What subject is Paul dealing with in Romans 7?
Paul deals with the believer's conflict between old Adam and the new divine nature Christ places in us at salvation. He explains that when Adam is crucified, God replaces him with the new nature by a creative work. The chapter also addresses law's dominion over a person until death severs it.
Les explains that Romans 7 is a thrilling chapter where Paul continues dealing with the same issue: how the believer deals with old Adam versus the new divine nature Christ places in us at salvation. Les notes that when Adam is crucified, something had to immediately replace him, or we would be an empty entity. God replaces old Adam with the new nature, a divine nature from God by a creative work. Les then points to verse 1, where Paul says the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives. Les clarifies this is not just the Mosaic law but law as it governs society, like the U.S. Constitution. That law controls us until we die; at death, the government loses all control. Les says that is what Paul is driving at: the only way to sever some things is by death.