SECTION OUTLINE SEVEN (ROMANS 7)
Paul discusses how the law of God applies to and affects three kinds of people.


I. SPIRITUAL PEOPLE AND THE LAW (7:1–6)
A. Their relationship to the law (7:1–3, 5)
1. They are like widows freed from their husbands (7:1–3).
2. They are like dead men freed from their lusts (7:5) .
B. Their relationship to the Savior (7:4, 6)
1. They have been raised by Christ (7:4a, 6): They are released from the law.
2. They are now to produce fruit through Christ (7:4b): Thus spiritual people are delivered from the law.


II. NATURAL PEOPLE AND THE LAW (7:7–13): The law is used in a twofold manner.
A. The illustration usage (7:7, 10): God used the law to reveal the sinfulness of the flesh.
B. The condemnation usage (7:8–9, 11–13): Sin used the law to rekindle the sinfulness of the flesh. Thus natural people are doomed by the law.


III. CARNAL PEOPLE AND THE LAW (7:14–26)
A. Paul has learned that any attempt to keep the law leads to carnality (7:14–23).
1. The confusion (7:14–16): Paul’s frustration is twofold.
a. He doesn’t do the things he wants to do (7:14–15a, 16a).
b. He does the things he doesn’t want to do (7:15b, 16b).
2. The corruption (7:17–20): He realizes the total corruption of his old sinful nature.
3. The conclusion (7:21–23): He understands the daily struggle within him.
a. The old nature, always attempting to do wrong (7:21a, 23)
b. The new nature, always attempting to do right (7:21b–22)
B. Paul has learned that no attempt to keep the law can lead to spirituality (7:24–25).
1. The agony of Paul’s problem (7:24) : “What a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?”
2. The answer to Paul’s problem (7:25) : “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”


SECTION OUTLINE EIGHT (ROMANS 8)
Paul outlines seven new assurances accompanying salvation.


I. THE BELIEVER HAS A NEW POSITION (8:1–8).
A. Our position in regard to the Son of God (8:1–3): The believer is in Christ.
1. The miracle involved (8:1, 3a): Believers receive no condemnation and are freed from sin and death.
2. The means involved (8:2, 3b): This was accomplished not through the law of Moses but by the death of Christ.
B. Our position in regard to the law of God (8:4–8): We are now able to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law in and through Christ.


II. THE BELIEVER HAS A NEW GUEST (8:9–14).
A. Who he is (8:9) : He is the blessed Holy Spirit himself.
B. What he does (8:10–14)
1. He once strengthened Christ and raised him from the dead (8:11) .
2. He now lives within us and controls us (8:9) .
3. He now strengthens us and will someday raise us from the dead (8:10, 12–14).


III. THE BELIEVER HAS A NEW ADOPTION (8:15–17): We are now members of God’s family.
A. Giving us an intimacy with the Father (8:15–16)
B. Giving us an inheritance from the Father (8:17)


IV. THE BELIEVER HAS A NEW HOPE (8:18–25): The nature of this hope is the full and final redemption of all things, including:
A. Christians (8:18, 23–25)
1. The present grief (8:18a, 23): Believers groan to be released from pain and suffering.
2. The future glory (8:18b, 24–25)
a. The comparison (8:18b): Today’s grief is nothing when compared with tomorrow’s glory.
b. The command (8:24–25): Until then, however, we are to wait patiently and confidently.
B. Creation (8:19–22)
1. Nature, the victim (8:20, 21b–22): The natural world of plants and animals groans in pain because of the fall.
2. Nature, the victor (8:19, 21a): Nature, too, will be liberated from decay and death to freedom and fruitfulness.


V. THE BELIEVER HAS A NEW PRAYER HELPER (8:26–27).
A. The identity of this helper (8:26a): He is the Holy Spirit.
B. The indispensability of this helper (8:26b): His prayers are vital, because we don’t even know what we should pray for.
C. The intensity of this helper (8:26c–27)
1. How he prays (8:26c): He prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
2. What he prays (8:27) : He pleads for us in harmony with God’s own will.


VI. THE BELIEVER HAS A NEW CONFIDENCE (8:28) .
A. What it involves (8:28a): God causes everything to work together for good.
B. Whom it involves (8:28b): Those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.


VII. THE BELIEVER HAS A NEW DESTINY (8:29–39).
A. The summary (8:29) : The Father himself has decreed that all believers should become like his dear Son!
B. The steps (8:30)
1. We were foreknown by the Father (8:30a).
2. We were predestined by the Father (8:30b).
3. We were called by the Father (8:30c).
4. We were justified by the Father (8:30d).
5. We were glorified by the Father (8:30e).
C. The security (8:31–39)
1. There exists no possible accusation against believers (8:31–34).
a. The Father will not allow this (8:31–33).
(1) He once gave us his Son (8:31–32a).
(2) He now gives us all things (8:32b–33).
b. The Son will not allow this (8:34) .
(1) He died for us (8:34a).
(2) He was resurrected for us (8:34b).
(3) He now prays for us (8:34c).
2. There exists no possible separation from the Savior (8:35–39): This includes:
a. Both life and death (8:35–38a)
b. Both angels and demons (8:38b)
c. Both present and future (8:38c)
d. Both height and depth (8:39)


Willmington, H. L. (1999). The Outline Bible (Ro 7–8:39). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.