Our main reason for studying this Book is to better know our God. But, in the process of learning of Him who gave all that we might live, we also have a great multitude of lessons to learn. Here is an important lesson for us in our day:
Hatred of the Romans, and national and spiritual pride, led the Jews still to adhere rigorously to their forms of worship. The priests tried to maintain a reputation for sanctity by scrupulous attention to the ceremonies of religion. The people, in their darkness and oppression, and the rulers, thirsting for power, longed for the coming of One who would vanquish their enemies and restore the kingdom to Israel. They had studied the prophecies, but without spiritual insight. Thus they overlooked those scriptures that point to the humiliation of Christ's first advent, and misapplied those that speak of the glory of His second coming. Pride obscured their vision. They interpreted prophecy in accordance with their selfish desires
What does it mean to study without spiritual insight? It means to study without being filled with the Holy Spirit. He is the teacher. If one does not seek His wisdom and presence then we will end up as did the Jews who perverted the gospel of grace to fit their desires. So very many believe Romans 7 is Paul telling us about his conversion. No, it is about his trying to obey the commandments before he was converted. Many want Romans 7 to be Paul's conversion so they can be converted when doing what Paul was doing before his conversion. He did that which he did not want to do and he did not do what he ought to do. In other words so very many believe he was converted while sinning known sins. No, he was not converted when captive to the law of sin. Read Rom. 8 and you will see Paul after conversion when he was set free from the law of sin and death.
