Sin and the Law

Key Take Away:

While the Law is good and from God, it gives birth to more sin because of our rebellion.

Introduction:

A brief summery of everything we have covered in Romans to this point:

Chapter 1 of Romans:

God has righteous wrath on the ungodly.

Chapter 2 of Romans:

The law cannot save anyone for it only serves to condemn people.

Chapter 3 of Romans:

God alone is righteous meaning there is no one righteous apart from God but is attained throughout the work of Jesus in those who have placed their trust in Christ.

Chapter 4 of Romans:

Grace is obtained only through saving faith in Jesus Christ; we cannot earn salvation through our own actions.

Chapter 5 verses 1-11 of Romans:

Saving faith causes us to rejoice in the things of God because we are now at peace with God.

Chapter 5 verses 12-21 of Romans:

Through Adam we suffer death but through Christ, we celebrate eternal life.

Chapter 6 of Romans

God has bought us out of our slavery to sin so that we can be faithful servants of His.

Chapter 7 verses 1-6

God has set us free from the law to live freely in Him.

1. The Law Reveals Our Need for Salvation. ()

Romans 7:7–13 CSB

7 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet. 8 And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again 10 and I died. The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me. 11 For sin, seizing 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 just and good. 13 Therefore, did what is good become death to me? Absolutely not! On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure.

7 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet. 8 And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again 10 and I died. The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me. 11 For sin, seizing 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 just and good. 13 Therefore, did what is good become death to me? Absolutely not! On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure. [1]

Exposition v 7:

Romans 7:7 CSB

7 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.

Key truth: The law is not sinful instead it shines light on sin.

Key truth: The law is not sinful instead it shines light on sin.

Exposition v 8:

Romans 7:8 CSB

8 And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), .

“Seizing an opportunity...produced in me coveting of every kind.”

The Epistle to the Romans a. The Coming of the Law (7:7–12)

The law is not “sin,” nor the originator of sin, but the occasion or operating base that sin has used to accomplish its evil and deadly purpose.

Another example:

The New American Commentary: Romans 2. No Longer Condemned by Law (7:1–25)

From a human perspective law is mistakenly viewed as a restriction that in turn causes resentment and gives rise to rebellion.

“apart from the law sin is dead.”

The Epistle to the Romans a. The Coming of the Law (7:7–12)

That sin was “dead” does not mean that it did not exist but that it was not as “active” or “powerful” before the law as after.

Another example

The New American Commentary: Romans 2. No Longer Condemned by Law (7:1–25)

Apart from law sin is dead in the sense that undefined, it technically does not exist (cf. 4:15). No matter how swift and straight the arrow, without a target there can be no bull’s-eye.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

15 because the law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

Check out the account from and :

Genesis 2:16–17 CSB

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

Genesis 3:1–7 CSB

1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Without God’s command to not eat from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they could not have disobeyed God. Likewise, the law shows us where we are sinning against God. If we do not know the law of God, then when we break it we still sin but we are not aware of the transgression. It is why the Law is good. It shows our need for Jesus!

Exposition v 9

Romans 7:9 CSB

9 Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again

The Epistle to the Romans XI. Transitional Experience (7:7–13)

When the apostle says, “I was alive apart from the law”, the word “alive” cannot be used here in the sense of life eternal or life unto God. He is speaking of the unperturbed, self-complacent, self-righteous life which he once lived before the turbulent motions and conviction of sin, described in the two preceding verses, overtook him

The Epistle to the Romans XI. Transitional Experience (7:7–13)

cannot be used here in the sense of life eternal or life unto God. He is speaking of the unperturbed, self-complacent, self-righteous life which he once lived before the turbulent motions and conviction of sin, described in the two preceding verses, overtook him.

The Epistle to the Romans a. The Coming of the Law (7:7–12)

a living without an awareness of the seriousness of sin and its consequences.

It would be best understood that alive equals unmoved by sin because of being unaware of the issue of sin. While the commandment, the law, brings to light the dire situation of our sin meaning we realize we are truly without hope apart from the work of Christ.

Exposition v 10

Romans 7:10 CSB

10 and I died. The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me.

The Epistle to the Romans XI. Transitional Experience (7:7–13)

The purpose of law in man’s original estate was not to give occasion to sin but to direct and regulate man’s life in the path of righteousness and, therefore, to guard and promote life.

The Epistle to the Romans a. The Coming of the Law (7:7–12)

Accordingly, “I died” will describe that situation according to which the law, by turning “sin” into “transgression,” confirms, personalizes, and radicalizes the spiritual death in which all find themselves since Adam. Israel, in this sense, “died” when the law was given to it.

Exposition v 11

Romans 7:11 CSB

11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.

The Epistle to the Romans a. The Coming of the Law (7:7–12)

Probably Paul thinks of the way that the “promise of life” held out by the law “deceived” Israel into thinking that it could attain life through it.

The Epistle to the Romans a. The Coming of the Law (7:7–12)

But the attempts of Israel to find life through the law brought only death—not because obeying the law itself is sinful, or worthy of death, but because the law could not be fulfilled.

Exposition vv 12-13

Romans 7:12 CSB

12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.

Absolutely nothing in the law given by God is bad or evil. It is holy (to being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God)

to being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God

God uses the law which he gave, so that we might see our need for a savior resulting in salvation through Christ Jesus.

Look at v 13 with me:

Romans 7:13 CSB

13 Therefore, did what is good become death to me? Absolutely not! On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure.

The key to understanding this whole reality is to grasp the reality that God’s commands are there to show us our desperate need for the work of Jesus Christ. It demonstrates to us that we are incapable of earning on our merit salvation. Instead, we are dependent upon Jesus to make payment for our sins.

The Epistle to the Romans b. Life under the Law (7:13–25)

Sin is always bad; but it becomes worse—even more “sinful”—when it involves deliberate violation of God’s good will for his people. The law, by making sin even worse than before, reveals sin in its true colors.

Application:

Through reading and understanding the Law of God we realize our desperate need for Jesus to redeem us for we are in great debt to God for we have sinned greatly against him. We must understand that Paul was not joking when he said.

Romans 3:10 CSB

10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.

Therefore, we are to repent and turn to Jesus for salvation.

Not only do we see that the Law reveals our need for salvation

2. The flesh rejects our desire to live according to the law. ()

Romans 7:14–25 CSB

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave to sin. 15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. 19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me. 21 So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me. 22 For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, 23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.

The Epistle to the Romans b. Life under the Law (7:13–25)

Paul’s essential teaching about the inability of the Mosaic law to rescue sinful people from spiritual bondage is the same whether that bondage is the condition of the unregenerate person—who cannot be saved through the law—or that of the regenerate person—who cannot be sanctified and ultimately delivered from the influence of sin through the law.

We see an interesting comparison, really a contrast of thoughts between when Paul writes to the Philippians and in our passage tonight. Look at it with me in :

Philippians 3:1–6 CSB

1 In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh— 4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

3 In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you.

2 Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.

Paul says in Philippians according to the flesh:

Reason for confidence in the flesh

Circumcised on the eight day (the best time to do so)

Belongs to the nation of Israel

Tribe of Benjamin

Hebrew from Hebrews

Kept the La

a Pharisee

zealous in persecuting the church

Righteous in the law

Blameless

All of which leads to death. note that he said: that we

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

do not put confidence in the flesh

As a result, Christ is where all our confidence lies.

Now what do we see in , Paul states concerning us in our flesh apart from Christ,

sold as a slave to sin

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

sold as a slave to sin

Do not practice what I want to do

I do what I hate

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.

I do what I hate

Sin lives in me

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

it is sin living in me.

Nothing good lives in me

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh.

No ability to do good

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.

a practicer of evil

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

I practice the evil that I do not want to do

Love the law but unable to keep it

Prisoner to the law of sin

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

I delight in God’s law, 23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body,,ah waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.

Need someone to rescue me

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Flesh serve the master of sin

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.

Same guy has a totally different tone in his wrestling with who he was before Christ. Paul tells them in Philippians if anyone was blameless according to the law I was, here, Paul tells them that even that blameless guy who kept the law fell dramatically short of God’s standard and needed a savior.