live out
Thy Life in me.
“I am Thine, Oh Blessed Jesus, washed
in Thy Precious Blood,
“Sealed by Thy Holy Spirit, A Sacrifice
to God.”
CHAPTER 8
(1) “THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO
CONDEMNATION TO THEM WHICH ARE
IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO WALK NOT AFTER
THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE
SPIRIT.”
The phrase, “There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ
Jesus,” opens this great Chapter, which some
have called the “dynamics of the Holy Spirit.”
As the subject of Romans Chapter 3 is
God declaring the sinner Righteous, so the
theme of this 8th Chapter of Romans is God
making the Believer holy. The former Chapter
deals with Christ’s Work for the sinner,
i.e., Justification; the latter Chapter, Christ’s
Work in the Believer, i.e., Sanctification.
This Chapter opens with “no condemnation,”
and closes with “No separation.”
The subject of Romans 5:12-21, is “condemnation”
for all who are in Adam; the
theme of this 8th Chapter of Romans is “no
condemnation” for all who are in Christ.
The special Greek word used for “condemnation”
occurs only in Romans 5:16
Friday, January 30, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
