June 30, 2002

THE FOUR-FOLD QUESTIONS

Romans 5:30 - 7:25

   Ten times in Romans Paul asks questions which are immediately repudiated by the reply, "God forbid," and then followed by an answer of explanation. The first three such questions are in Romans 3:4, 6, & 31 and last three are in 9:14, 11:1 & 11. The remaining four questions are in the center of the section we are studying, Romans 5:12--8:39. These four have to do with sin and the law.

   Preceding each question we find a statement of great truth and significance which draws forth the question such as might well occur to Paul's antagonist. It is also remarkable that in Paul's answer of explanation he draws upon such things as "we know"!

   For example, the statement in Romans 5:20-21, "...the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin has reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

   Because abounding or multiplying sin was met by God's over abounding grace, it is easy to see that some might suggest, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" (6:1). This is repudiated by, "God forbid," and followed by "Know ye not..." Since "know ye not..." means "you surely know..." Paul drew upon truth already established to put down such thoughts as the question suggests!

   The next three statements of truth are:

Romans 6:14, "...sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 7:6, "...now we are delivered from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of the letter." Romans 7:12, "...the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."

   Paul's explanations show that all four statements have to do with "the law" and "sin." We hear the baneful cry, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Upon turning to the Lord Jesus Christ and the blessing of the new nature, the Spirit of God witnesses with his spirit. Such is the deliverance of grace!

Ivan L. Burgener