23 Sin and the Law

In the second half of chapter 7, Paul continued discussing both the importance of, and the problems with the Law.

Paul had previously spoken of, how the believer has been delivered from the Law, because we have newness of life in the Spirit, which is in opposition to simply living according to the letter of the Law:

Romans 7:6

Next, Paul builds upon that foundation, by showing the unusual relationship between sin and the Law. The reason he felt it was necessary, is because of the concern that some of his audience still might consider the Law itself to be sinful:

1 Sin and the Law

Romans 7:7

Paul emphatically responded to any argument that the Law itself was sinful, by using the same Greek term he had several times previously in the epistle. The words we have translated as “Certainly not” is <mē genoito> which may be translated as “in no way” or “absolutely not”.

Paul had already shown that the Law isn’t sinful but is an irritant or agitator for the already existing sin within the individual.

But, Paul takes it a step further, by stating that the Law is good, and the reason is because it exposes our sin.

To bring clarity to his statement, Paul then spoke of how he wouldn’t have know if certain actions were even sinful, it had not been for the Law. And he was able to say that, as someone who prior to being saved, had been a very zealous Pharisee, which meant he would have been very familiar with the Law.

However, it wasn’t until his salvation, that he was able to correctly understand the purpose of the Law, which is the reason he had previously stated the following:

Romans 7:6

2 Sin the Opportunist

Paul then spoke of sin as seeking the opportunity to develop sinful desires and actions within us:

Romans 7:8

The word translated as “opportunity” is a military term, which refers to a base of operations (headquarters). This speaks of how sin is already within the individual and is seeking an opportunity to assert itself.

3 The Law is Holy

Rather than the Law being sinful, or causing us to sin, Paul concludes that the Law is holy:

Romans 7:9-12

Paul’s statement in verse 9, that once he was alive “without the law” may be interpreted on two levels”

• First, the statement may be understood as referring to the state of mankind in general, between the fall of man, and when the Mosaic Law was received by Moses.

That corresponds with what Paul discussed in chapters one and two, which spoke of God’s unwritten Law, His “Natural Law” which might be seen in Creation itself.

• The second interpretation, was possibly a personal application, thus describing Paul’s personal state before his salvation.

While it’s certainly possible that Paul was referring to his own experiences, one problem with that interpretation, is that from his earliest days, Paul had received the very best religious education, and was training to be a rabbi. He even studied under one of the most noted rabbinic minds – Gamaliel. Therefore, the only time when Paul would not have really known the Law, would have been when he was a young child. However, it still should be said, that since he was unsaved, even with the best rabbinic teaching, He did not have God’s Spirit to provide true understanding of what he was being taught.

Both possible interpretations, still point to the fact that even though physical life is present, an unsaved individual is only living on the basic level. He or she is lacking the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit living within.

In the end of verse 9, Paul referred to the presence of the “commandment” (the Law).

Paul shows how those who are unsaved, are content in that state, and are content to live life on their own terms.

In verses 10 through 12, Paul spoke of that which was assumed to bring life (the Law) only brough death. Yet, Paul found it to be holy, just, and good:

Romans 7:10-12

Paul wasn’t suggesting that the Law had failed because it didn’t bring forth life. But the passage could be best understood to mean that the commandment was “thought to have brought life”.

In verses 10 and 11, the apostle speaks of being “deceived” by sin – “by the commandment” – literally by way of the commandment.

This points to the fact that our hearts are easily deceived, which is why we should never follow our hearts:

Jeremiah 17:9

At the end of verse 11, Paul shows how the unconverted person is spiritually dead.

In verse 12, he spoke of the goodness of the Law:

Romans 7:12

Paul had already shown that the problem isn’t with the Law, but with our sinful hearts.

He then stated that the Law is holy. The holiness is due to it having come from God, with everything associated with Him being holy.

Next, it is described as being “just” or righteous. That speaks of the Law as having been found approved in God’s eyes.

That is another reason why it cannot entice us to sin:

Psalm 119:165

Lastly, Paul spoke of the commandment (Law) as being good, or literally “upright”.

The following Old Testament passage shows the trustworthiness of God’s Word:

Psalm 18:30