12 - Chapter 10 The Biblical Case: Romans

If Galatians is the benchmark of Paul’s teaching on the law, then Romans 6, 7 and 8 1 is
where the apostle sets out his clearest and most extended biblical exposition of the
believer’s relationship to it. 2 The apostle’s extended argument in this passage grew out
of his amazing declaration in Romans 5:20, to which I have already referred. Having
made such a momentous statement, Paul had to write the next two chapters, and more,
to deal with certain objections to what he had said. All chapter (and verse) divisions, it
is important to remember, are man-made impositions on Scripture. We are looking at
one continuous discourse. In pursuing this argument on the believer and the law, and in
order to clarify and drive home his doctrine, Paul first sets out the fundamentals (Rom.
6:1-11), then uses two illustrations – slavery (Rom. 6:12-23) 3 and marriage (Rom. 7:1-
6) – following up with plain and categorical statements (Rom. 8). Before looking at
this, a reminder of the astonishing declaration which started it all: Romans 5:20.