What the Law Teaches: We are sinful, condemned, and doomed!
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I want to try an experiment this morning. I am going to give you a rule that you all must obey for 10 seconds. Here is the rule: starting right now do not look behind you. Do not look at the person sitting behind you. Do not look at the nursery window. Do not look at the book table or the welcome board. Do not look at all. Ready? 1-10.
What was the only thing going on in your mind during those 10 seconds? How many of you wanted to do nothing but turn around and look behind you? How many of you did? Why? Why is it that the second we are told not to do something that becomes the exact thing we want to do?
Kids don’t go outside and jump in the mud puddles! What happens? They want to do the exact opposite of what we tell them! What is inside of each of us that produces such a lawless attitude?
The Bible calls it our sin nature.
Lawlessness is the essence of our sin nature.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
This is at the heart of the reason for why our own good works cannot save us. Because we are all corrupted with a sinful nature.
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
The Bible teaches that everyone is born with a sinful nature because everyone is directly connected to Adam. From Adam death and sin have spread to everyone, and we can scientifically verify this because everyone sins.
This is why we need to be saved. This is why we need Christ. Through Christ we are freed from the penalty of sin, and we are also freed from the power of sin over us. This is something only the power of our salvation can accomplish. This is something only being united to Christ can produce in our lives. Freedom from sin.
The law was never able to accomplish this! In fact the law did the exact opposite!
5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
The law was unable to accomplish what Christ accomplished for us- real freedom from sin. The only thing the law did was to arouse sinful passions with caused us to bear fruit unto death. In fact, when we were untied to Christ and to his death, one of the benefits we received was that we were released from the law. By sharing in Christ’s death we also died to the law that held us captive. And we are freed to serve under a new way, the way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
This then begs the question- is the law any good? And it is this argument that Paul picks up in v. 7 of Romans 7.
Romans 7:7 (ESV)
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means!
Paul wanted the Roman Christians to understand that the law of God was a good and necessary part of leading people to salvation.
A proper understanding of God’s righteous requirements is a good and necessary part of accepting the gift of salvation.
In what way is the law good and necessary?
I think Paul shows us three ways that the law is good and necessary.
I. The law shows sin to be sin (7:7)
I. The law shows sin to be sin (7:7)
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
Although the law is not itself sin, the law and sin do have a definite relationship.
Here Paul tells us the law bring knowledge of sin.
What kind of knowing is Paul talking about?
1. The law defines sin
1. The law defines sin
Through the law the revelation of the righteous standard of God was proclaimed.
Righteous requirement of God was contained in the Mosaic law for the Jewish dispensation. Today the righteous requirement of God is contained in the teachings of Jesus Christ for the church.
The law however, enabled someone to know that certain acts are sinful: Example the inner desire to possess things is now revealed as nothing but coveting that is prohibited by God.
This is true but even Gentiles without the law are able to understand this knowledge to a degree.
32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
2. The law enables one to recognize the real nature and power of sin
2. The law enables one to recognize the real nature and power of sin
The law brands sin, not just as a rule or requirement of God, it brands sins as a transgression against God.
Romans 4:15 (ESV)
15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
The law as instructs us that sin brings with it wrath, and as we will see in a moment, death.
Romans 4:15 (ESV)
15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
The law unmasks sins true colors.
3. Through the law we experience sin for what it really is
3. Through the law we experience sin for what it really is
It is through this actual experience of sin that we come to understand the real sinfulness of sin.
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
In what way is the law good and necessary?
II. The law reveals the total depravity of our sinful nature (7:8)
II. The law reveals the total depravity of our sinful nature (7:8)
8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
The law is not sin, nor the originator of sin, but the occasion or operation base that sin has used to accomplish it evil and deadly purpose.
How is it that the law can give sin the occasion to produce in us all kinds of evil desires?
Why is able to utilize the law to such devastating degrees within people?
What is the old adage about forbidden fruit? Forbidden fruit is the sweetest fruit. Why is that?
People, told not to do something, immediately conclude that there must be something “fun” about it and are motivated all the more to do it.
Don’t look behind you! Kids don’t jump in the mud puddle.
The marriage bed is pure and undefiled.
Why are we often times motivated to do the opposite thing that God’s commands us? Because of our totally depraved fallen sin nature that permeates our entire being.
God tells me not to covet, and all of a sudden I have all kinds of covetous desires rising up in my heart. Why is that? Because of my corrupted sin nature.
Then Paul states that apart from the law, sin lies dead. Doesn’t mean that the sin did not exist, but that before the commandment it was not as active or powerful as it is now. That is the total depravity of our sin nature.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
In what way is the law good and necessary?
III. The law brings clarity to consequences of sin (7:9-13)
III. The law brings clarity to consequences of sin (7:9-13)
9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.
What does, “I was once alive apart from the law” mean? Cannot mean eternal life. Probably has the idea of relative theological sense. Compared to the serious of my situation after the law, I was living before it. But, when the commandment came, my lawless depraved nature reared its ugly head, sin came alive and I died.
10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.
In what way did the law promise life?
6 He will render to each one according to his works:
7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Romans 7:10 (ESV)
10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.
11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.
Sin is deceptive! Most people in life think, “I’m pretty good, God will accept me.” Why do they say that? Because they have never measured themselves against the righteous requirement of God Himself!
But that is not the purpose of the law!
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
That’s the bad news! You cannot be saved by attempting to keep the law. The law does three things:
It shows sin to be sin
It reveals the total depravity of our sinful nature
It brings clarity to the consequences of sin
Here’s the good news.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
Augustine: “God commands what we cannot do that we may know what we ought to seek from him.”
Calvin: “In the precepts of the law, God is but the rewarder of perfect righteousness, which all of us lack, and conversely, the sever judge of evil deeds. But in Christ his face shines, full of grace and gentleness, even upon us poor and unworthy sinners.”
Unbelievers: Realize your total inability to save yourself by attempting to be good enough. Recognize your utter sinfulness and turn wholly to Christ to save you from your sins.
Believers: Let this text be a reminder to you. As Christians we must never return to the law as our source of spiritual health and growth.
The law reveals our inability in order to point us to the only One who is able. Jesus!