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Free from the Law • Nov 11th 1987

Romans – The Play Part 3 – Free From the Law: Romans 7, Grace, and the End of Christian Legalism

New Testament Paul the Apostle The Epistles

Romans 7 contains one of the most important and misunderstood passages in the New Testament. In this message, Gene Edwards explores the believer’s relationship to the law, the struggle described by the Apostle Paul, and the freedom found in Jesus Christ.

Many Christians know the frustration Paul describes: “What I want to do, I do not do, and what I hate, I do.” Why do sincere believers struggle to live up to spiritual standards? Why does the Christian life often feel like an impossible burden? And how does Romans 8 answer the despair of Romans 7?

Through vivid illustrations and practical insight, Gene explains that the problem is not God’s law, nor is it the Christian standard itself. The problem is the weakness of human effort. Romans 7 reveals the futility of trying to please God through self-effort, while Romans 8 reveals the freedom of living by the life of Christ.

This teaching challenges legalism, religious performance, and the constant pressure many believers feel to become better Christians through willpower. Instead, it points to the believer’s union with Christ and the reality that the Christian life is ultimately lived by His life, not ours.

If you have ever struggled with guilt, condemnation, spiritual failure, or the feeling that you can never measure up, this message offers hope and freedom. Romans 7 exposes the problem; Romans 8 reveals the solution.

Key themes include:

  • Romans 7 explained
  • Freedom from the law
  • Grace versus legalism
  • The struggle of the Christian life
  • No condemnation in Christ
  • Union with Christ
  • Living by the Spirit
  • The life of Jesus expressed through believers

This message is part of the Romans teaching series and provides a deeper understanding of grace, spiritual freedom, and the believer’s relationship with Jesus Christ.

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5 o’clock comes, and the alarm goes off. You’re now newly married to Jesus Christ. And what is going to happen? One of two things.

I will tell you what happens: the Lord gets out of bed, and He goes in, and He cooks the breakfast. About 6:25, He comes in and picks you up, Camille, and carries you into this lavishly set breakfast, which He has cooked. He puts you there, and He says, “Dear wife, here is your breakfast. Come and dine.” And that evening, He comes in and He fixes the dinner. And He washes the windows. He does the lawn.

“Gene, that’s extreme. That leaves me with nothing to do.” Well, praise the Lord. I need a long vacation. You see, it is very difficult for you and me to understand that there are realms that are not physical and that there are life forms that exist that we cannot see. There are other forms of life. We have two visitors – I know they’re going to think I’m a science fiction quack – but I want you to know there are life forms that exist that you have never seen. Higher forms of life than you are. Angels, for instance. And God, for instance. I do not like to say what is usually said at this point: “The Holy Spirit then comes into your life and enables you to live the Christian life.” Rain all over that.

To me, that is just law over again. That the Holy Spirit comes in and enables. I didn’t feel the Holy Spirit come in and enable me to live the Christian life. “But Gene, then you didn’t get baptized in the Holy Ghost, did you?” Listen, friend, I have had every experience there is, and the Holy Spirit has not yet enabled me to live the Christian life.

I’ll repeat this: I don’t enjoy living the Christian standard. I like to sleep late. And it comes down to this:

Either He’s going to do it, or it’s not going to get done.

And if it is done in me by Him, it’s going to have to be done as joy, or pleasantness, or at worst, neutral. I am not going back under anybody’s law.

I am not going to live the Christian life.
Yeah, clap, do something.
I am not going to live the Christian life.

I was sitting in my backyard, and I said to the Lord: “I am through serving you, and I am through living the Christian life. If anything ever gets done again, you will do it. I will not.” And I believe I have never broken that covenant. Since that day, I have done what has been comfortable to me as far as living the Christian life. I let go of living the Christian life.
And I recommend that you give up the bondage and law that is chasing you right now and find your liberty in Christ and Christ alone.

Praise the Lord. You have married another—the Lord Jesus Christ—and nothing else, and nobody else. If this is a radical gospel, you need to hear a radical gospel, because if you are like virtually all Christians, you have placed yourself under some sort of legalistic Christian law.

Sister, you really don’t want to submit. Why don’t you admit that? I’m not going to list all the other things, but I’m going to tell you something. I want you, if you got your Bible, we’re going to close with this, I want you to listen to it.

Ready? I hope this helps. I am in verse 7:

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