In The Word
Read: Romans 7:7-25
7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Far from it! 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.” 8 But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it, killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? Far from it! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by bringing about my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
The Conflict of Serving Two Masters
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, that the Law is good. 17 But now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, 23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh 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.