Romans 7:7-13
“The Problem of Doing Something for God”
Introduction
1. Last week we saw why rededication doesn’t last. Law is doing something for God. Grace is
God does everything for us. We are delivered from doing anything for God. He wants to do
everything through us. It doesn’t mean that we will do nothing, but the source of power
will be different!
2. The law can do nothing in delivering us from sin. What then is the purpose of the law in the
life of the Christian? The law can do one thing in the lost or saved it can expose sin in us
and drive us back to Christ.
3. The woman was in tears with little feeling of worth or value. She was never good enough.
Now her walk with God. It was not a loving, vibrant relationship, but a system of do’s and
don’ts. She didn’t realize what had happened, but she was raised and nurtured by law…and
law was doing exactly what was intended…expose sin, failure within us…but never give
life!
4. Do you feel worthless, discouraged, defeated and depressed? Perhaps you are living in your
own strength.
5. Romans 7:7-13 reveals the problem. Law was never meant to give life. The law has 3
characteristics:

Do you feel worthless, discouraged, defeated? Perhaps in your strength you are ‘doing something for God.’
I. IT IS A MIRROR 7:7-9 It Reveals Sin
This mirror is used in three ways:
A. The Look 7
1. What value is the law? “Can a Christian disregard the Law and live as he pleases?” God forbid! The Jew had 613 commands (248 mandates and 365 prohibitions). Rabbis had added countless conditions and practical interpretations. The Law was supreme.
2. Paul looked into the mirror. Coveting…thou shalt not covet. It came home to him. Something he had gone through made those words come alive!
3. “I thought I was alright.” The Law continued to say, Thou shalt not covet. “If it were not for the Law I would not have seen my sin.” Look at put off…put on sheet. Have you committed any of these in the last 3 months and not asked for forgiveness?
B. The Lack 8
1. You thought coveting was in one area…It was alive all around me!
2. Take one of the sins from ‘Put off’ sheet.
3. Apart from the law, sin is dead. Dead apart from law, sin goes undetected. The sin goes unnoticed and undetected. Then the mirror. Sin was no longer dead. Take the sheet home…look at each one.
C. The Life 9
1. I was alive apart from the law. This cannot be used of eternal life. It is speaking of being undisturbed…no conviction. It is free from an accusing conscience. False Peace!
2. When the commandment came, sin revived and I died.Came…hit his conscience. I became aware of my sin. I died…I became disturbed, convicted…my conscience came alive. This happens when I stand beside God’s righteousness and holiness!
3. PROBLEM: As a mirror does you will be exposed as a failure. Law is designed to expose our sin whether lost or saved. He must bring us to the end of ourselves so He can do it through us.

II. IT IS A MAGISTRATE 7:10-11 It Rejects Self
There are 2 characteristics of a magistrate:
A. It Legislates 10
1. Doing something for God…any of the listed on Put Off if properly ministered is to bring vitality.
2. In reality this thing made me miserable…death, defeat, discouragement. Isn’t that the way it works: Go ye…so you try. Love one another…so you try and can’t! Pray without ceasing…in everything give thanks…so you try. I can at times hardly pray 3 minutes without distraction. That’s the difference between a system and a relationship. A system brings condemnation because we are aware as to how we are really doing.
B. It Lacks 11
Much like verse 8…died (9)…death (10)…slew me (11) Law is to bring me to the end of myself.
1. Sin seized the opportunity.
2. The more aware Paul became of God’s demands the harder he tried (sin deceived me). Sin by the very thing I was trying to do slew me! He wanted life and found death. He expected happiness and found misery. Instead of positive he was negative. Instead of worth and value, he felt worthless. He wanted to look like Jesus, but he looked like his old self!
3. Sin deceived me. “Just keep trying.” “I think you can do it.” Rely on your power. Make another resolution, another promise. “This time you’ll make it.” We rely on our will, our effort, our strength…WE FAIL!
4. Law is a magistrate: “Guilty” “Guilty” He is right!

III. IT IS A MEASURE 7:12-13 It Reestablishes a Standard
Is there something wrong with the Law since it has such negative results?
A. It’s Dimensions 12
1. Holy because God is Holy. He searches out sin.
2. Just In view of the requirements it lays before us are right.
3. Right because it forbids and condemns sin.
4. Good because its aim is life. And is reaffirmed in verse 13. Everything that it is we aren’t! How short we fall. There is nothing wrong with God’s demands. There is something in me. (I CAN’T)
B. Its Defense 13
1. Was that which is good made death to me? NO! The problem is sin (that principle at work in an unredeemed soul and body. It merely exposes what is there.
2. We fall short. We fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23) As we stand before Jesus we see ourselves.
3. Sin became exceedingly sinful. Sin nailed Jesus to the Cross. All we can do is Confess our sin…agree with God. Call sin…sin…not mistakes, personality quirks. The answer: Stop living in your strength. Yield up your rights and allow God through His Spirit to do everything through you. Develop a relationship with Him.
4. Law was never meant to give life.

The Law Is Designed: To Expose Your Sin
To Bring You To The End of Yourself
To Draw You To Jesus

Confess Sins…Agree With God…Stop Living in Your Strength…
Yield Up Your Rights…Allow God to do Everything Through You.