The Christian and God's Law
A Sermon on Romans 7:1
Originally preached April 10, 1959
Scripture
1Know 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?
Sermon Description
How do Christians relate to the law of God? Since they are saved, can they actually keep the law? What happens when they fail? In this sermon on Romans 7:1 titled “The Christian and God’s Law,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows a bird’s eye view of how Christians should view the controversial topic in this chapter of Scripture. According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, most problems in the Christian life could be solved if Christians had a better understanding of Romans 7. With a proper understanding of this chapter, the Christian will have a better understanding of sin and its severity. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that sanctification by the law is just as impossible as salvation by the law. According to Paul, the law actually hinders sanctification. There is only one way a person can bring fruit before God and that is if they are joined to Jesus Christ. When one understands the relationship of the law to the Christian, it helps in understanding that simple morality and ethical living are not sufficient for salvation or sanctification. One must be joined to Christ for salvation, not simply follow the law. The law shows how sinful people are, but only Christ can save by His perfect life and His perfect righteousness.
Sermon Breakdown
- The law has dominion over a man as long as he lives.
- Chapter 7 of Romans has been frequently discussed and disputed.
- Most people are more familiar with chapter 7 than chapter 6, even though chapter 6 is greater.
- It's important to understand the setting and purpose of chapter 7.
- Chapters 6 and 7 are a parenthesis, clearing up issues that would arise from chapter 5.
- Chapter 5 verse 20 says "where sin abounded, grace abounded more." This could be misunderstood as encouraging sin.
- Chapter 6 refutes the idea that grace encourages sin. Chapter 7 refutes the idea that grace does away with the law.
- The purpose of chapter 7 is to show that sanctification cannot come through the law, just as justification cannot come through the law.
- Chapter 7 can be divided into 3 sections: verses 1-6, verses 7-12, and verses 13-25.
- Verses 1-6 show that believers have a new relationship to the law in order to bear fruit to God.
- Verse 4 is key, saying believers have died to the law to be joined to Christ and bear fruit to God.
- Verses 7-12 vindicate the law, showing the problem is not with the law but with our flesh.
- Verses 13-25 show experientially how impossible sanctification by the law would be.
- The overall themes of the chapter are: an analysis of sin; the function and limits of the law; the futility of morality without Christ; and union with Christ.
- Most problems in the Christian life come from not grasping the teaching of chapter 7.
- Many do not understand the depth and power of sin.
- Many wrongly come under condemnation when they sin, not understanding their relationship to the law.
- It does not matter how much you sin as a believer, you should never come under condemnation. But this does not encourage sin.
- Some ignore the law altogether, falling into antinomianism. But we must understand our proper relationship to the law.
- Many do not fully understand their union with Christ, the source of power for fruitful living.
- The Christian's duty is to be faithful to Christ, obeying him. His power produces the fruit.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Romans 7: Key Questions and Answers
What is the main purpose of Romans 7 according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the main purpose of Romans 7 is to explain the function and purpose of the law in the Christian life. Specifically, he states: "It is to explain what he [Paul] means when he says that the law came in by the side, and what he means when he says that we should rejoice in the fact that we are not under the law but under grace." The chapter demonstrates that "sanctification by the law is as impossible as was justification by the law."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones divide Romans 7 in his exposition?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones divides Romans 7 into three sections: 1. Verses 1-6: A general statement defining our relationship as believers to the law 2. Verses 7-12: A vindication of the law (answering "Is the law sin?") 3. Verses 13-25: A practical and experimental working out of the principles established in the first two sections
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones consider the key verse in Romans 7?
He identifies Romans 7:4 as the "crucial verse" of the chapter: "Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ, that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." This verse encapsulates the main argument that believers can only bear fruit to God through union with Christ, not through the law.
Why do many Christians misunderstand their relationship to the law according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies two common errors Christians make regarding the law: 1. Putting themselves "back under the law" when they sin, leading to condemnation and doubting their salvation 2. Going to the opposite extreme of "antinomianism" by dismissing the law completely and believing they can "sin as much as they like"
He emphasizes: "You must never have that sense of condemnation again. The moment you have a sense of condemnation, you're misinterpreting your relationship to the law."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the profoundest teaching in Romans 7?
He describes Romans 7 as "the profoundest analysis of sin and of its ways and of its effects and results which is to be found anywhere in the whole of the scripture." He calls it "quite incomparable" in how it analyzes "sin and what it does and how it does it."
How does Romans 7 address modern moral philosophy according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that Romans 7 provides "the finest exposure and the most devastating criticism of the utter futility of people who think that morality alone is sufficient." He calls it a chapter that "demolishes" the position of those who claim to embrace Christian ethics while rejecting Christian doctrine and the supernatural elements of Christianity.
What is the relationship between Romans 7 and Romans 5-6?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Romans 6-7 form a parenthesis within Paul's larger argument. He suggests that "if you were reading to get the main drift of his argument, you should go straight on from chapter five, verse 21, to chapter eight, verse one." These chapters address objections and clarify potential misunderstandings about grace and law that arise from Paul's statement in Romans 5:20-21 about grace abounding where sin abounded.
What does it mean to be "married to Christ" according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that being "married to Christ" means being united with Him in such a way that His power produces fruit in our lives. He states: "The first and the chiefest thing in the life of the believer, therefore, is to realize his union with the Lord Jesus Christ. He's joined to him, he's married to him, and what is his duty? What is the Christian to do? The Christian in a sense has only one thing to do, and that is to be faithful to Christ, to obey him, forsaking all other to keep thee only unto him."
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.