What does Paul accomplish in the first seven chapters of Romans?

In Romans chapters 1 through 7, Paul lays the groundwork showing how humanity ended up in sin and under condemnation, and how Christ died so believers might be justified and forgiven. Chapter 7 presents the dilemma of overcoming the old Adam and defeat, setting up the answer found in Romans 8: the Holy Spirit.

Les explains that in those first seven chapters Paul lays all the groundwork of how we ended up in sin and under condemnation, and how Christ died that we might be justified from all that and forgiven. Then through chapter 7 Paul comes to the dilemma of how to overcome the old Adam and how to keep it in defeat. Les says the answer is Romans chapter 8, the Holy Spirit, that indwelling Spirit now becomes our Law.

Romans 1-7

What groundwork does Paul lay in Romans 1–7 about sin, condemnation, and Christ’s death?

Paul lays the groundwork of how we ended up in sin and under condemnation, and how Christ died that we might be justified and forgiven. He then presents chapter 7’s dilemma of overcoming the old Adam, with Romans 8’s indwelling Holy Spirit as the answer.