Day 8
Today’s reading: Romans 7:1-25
No Longer Bound
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No Longer Bound 〰️
Reflections
Imagine this: you’ve recently moved to a new house, but it’s still in the same general area. The next day, after work, you’re driving home as usual, music blasting, not paying much attention. Halfway through the drive, you realize you’re heading toward your old house out of sheer habit. Even though you’re no longer tied to the lease of that house, your autopilot tendencies still take you there. This is a perfect picture of how sin operates in our lives. Before Christ, we were slaves to sin—it was all we knew, and the habits we developed became second nature. Now, even though we’ve been set free and are no longer bound to sin, those old patterns can still resurface out of habit.
The key is to consciously redirect yourself, but not by your own strength. With the help of the Holy Spirit, you can break free from old habits and align your life with the freedom you now have in Christ. Just as it took time to form those old habits, it will take time to develop new ones. It requires deliberate effort and consistency. So, don’t be discouraged if you stumble or regress along the way. Progress isn’t always linear, but with the Spirit’s help, you’ll find yourself walking more fully in the freedom Christ has given you.
Study Questions
What does it mean to be “dead to sin,” and how does this concept transform the way we live as believers?
If we are now under grace, why can’t we simply disregard the law? What purpose does the law still serve in the life of a believer?
In Romans 7:13-25, is Paul describing the struggles of a non-Christian under the law or a Christian wrestling with sin? What evidence supports your interpretation?
What did you learn about God’s nature, His ways and His will from today’s reading?
Highlight
“ So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.” Romans 7:4 NIV
