Questions

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 7:1–6

In the previous chapter, especially in referring to our baptism, the Apostle Paul reminds us that we have died to sin. He points to our unity with Christ in His death in that our “old self” (which Paul would often refer to as our flesh) was buried and crucified with Christ.  In this pericope, Paul gives us a further dimension of the death of our old self.


1.  In addition to having died to our sin, what does v. 4 tell us that we “also” died to?

2. What is Paul trying to convey by likening us to a married woman who was bound (formerly) by the law to her husband?

3. Who are we now married to because of justification by faith?

4. What is the purpose of being married (belonging) to Christ who was raised from the dead? (v. 4) 

5. What fruit did we bear before?

6. What fruit are we supposed to bear now?  Are you bearing fruit in your life?

7. Paul says that the sinful passions which were at work in us were aroused by the law.  What does he mean?  What might be its implication(s)? (v.5)

8. What does “we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” mean?

9. Compare “having died to sin” from “having died to the law”:

a. What might the difference be?

b. What might their similarity be?

10. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 7:7–13

In the preceding section, Paul, reminded us of our new life in Christ which is not under the law.  He brought out the point that “the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us” (7:5). This phrase appears to have put the blame on the law.  In this chapter, he seeks to clarify his meaning.  Note that in so doing, Paul changes to using first person, singular past tense for his explanation:

1. Review your answer to Q.7 in the previous lesson and see what your response to 7:5 was.

2. How does 7:7-8 clarify Paul’s meaning of our sinful passions being “aroused” by the law?

3. Which of the following statements does Paul make in 7:7?

a. If not for the law, he would not have known that he sinned (or coveted).

b. If not for the law, he would not have known what his sin (or coveting) was.

What is the difference?

4. In 7:8, Paul changes to using the term “commandment” instead of “law”. Many scholars see this as a reference to the 10th Commandment. Did sin or the commandment seize the opportunity to produce in him every kind of coveting?  What is the difference?

5. When Paul says, “apart from the law, sin was dead”, what does “sin was dead” mean?  (Note that sin is not a person.)

6. In vv. 9-11 Paul appears to be recalling how sin made use of the law in his life:

a. Because of the arrival of the law (likely referring to the 10 Commandments), sin sprang (back) to life and he died.

If, according to Ephesians 2:1, he was dead already with or without the law, what then does he mean by saying that we were alive apart from the law but died when sin sprang (back) to life when the commandment came?

b. The life giving commandment brought death to him instead; but it was actually sin (which made use of the commandment) that deceived him and put him to death.

Can you personally identify with what Paul describes about his pre-Christian life here?

7. How does his above explanation support his statement in v. 12 about the law?

8. How then does the commandment make “sin become utterly sinful”?

9. If I use the analogy of speeding on a road whose condition is already bad (e.g. narrow, with many pot-holes, winding, and dangerous in extremely stormy weather), what does the posting of a speed-limit sign do to the offence of speeding?  Try to apply the offence of speeding and the sign to substitute for sin and the law in this section and see whether it might make more sense to you.

10. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 7:14–25

Now Paul continues with the use of first person, singular, except that he changes to the present tense.  We have to believe that this change to the present tense is deliberate.  If the last section is Paul’s autobiography of his former life or a biography of “Everyman” (Bruce, 139), then this (in my opinion) is best understood as his testimony of his present life as a Christian:


1. As Paul describes the struggle within him, he appears to point out that there are two “parts” to him and two “laws” at work. Underline all the terms that he uses to describe the part of him that:

a. Still succumbs to sin.

b. Delights in God’s law (not the Law of Moses, but the law of the Spirit).

2. In describing his sinful nature, which is still a part of him, Paul uses the following terms of himself. They include “unspiritual” (literally, of the flesh, v. 14), “sinful nature” (flesh, v. 18), “my members” (v. 23) and “this body” (v. 24).

What does Paul’s use of present tense tell you about the “old self” which supposedly should have died upon being crucified with Christ (6:6)?

3. In describing the new life, Paul uses terms like “inner being” (v. 22), and “my mind” (vv. 23, 25). What then do you understand as being made new in us? (See Rom. 6:4, 12:2; 2 Co. 5:17, 1 Jn. 5:11.)

4. According to this section, whether he achieves victory over sin or not, there is already a fundamental change in Paul now that he is a Christian.  What is it?

5. To what does Paul attribute “his failure to carry out this new desire to do what is good” (v. 18)?  Is it a cop-out (v. 19)?  Why or why not?

6. As a Christian, have you experienced a change in what you delight in (v. 22) and what you want to do (v. 21)?

7. Since there is a marked change in him, why is there still such an intense struggle in his Christian life?

8. Have you struggled as Paul does as a Christian?

9. What has Paul found out as the key to victory over this struggle?

10. What does “through Jesus Christ our Lord” mean?  How does it work?  Have you experienced such deliverance through Jesus Christ?  Why or why not?

11. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 8:1–11

Perhaps the reader finds Paul’s solution to his struggle far too easy (7:25) and finds it difficult to understand how it works. Therefore, Paul elaborates how we may appropriate this power of deliverance through Christ:


1. What does Paul say is the solution to his struggle in 7:25?

2. Which two laws are still at work in Christians?  Which one is more powerful?  In what way?

3. As sinners, we should be condemned. Why then is there no condemnation for those who are in Christ? (vv. 3-4)

4. v. 4 describes us as those who live (or walk) not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  How are we able to walk according to the Spirit?  According to v. 5, where is the battle ground?

5. What if we choose to submit to the mind of flesh? (vv. 6-7)

6. What if we choose to submit to the mind of the Spirit? (vv. 6-7)

7. What makes it possible for us to be governed by the Spirit? (v. 9)

8. How powerful is the Spirit of God who lives in us? (vv. 10-11)

9. Have you been able to appropriate the power of the Spirit in your life?  Why or why not?

10. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 8:12–17

1. Since we do have the indwelling of the powerful Spirit of God who raised Christ from the dead, Paul says, we do have an obligation as a result.  What is this obligation? (vv. 12-13)

2. If we still live according to the flesh, what will the consequence be?

What does “you will die” mean?  Does Paul not declare back in 8:1 that “there is not condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”?

3. “The Arminian believes that a regenerate believer may, indeed, fall back into a ‘fleshy’ lifestyle so that the threat of this verse becomes real.  But the Calvinist believes that the truly regenerate believer, while often committing 'fleshy' acts, will be infallibly prevented from living a fleshy lifestyle by the Spirit within.” (Moo, Romans, 494)

Which one do you think is right? (See Note below.)

4. According to v. 14, what is the proof that someone is, indeed, a child of God?

5. Previously in chapter 5, Paul points out that we are either slaves to sins or to righteousness.  But here, Paul asserts that we are really above slaves because slaves live in fear (v. 15).  
   
Do you no longer live in fear?  
Why or why not?

6. Paul says that as children, instead of living in fear, we have all the benefits of being sons.

a. Why does he call our sonship an adoption?  How appropriate is it?

b. Though adopted, we enjoy full sonship in that we call God, “Abba, Father”, and are “co-heirs” with Christ.

1. What does the use of “Abba” signify? (The Jews did not even dare address God with this Aramaic name, which was used by small children in calling their fathers.) (See also Mk. 14:36.)
2. How special is the use of “cry out” by Paul?
3. What will we be inheriting together with Christ?
4. Why does Paul mention “sharing in His sufferings” as part of our co-heir reality?

7. Try to write in your own words the marvelous reality of being the children of God.

8. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Note:

1. According to Moo, based on Romans 5:9-10, 21, 8:1-4, 10-11, along with the finality of justification itself, he favors the “Calvinist” interpretation.
2. “Cry out” is an emotional, not a rational term.

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 8:18–30

1. Suffering is a fact of life. Christians and non-Christians both will suffer in life.

a. How do non-Christians normally react to sufferings, especially sufferings that are not self-inflicted?

b. How different should the Christian’s attitude toward suffering be?

c. In your answer to the latter question, does it include the reason given by Paul in v.18? Why or why not?

2. How does Paul describe the struggle of (even) the inanimate creation since the Fall of man in vv.19-22? How will the eventual revelation of the sons of God (of whom we are; see v. 23) impact the entire creation?

3. How does this section (from v.23 - v.25) speak to your present suffering? What difference will it make if our hope is set on that which is being seen and not the unseen?

4. Do you truly wait for the day of redemption of your body eagerly? Why or why not?

5. Do you think that if our hope is not on the unseen, it is a spiritual weakness? How would such a weakness impact our prayers?

6. In such a time of weakness, how does the Holy Spirit help us according to v.26? How effective is His prayer for us according to v.27?

7. What is the end result of the intercession of the Holy Spirit for us, according to v.28?

8. Can you “recognize” a recent result of the intercession of the Holy Spirit that fulfills the reality of v.28 in your life? Pause now and give thanks to the Holy Spirit.

9. The last two verses tell us the desires of God in adopting us as His children. List all the desires one by one, and then write a prayer of thanksgiving in response to His desires in your life.

10. Based on what you have read about the Holy Spirit in this entire chapter, write down what you have learned about Him.

11. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 8:31–39

1. What are the forces that tend to work against you, trying to tear you apart from God?

2. Which of the following might be the most dangerous in this respect for you?

a. Trouble that bothers you

b. Hardship that discourages you

c. Persecution that intimidates you

d. Poverty or danger that surrounds you

Why?

3. How has God demonstrated that He is totally for us? What is meant by God is “for us” (literally, “on our behalf”)?

4. What is the basis on which God has chosen you? How has He justified you? Are you worth more than His Son? Why then did He not spare His Son for you?

5. We know that we continue to sin (and to be weak). Does this change our relationship with and position in Christ?

6. What is the basis on which we can continue to have victory and be conquerors in every situation? (v. 37)

7. Can you, in your own words, describe “the love of God that is Christ Jesus our Lord”?

8. Pause and give thanks to God for His love in Christ.

9. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?