September 15, 2002

IS THE LAW SIN?

Romans 7:7-12

   Just as some have misunderstood grace thinking that it excused sin, some might also think that the holiness of God was compromised, and that the law by its inability to save or to sanctify was at fault. To rectify such thinking Paul posed an hypothetical question, "Is the law sin?" His explanation and argument leads to the conclusion, " the law is...holy, just, and good." (Romans 7:12).

   Many believers know that the law cannot save, for "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight..." (3: 20), but few seem to know that neither can it sanctify. Further, the provoking effect of the law has already been expressed, "for the law worketh wrath, for where there is no law, there is no transgression" (4:15). "By the law is the knowledge of sin" shows that it was not given to implement God's promises, but to reveal the utter need of grace, so the promise would be sure.

   In Romans 7 Paul goes even deeper than "transgression" for it uncovers the unsuspected and dormant sin. He does this in a series of five couplets: His question: "Is the law sin?"

a ) I had not known sin, but by the law

      I had not known lust except the law said, "Thou shalt not lust"

b ) Sin, taking occasion by the commandment (Sin) wrought in me all manner of lust

c ) Without the law, sin was dead

      Without the law, I was alive

d) The commandment came, sin revived, and I died

     The commandment...ordained to life...found unto death

e) Sin taking occasion by the commandment

     Sin deceived me, and by it(the law) slew me

ANSWER: "Wherefore the law is...holy, just, and good."

   Paul had not realized the law's depth of meaning. In that sense the law was dead. But "when the commandment came (as never before), sin revived, and I died." Sin had "taken occasion by the commandment," and by it slew him. No wonder he could say, "I through the law am dead to the law that I might live unto God" (Galatians 2:19).

Ivan L. Burgener