Romans 7:6

This morning I was listening to Tim Keller preaching on Romans 7.

Romans 7:6 in the New King James Version reads: “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”

This verse is a part of Apostle Paul’s discourse on the believer’s relationship with the law, and it carries significant theological implications within the context of reformed evangelical Christianity.

Deliverance from the Law The verse begins by stating that believers have been delivered from the law [5]. This does not mean that the law is irrelevant or bad, but rather that believers are no longer under its condemnation [5]. This aligns with the reformed evangelical understanding that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works of the law [5].

Death to the Law The phrase “having died to that by which we were bound” suggests that believers have been set free from the law’s binding authority [5]. This is achieved through union with Christ, who fulfilled the law on our behalf [5].

Service in Newness of the Spirit The verse concludes by contrasting the “newness of the Spirit” with the “oldness of the letter” [5]. This suggests that the Christian life is not about external conformity to the law (the oldness of the letter), but about inner transformation by the Holy Spirit (the newness of the Spirit) [5]. This underscores the reformed evangelical emphasis on the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life [5].

Matthew Henry’s Commentary Matthew Henry, a notable biblical commentator, provides further insights into this verse. He emphasises that believers are delivered from the law as a covenant of works [1]. He also highlights that the law stirs up and provokes the sin that dwells in us [1]. However, believers are delivered from this power of the law [1]. He further notes that believers serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter [1].

Relevance to Modern Christian Living The teachings of this verse have profound implications for modern Christian living. It underscores the importance of reliance on the Holy Spirit for understanding and applying God’s truth in our lives [5]. It also encourages believers to live a life of freedom in Christ, not bound by the law but guided by the Spirit [5].

Relationship with ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ The novel ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ by Robert Louis Stevenson explores the duality of human nature, much like Romans 7 does [8]. In the novel, Dr Jekyll represents the outwardly righteous man who, like Paul in Romans 7, struggles with the sinful nature represented by Mr Hyde [8]. The struggle between the two personas mirrors the internal conflict described in Romans 7 [8]. The novel, like Romans 7, suggests that this duality can only be resolved through a radical transformation [8]. In the Christian context, this transformation is brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit, as described in Romans 7:6 [5].

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 30/05/2024

1. Romans 7:6 Meaning and Commentary – Bible Study Tools
2. Romans 7 Commentary – Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible …
3. Journal of Literature & Theology, Vol. 6 No. 2, June 1992 – JSTOR
4. Romans 7 Bible Commentary – Matthew Henry (concise) – Christianity
5. Romans 7:6 Commentaries: But now we have been released from the Law …
6. Romans 7 Bible Commentary – Matthew Henry (complete) – Christianity
7. ROMANS 7:6 MEANING – King James Bible Online
8. Romans 7:6 – King James Bible Online
9. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis
10. R. L. STEVENSON’S STRANGE CASE OF DR.JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE AND ROMANS 7: …
11. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – eNotes.com
12. goodreads.com

At the heart of sin lies covetousness, a seed that, if left unchecked, can burgeon into a towering tree of moral dilemmas. Coveting is an idolatrous longing, a desire that eclipses our yearning for God. As Romans 7:13 elucidates, through the commandment, sin was exposed and intensified, unmasking Mr Hyde lurking within us all. This commandment kindled every covetous impulse within me.

The Tenth Commandment, “Thou shalt not covet,” serves as a stark reminder of our innate tendency to shield ourselves from the recognition of our inner Mr Hyde. It underscores our lack of moral integrity, defining sin not merely as wanting something but as desiring something so fervently that it becomes an idol.

Coveting, in its essence, is the heart of sin. It materialises when we yearn for anything more than we yearn for God when we assert that there is something other than God, His love, and His salvation that we need for happiness. Coveting is the failure to love and find contentment in God to such an extent that we are satisfied. Therefore, coveting is not just the essence of sin but also the source of all our troubles, a concept that underlines the gravity of this commandment.