The emphasis at the beginning of chapter seven is on the fact that the Jewish believer has died to the Mosaic Law when they trusted in Christ. The apostle Paul, identifying himself with the nation of Israel and using himself as an example, relates the intense struggle of trying to obey the Law while living under the control of sin. The discussion that follows in verses seven through twenty five relates the misery living under the power and authority of sin and failing to keep the Law. No matter how good or perfect the moral code is it will not, and cannot, free anyone from sin and immorality. When a Jew put their faith in Christ all obligation to the Law is over because they are considered as having died with Christ. Therefore the struggle Paul relates is not the normal experience for a Gentile believer who was never under obligation to the Mosaic Law.
Unbelievers can have a desire to do the right things and to do good at times because the destructiveness of sin and its consequences are so obvious. Nonetheless, the power sin has will always result in its ruling the day in terms of final outcome being destruction. All resolutions and behavior modification schemes will prove powerless to free anyone from sins mastery. It takes dying to sin and being raised to a new life by repenting of sin and placing faith in Jesus Christ. There is no other way or means to live a life pleasing and acceptable to God until His power breaks us free from sins death grip.
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In the fall of 1969, Gil began a full-time teaching ministry as Senior Pastor of Indian Hills Community Church. He also earned his Ph.D. from the California Graduate School of Theology. The focus of Pastor Rugh’s ministry is systematic, verse-by-verse teaching of the Bible. As a...
