The Greek word for “sin” is HAMARTIA, which is an archery term for when you miss the target. Like Romans 6, the word “sin” is used many times in Romans 7. “Sin” (HAMARTIA) is used 13 times in Romans 7. Each time, the word is used to make a different point. Your assignment is to use Coffman Commentary and The Gospel Advocate Series Commentary on Romans to learn how the word “sin” is used in each verse. This will help you understand Romans 7. Email me at neurospiritual@gmail.com if you need help obtaining these books.

Romans 7

1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin wasdead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin , was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.22 For I delight in the law of God according to 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 sinwhich is in my members.24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of 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.
Like the word “sin” (HAMARTIA), the same Greek word for “law” (NOMOS) is used many times in Romans. Strong’s Concordance defines “law” (NOMOS) as 1. To parcel out, 2. Regulation (of Moses and of the Gospel), and 3. A principle. Understanding the different ways NOMOS is used in Romans 7 will help you understand this chapter. Therefore, your assignment is to use Coffman Commentary and The Gospel Advocate Series Commentary on Romans to learn how the word “law” is used in each verse. Email me at neurospiritual@gmail.com if you need help obtaining these books.

Romans 7

1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as helives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.22 For I delight in the law of God according to 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 will deliver me from this body of 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.
Seven phrases in Romans 7 figuratively refer to the brain by implication. These phrases have been highlighted in green. Your assignment is to use Coffman Commentary and The Gospel Advocate Series Commentary on Romans to learn what these 7 phrases mean. Email me at neurospiritual@gmail.com if you need help obtaining these books.

Romans 7

1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin wasdead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin , was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.22 For I delight in the law of God according to 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 sinwhich is in my members.24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of 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.

Romans 7

1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin wasdead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin , was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.22 For I delight in the law of God according to 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 sinwhich is in my members.24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of 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.

Romans 7

1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin wasdead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin , was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.22 For I delight in the law of God according to 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 sinwhich is in my members.24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of 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.

Romans 7 Test and Answers

1. Write All the different ways (contexts) the word “Law” is used in Romans chapter 7: Law of marriage (7:2), law of Moses (7:4), Law of sin (7:23), law of God according to the inward man 7:22) 2. Write 3 different ways the word “Sin” is described throughout Romans chapter 7: Incites passions in mind (7:8), revives sin in heart (7:9), deceives (7:11), law of sin (7:23). 3. Explain the positive affect of practicing mindfulness with the different ways the word “sin” is used and described in Romans 7: When we are mindful (thinking about) the influence of sin, we are on guard and ready to resist and fight sin. 4. Write 4 times the brain is referred to in Romans 7: In our members (7:5), wrought in me (7:8), sin dwells in the heart (7:17), the inward man (7:22). 5. Explain the positive affect of visualizing the passages that refer to the brain in Romans 7: It is good for us to daily acknowledge both Satan’s and God’s influence in our hearts. 6. Write 1 time Jesus’ sacrifice is implied in Romans 7: Who shall deliver me…thank Jesus (7:24,25). 7. Explain the positive affect of practicing mindfulness with the passages that describe Jesus’ sacrifice: It is important for us to be continually mindful of Jesus’ love for us. Jesus’ sacrifice proves this love! This love keeps us moving ahead spiritually. 8. Write the 1 time God’s condition for spiritual blessings is implied in Romans 7: To hit bottom and ask for help (7:24) 9. Explain the positive affect of practicing mindfulness with the passages that describe God’s conditions for our receiving spiritual blessings from Him: Being mindful about God’s conditions for our blessings will act as a deterrent and give us an incentive to continue in the faith. 10. Write 3 times the spiritual struggle in our hearts and minds are referred to in Romans 7: Spiritual vs carnal (7:14), good vs evil (7:19), warring against the law of my mind (7:23). 11. Explain the positive affect of practicing mindfulness with the passages that describe the spiritual struggle in our hearts and minds: It is good for us to know and remember that all minds are in this struggle between flesh and spiritual. 12. Explain Romans 7:22 Refers to God designing the human brain, heart and mind. God also prescribes how we should protect and maintain our minds. Sin is unhealthy for our minds. 13. Explain Romans 7:23 and it’s importance: There are opposing influences in our minds “warring” against one another: God the Holy Spirit and God’s Word versus Satan, the things of the world and sin.