The Law and Sin (7:7–25)

A. THE LAW IS HOLY AND JUST AND GOOD (7-12)

1. The Law is not sin, but rather makes known sin (7)

Left to ourselves, we would never see ourselves as sinners

The law shows that the things we do are an offense to God.

2. But sin takes occasion by the commandment to lead one to death (8-12)

The law provokes Sin: the law arouses dormant rebellion from it’s slumber

The law brings us to the end of ourselves: what we thought was good in us, the law proved otherwise.

B. THE LAW CANNOT SAVE ONE FROM SIN (13-25)

Four Major Interpretations of this passage…

An Unsaved Man

Inconsistent with Paul’s testimony (see Philippians 3)

Inconsistent with Paul’s teaching (unbelievers do not delight in God’s Law)

Purposeful contrast of verb tenses (Present vs. Aorist)

A “Carnal Christian”

Two stage Christians (Savior vs. Lord)

A Person Under Conviction

Person “awakened” but not “revived” (Paul’s past: tense problem)

A Mature Christian (Realistic Christianity: struggle with sin)

It accounts for Paul’s shift to the present tense while his theme in vv. 7–25 (God’s holy law stimulating and exposing sin) continues

the presence in Paul’s self-analysis here of elements found only in persons who have been united with the risen Christ to new life in the Spirit (6:4–11; 7:6; 8:4–9).

Paul is aware that God’s law is “spiritual” (v. 14). He actually delights in God’s law, desiring to fulfill it perfectly (vv. 15–23), and he is distressed that sin in him opposes that desire.

He is grateful at the prospect of future deliverance from this frustration (v. 24; 8:23).

He distinguishes between his “mind,” which aims at obedience, and his “flesh,” which continues to sin (v. 25).

Perfect conformity to God’s will is at present out of his reach. Salvation has “already” and “not yet” dimensions.

Note: It is important to remember that Paul is still discussing the role of the law. He highlights the frustrations of the present Christian experience simply to show how, for Christians as for Jews, God’s good law provokes, exposes, and condemns sin without either being tainted by it or bringing deliverance from it.

1. The problem is not law, but sin (13)

Sin is seen for what it truly is!

2. The Law is spiritual, but man is carnal and sold under sin (14)

spiritual (pneumatikos) - of God the Holy Spirit

flesh [unspiritual-NIV] (sarkinos) - having the nature of flesh, i.e.under the control of the animal appetites

Does not refer to the physical body itself

Indwelling sin; that part of us that remains unregenerate and opposed to the Lord and against which we struggle until our glorification

Not like the Greek Philosophers who state that matter is evil the spirit is good. The scriptures teach that salvation redeems both body and spirit.

Galatians 5:16–17 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

3. Though one may desire good and hate evil, one is still enslaved by sin (15-23)

God calls Christians to a lifetime of struggles against sin

We will never achieve victory over these struggles ourselves

4. Deliverance comes only from God, through Jesus Christ (24-25)

God never asks us to do that which He has not provided a means to accomplish!