In The Word
Read: Romans 7:7-25
The Law and Sin
7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Many times we dismiss the Law of God and claim only the grace of God. We profess that we are not under the Law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). While this is true, the Law is still good. Paul defended this by saying that without the Law of God we would not know our need for the grace of God; we would not know that we have sinned in the first place. You do not dismiss a speed limit sign and then tell the officer that stops you that you are not under the law, but are under grace! God forbid! No, you humbly accept the ticket because the sign clearly warned you of the impending consequence.
In the same way, God’s Law warns people of impending consequences. While God offers grace to those who break the Law, it is the Law itself that God uses to reveal our need for grace. Therefore, it is good. Even when we submit to the Law, sin plagues our flesh. Paul himself dealt with this internal war. The things that he did not want to do, he did. And the things that he wanted to do, he did not. But the whole time, it was the Law of God reminding Paul of what was right and wrong. It was also the Law that pointed Paul to his Deliverer, Jesus Christ.
Dearly Beloved, it has always been the Law of God pointing to Jesus Christ. It is still the Law today pointing the natural mind to their need for a Savior and Mediator. Even as spiritual people under grace, it is the Law of God ensuring that we do not take advantage of this grace. Celebrate both the Law and the grace because they both come from God, and He is the Father of all good things.