Tuesday: The Law is Holy
Read Romans 7:12. How do we understand this text in the context of what Paul has been discussing?
Because the Jews revered the law, Paul exalts it in every way possible. The law is good for what it does, but it can’t do what it was never meant to do, to save us from sin.
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For that we need Jesus, because the law – whether the entire Jewish system or the moral law in particular – cannot bring salvation. Only Jesus and His righteousness, which comes to us by faith, can.
Whom does Paul blame for his condition of “death,” and what does he exonerate? Why is that distinction important? Rom. 7:13.
In Romans 7:13, Paul is presenting the “law” in the best sense possible. He chooses to blame sin, not the law, for his terrible sinful condition; that is, his working “all manner of concupiscence [lust]” (Rom. 7:8). The law is good, for it is God’s standard of conduct, but as a sinner Paul stands condemned before it.
Why was sin so successful in showing up Paul to be a terrible sinner? Rom. 7:14-15.
Carnal means fleshy. Thus, Paul needed Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ could take away the condemnation (Rom. 8:1). Only Jesus Christ could free him from slavery to sin.
Paul describes himself as “sold under sin.” He is a slave to sin. He has no freedom. He can’t do what he wants to do. He tries to do what the good law tells him to do, but sin won’t let him.
By this illustration, Paul was trying to show the Jews their need of the Messiah. He had pointed out already that victory is possible only under grace (Rom 6:14). This same thought is reemphasized in Romans 7. Living under the “law” means enslavement to sin, a merciless master.
| What has been your own experience with how sin enslaves? Have you ever tried to play with sin, thinking you could control it as you wished, only to find yourself under a vicious and merciless taskmaster? Welcome to reality! Why, then, must you surrender to Jesus, and die to self daily? |
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Do we have any other choice? ALL we have is the present! A present which is a gift. Thus, an opportunity to live a new life every day. Add the fact that we are not able to control anything, but our own choices, it is wise to choose Jesus!
Sin is sneaky! Without the law I would be in sin and not see it! Its deceptive powers are more than this human can see thru! You see I tend towards being so good that I would lie, cheat or steal to be sure you know that! Praise God I am now under grace and His power is made perfect in my weakness! Grace obeys the law and I hang on to it!
"Grace obeys the law and I hang on to it!"
Could you explain what you mean by that sentence?
Hang on to the grace as in Jesus! As opposed to obeying the law thru my ability, I live by the power of grace obeying law because it is written in my heart that = grace!
We really need to understand what Paul is saying here. It is such an important point that he spends 3 to 4 chapters on it.
The leaders in Israel wanted to focus on their ability to be righteous by keeping the commandments. Paul is clearly saying here that this is a wrong focus. Keeping the commandments should not be a forethought but instead, an afterthought that happens because of something else.
Romans 7:12
There is a distinct separation between the law and the commandments.
NOTE: This does not mean that the commandments are null and void or lose power in any way for such is certainly not the case.
However, the law that Paul is speaking of is presented in Romans 3:27 (law of faith) which sets us free from Romans 8:2 (law of sin and death). Interestingly enough - we are all law keepers and in that way could be defined as legalists. The question isn't if you are or are not going to keep the law but rather which law are you going to keep?
The law of sin or the law of faith.
I'm not sure how you get the "distinct separation between the law and the commandments." The original words translated this way appear to be used as synonymns, both in the Old and New Testaments.
Just as Christ referred to the law of God, saying that it would not pass away, so He referred to "the commandment" in such texts as these: Matt 5:19, Matt 15:6, Matt 19:17, Matt 22:38, Matt 22:40, Mar 10:19, to name only a few.
There is no other way to be saved from our sin and carnal ways but to yield to Jesus Christ our Savior. He shed His blood to save us and we can be free if we believe and surrender ourselves to Christ just as Paul did. The Law does not save it only condemns.
Since we are all born spiritually bent, it isn’t difficult to see why “there is no one righteous, not even one,” and why “there is no one who does good, not even one” [Romans 3:10, 12]. Our sinful condition (iniquity) makes it impossible for us to do anything but miss the divine mark (sin) unless we have a Savior. That is why the gospel is our only hope of salvation..