December 1, 2024
DAILY BIBLE READING – Romans Chapter 7
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
King James Version. Public Domain
Commentary
Introduction
Romans Chapter 7 is a theological masterpiece in which Paul examines the relationship between humans, the law, and sin. This chapter offers an in-depth analysis of how the law reveals sin and makes the inner struggle of humans visible. It serves not only as a reflection on the limitations of the law but also as a moving depiction of human weakness and the necessity of divine redemption through Jesus Christ. This passage is directed at all who know the law and shows how faith in Christ opens up a new way of life.
Commentary
Romans 7 is a multifaceted text that deals with two central themes: freedom from the law through Christ and the inner conflict of humans under the power of sin.
Freedom from the Law
Paul begins with an analogy from marriage: A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives, but after his death, she is free to marry another man. This metaphor illustrates that death in Christ frees humans from being bound to the law. The law is not a negative thing—it is holy, righteous, and good—but it reveals sin and intensifies its effects. The sinful nature of humans uses the law to arouse desires and plunge people into guilt.
Christ has created a new reality through his death. Paul emphasizes that we no longer live under the old “letter of the law” but in the new “spirit of the flesh.” This distinction shows that the Christian life is not characterized by external regulations but by the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
Humans under the Law
In the second section, Paul describes his personal experience, which is also universal for humans. The law shows what sin is (“Do not covet!”), but it offers no solution to overcome it. Humans recognize their sinfulness through the law, which throws them into an insoluble conflict. Paul describes this inner struggle with painful openness: Humans want to do good but are unable in their members because of sin. This description is not a devaluation of the law but a revelation of the power of sin, which is made visible through the law.
The most well-known verses in this section (“For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing”) summarize human frailty. There are two laws within humans: the law of God, which they love, and the law of sin, which they are enslaved to. This struggle leads to a poignant lament: “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?”
The Solution in Christ
Paul concludes with the triumphant answer: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Only through Christ is humans freed from the power of sin and the law. Acknowledging their own helplessness leads to dependence on God’s grace. Humans remain weak and flawed in their flesh, but their spirit can serve the law of God through Christ.
Summary
Romans Chapter 7 shows that while the law is holy, it does not bring redemption. It reveals sin and makes human weakness visible. Paul illustrates this state with a personal testimony about the inner conflict of humans: the desire to do good is thwarted by the power of sin. This struggle leads to the realization that only Christ can set humans free. Through his death and resurrection, Christ provides a new reality in which humans are no longer led by the law but by the Spirit of God.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages
Chapter 78—Calvary
This chapter is based on Matthew 27:31-53; Mark 14:20-38; Luke 23:26-46; John 19:16-30.
Read online here
Commentary
Introduction
The chapter on Golgotha is a central passage in Christian theology, as it represents the climax of the redemption story. The crucifixion of Jesus is detailed in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as in other biblical references such as Hebrews 13:12 and Galatians 3:13. It becomes clear here that Jesus suffered and died outside Jerusalem as the spotless sacrifice for the sins of humanity. His love, patience, and obedience even in the worst agony are expressions of His divine nature and His mission to redeem humanity. Golgotha is more than a historical fact—it is the place where God’s plan of redemption was fulfilled.
Commentary
The events of Golgotha, as described in the Gospels, unfold the dramatic and spiritual significance of Jesus’ death. They reveal both the cruelty of humanity and the infinite love of God.
The Road to Golgotha
Jesus was accompanied by a crowd to the place of execution. His cross, originally intended for Barabbas, was imposed upon Him, even though He was physically and spiritually exhausted from the events of the night. His weakness underscores His complete humanity, while His willingness to carry the cross demonstrates His divine love. Simon of Cyrene, a random passerby, was forced to carry the cross, and this encounter changed his life. This episode shows that even in His weakness, Jesus inspires people to take up their own crosses.
The Crucifixion
Jesus was crucified outside the city walls, in a place of shame and contempt, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. The account emphasizes the fulfillment of Scripture, such as the division of His garments (Psalm 22). Jesus’ demeanor during the crucifixion is marked by remarkable patience and love. His prayer for the forgiveness of His tormentors shows that He died not only for the righteous but for all sinful humanity.
The Reaction of the People
The crucifixion reveals the state of humanity. Some mocked Jesus, challenged Him to come down from the cross, and thus demonstrated their blindness. Others, like the repentant thief, recognized His divinity and experienced forgiveness and hope. The women who accompanied Him showed compassion, but their mourning often reflected only human sympathy. Jesus directed their gaze to the future destruction of Jerusalem and God’s final judgments.
The Spiritual Work on the Cross
On the cross, Jesus bore the weight of the world’s sin. His cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” reveals the anguish that comes with separation from God. He endured this separation so that humanity could find fellowship with God again. His final “It is finished!” declares the completion of His redemptive work. The curtain in the temple was torn in two, a symbolic act that opened access to God for all people.
The Earthquake and the Signs
Nature responded to the death of the Creator: darkness covered the land, an earthquake shook the region, and tombs were opened. These events were visible signs of the cosmic significance of what was happening. They reinforced the impression that Jesus’ death was not merely a human drama but a divine intervention in history.
The Theology of the Cross
The cross of Golgotha is the center of the Christian faith. Here, God’s wrath against sin and His infinite love become visible. Jesus bore the sin of the world and, through His sacrifice, restored the relationship between God and humanity. His death was not the end but the beginning of a new path of reconciliation and eternal life.
Summary
The Golgotha chapter portrays the crucifixion of Jesus as the climax of the salvation history. The journey to the skull place, the humiliations, the reactions of the people, and the cosmic signs at the cross emphasize the immense significance of His sacrifice. Jesus died outside the city walls as the spotless sacrifice to take upon Himself the sin of humanity and reconcile the world with God. His prayer for His tormentors, His promise to the thief, and His triumphant “It is finished!” testify to His divine love and the completion of His redemptive work. Golgotha stands for the unsurpassable love of God and is a call to embrace this love through faith.
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