How did Paul view the Law? How did he view grace? Paul is the most often criticized of all the New Testament writers. Why? Because most have very little biblical understanding of the Old Testament, of which Paul was well versed.
Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET."
How would anyone know what sin is all about if there was no Law by which sin is defined? This can be seen very clearly in almost every part of our daily lives. How do you know speeding is wrong? Well, the laws tells us and the speed limit signs remind us every 500-1000 feet.
7:8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.
Don’t we all know this? Even children know this or at least demonstrate this. As soon as something is prohibited, we want it. Just tell a child not to touch something and watch it yourself.
7:9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 7:10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; Rom 7:11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.
Yes, sin kills. The curse of sin, for which Jesus died to save us from, is a terrible slave master.
7:12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
But, Paul is not blaming the Law, which is a very subtle way of also blaming God. Paul’s terms should not leave any doubt in our minds about what he thought of the Law.
7:13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
Sin is made so very clear when compared to the Law, once we are brought into the light of our salvation.
7:14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
7:16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.
We will continue to suffer this inward tension of wanting to do good, but often letting sin overcome and overwhelm us. We all need to resist these temptations to sin, which we can resist with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We must be like Paul, we need to agree and confess that the Law is good and we need to obey it.
To be continued next Saturday.