Romans 7:1-6
“The Trouble With Rededications”

Introduction
1. Chapter 6 deals with Freedom from Sin. In Chapter 7 we deal with Freedom from Law. In
chapter 7 ‘law’ is used 22 times. In verses 1-6 ‘law’ is used 8 times.
2. Verse 1 in the original begins with or and refers back to (6:14) For you are not under law, but
under grace.
3. Have you ever seen a Christian at times of revival, camps, conferences or church services pray
for ‘rededication’? These know head wise they have been crucified with Christ. These reckon
they can say ‘no’ to sin and they are to bring Jesus Christ into everything. These yield they
surrender absolutely to Jesus Christ. “God here I am.” This is the beginning of a life full of
praise to God!!
4. The we begin to put this commitment into practice, and we find that we can’t do it. Then we
begin to ask: Did I really know that when Christ died I died, and I don’t have to yield to sin?
YES Did I really reckon (I am dead to sin and alive to God)? YES Did I really surrender
absolutely? YES!!
5. What’s the trouble with rededication? For it seems the more we try and do the will of God
the more we fail. We must not have meant business. I’m never going to fail again. We
scarcely get up and we fall again. This time we are more determined!! Only to find perhaps
a greater defeat.
6. Has this been your experience? What’s wrong? Romans 7:1-6 will give the answer. In verses
1-6 Paul uses an illustration of marriage. The first husband is ‘law’. The second husband is
Christ. We (believers) are the wife. Law is me doing something for God.

What’s the trouble with rededication?
I. THE DEMANDS OF DOING SOMETHING FOR GOD 7:1-3
A. The Failure 1
1. Law most agree this isn’t merely the Old Testament, but law is general. Brothers refers
to all Christians and not merely believing Jews.
2. Ray Stedman: We are proud of our achievements. We are critical of others. We are
reluctant to admit our own failures. We suffer from depression, discouragement and
defeat.
3. We feel that Romans 6 is enough. In the midst of our determination, we give God our
best. We find failure!
4. Or goes back to (6:14) For you are not under law, but under grace. Law is me doing
something for God. Grace is God does something for me. God does it! God has demands.
Law: God requires me do something for Him. Grace: God does it!
5. The failure in rededication: In the flesh (our strength and ability) we try to do something
for God.
*As soon as we ‘try to please God’ that way we place ourselves under law. We Fail. Law
at that point is Performance Based Acceptance.
*There is nothing wrong with the demands. The problem is us. We have unredeemed soul
(thinker, feeler, chooser) and body. If God asks nothing of us we’re o.k.
*He demands…we try and the more we try, the harder we try the worse we do. God
must bring us to the place where we see that we are utterly weak and helpless.
B. The Freedom 2,3
Law has authority over man as long as he lives. Paul gives an illustration of marriage. The
woman is married to a man. The death of the husband releases the wife from the law that
bound her to that marriage. (v. 12) The law lives on! The way of deliverance from law is
in an illustration: 2 husbands and one wife:
1.The first husband is law and we (believers) are the wife. The wife is in a difficult position:
*The man to whom she is married is a good man. But the husband and wife are not
compatible. He is a perfectionist, definite, precise, exacting. She is casual, slovenly, easy
going. He makes demands (and the demands are right). His demands are legitimate. We
can’t find any fault in him. The trouble is he has the wrong kind of wife to carry them out.
*The two cannot get along. The woman is depressed. It seems as though everything she does is wrong. Is there any hope for her? If only she were married to another man. She cannot marry another as long as her first husband is alive…He’s not going to die!
2. The second husband is Christ. How can I ever be united with Christ? If he cannot die,
I can die…If I die the marriage is dissolved.

What’s the trouble with rededication?
II. THE DELIVERANCE FROM DOING SOMETHING FOR GOD 7:4-6
A.The Finality 4a
Wherefore you are become dead to the law.
1.By death…I am freed from the law.
2.The law cannot follow me beyond the grace
3.(Rom. 6:3) Into his death 4,5,6,8 Now we are dead. In Romans 6 we died. He may make demands on us, but there is no response!!
4.How did we die? We (believers) are identified with Him.
*When Jesus was crucified…I was crucified. In the sight of God I am so united to Jesus that when He died…I died. When He arose…I arose. I am alive unto God!
*At salvation…upon believing I was united to Another: “Will you take this man to be your Savior? To have and to hole from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer or poorer will you cleave only unto Him?” I died to my will, my way, my rights. You said, “I will.” In Christ’s death I am freed from law!
B.The Fruit 4b-5
Two types are mentioned:
1. Fruit unto God 4b
That we should bring forth fruit unto God. (Reminds us of 6:10-13) It is a life of either ‘myself’ or ‘Himself’!
*Alive unto God…Jesus makes demands, but with every demand He makes He becomes the power to fulfill each request.
*Fruit unto God is the product of this new union. Fruit unto God…He does it! Jesus said, “I came to fulfill the law.” Jesus lives His life through us. His life is always pleasing to the Father…mine never is!
*What is one of the most obvious things that happens when a woman marries? +She changes her name. She shares his name and his possessions. +Everything he has belongs to her. So it is with Christ! Everything He has becomes ours…Righteous, Holy, Pure, Eternal Life (He is eternal).
2.Fruit of the Flesh 5
*In the flesh…Sinful Impulses…In our members…Fruit unto death…all describes when we were lost.
*Flesh always leads to disappointment, defeat, depression, and ultimately death.
*Flesh is my Feelers described as (lust) by Law. Don’t live like this!
C. The Fulfillment 6
“But now”
1.Delivered from the law. From this day forward I am going to stop doing something for God in my strength. Work our you own salvation with fear and trembling. It is God which worketh in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Phil 2:12, 13)
2.You were held…Flesh is wrapped up in doing!
3.We should serve…Not out of do’s and don’ts. It is not me trying to do something for God. Newness of Spirit is Jesus in me…living through me to accomplish what He wishes.
4.He is waiting until we come to the end of our resources. Illus. of a drowning swimmer. The expert jumps in after the victim is exhausted.
5.As long as we are trying to do anything He can do nothing.

Have you said, “I do” to Jesus Christ?

Law: will bring us to the end of ourselves.
Grace: He will do what we never could!!