Good morning,
Romans 7 teaches about the law. Specifically, the law no longer has dominion over the believer in Christ; the law was instrumental in bringing us to Christ, and the current battle between the law and grace.
Why was the Law important in bringing Paul to salvation? Does God denounce the Law? What was the purpose of the Law?
The use and excellence of the law (7:7-13)
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
“Each child, before coming to know God’s Law and God’s commands, is kept safe until he does wrong and knows wrong. First Corinthians 15:22 indicates all the sin one inherits from Adam is cared for by the death of Christ, but known and recognized sin is forgiven only as one comes to trust in Christ. A person who perfectly kept all the commandments of God would have earned salvation (cf. 10:5, Lev. 18:5); but since all are fallen, tainted, and depraved, no one has ever been able to keep the commandments (cf. Acts 15:10)” (v7, 9) (The Rice Study Bible, 1981, Dr. John R. Rice, D.D., Litt. D., S.T.D., pg. 1217)
Paul would not have known what sin is without the Law. So the Law pointed out Paul’s sin. It is the same today. No one can keep the Law. Only Jesus was able to do that. When we see our sin and the Holy Spirit convicts of our sin, then we must decide whether to forsake our sin or continue to disobey God.
As we have stated before, the consequences are life or death.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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