Christians and the Law, Paul continues from chapter 6 as he answers the second group of his audience about the law and the new covenant through Christ.

1. CHRISTIANS AND
THE LAW
ROMANS 7

2. CONTINUITY OF MORAL LAW
VS.
THEONOMY

3. CONTINUITY OF MORAL LAW
• Law of Moses is divided into 3 Basic categories:
1. Ceremonial Law-teaches Israel about sacrifice
2. Civil Law-Gods commandments for Israel as a nation
3. Moral Law-Enduring basic principles of what God
expects of human beings
The coming of Christ brings an end to the “Ceremonial”
and “Civil” law

4. THEONOMY
The “Law” must
remain in effect
unless there is a
clear reference in
the (NT) that the
law has ended
1
Example: Christ’s
sacrifice clearly
releases Christians
from “Ceremonial
Law”
2
Never in the New
Testament does it
state that the
“Civil Law” has
come to an end
3
Theonomist
believe that
“some” civil laws
(OT) are still in
effect
4

5. LICENSE
VS.
LEGALISM

6. LICENSE
“Since we are saved by
grace,” some argue, “we
are free to live as we
please,” which is the
extreme of license.

7. LEGALISM
“But we cannot ignore God’s
law,” others argue. “We are
saved by grace, to be sure;
but we must live under law
if we are to please God.”
This is the extreme
expression of legalism.

8. We start to see deeper into our own
hearts, and we discover sins that we did
not know were there. God’s holy law
takes on a new power, and we wonder if
we can ever do anything good. Without
realizing it, we have moved into
legalism and have learned the truth
about sin, the law, and ourselves.

9. WHAT REALLY IS LEGALISM?
It is the belief that I can
become holy and please God
by obeying laws. It is
measuring spirituality by a
list of dos and don’ts.

10. The weakness of legalism is that it sees
sins (plural) but not sin (the root of the
trouble). It judges by the outward and
not the inward. Furthermore, the
legalist fails to understand the real
purpose of God’s law and the
relationship between law and grace.

11. Many people who have suffered severe
emotional and spiritual damage did so
because they have tried to live holy lives
on the basis of a high standard.
The consequences of these attempts:
Either the person becomes a pretender,
or he/she suffers a complete collapse
and abandons their desires for godly
living.

12. Paul discussed three topics, which, if understood
and applied, will deliver Christians from legalism
Authority of the Law
7:1-6
We died to the law vv.4-5
We are delivered from
the law v.6
Ministry of the Law
7:7-13
The law reveals sin v.7
The law arouses sin vv.8-9
The law kills vv.10-11
The law shows sinfulness of
sin vv.12-13
Inability of the Law
7:14-25
The law cannot change you
v.14
The law cannot enable you
to do good vv.15-21
The law cannot set you free
vv21-25