Romans 7 continues this week with verses 7-12 and a deep dive into understanding the purpose of God’s law and the role in plays in our life as New Testament believers.
7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
Paul continues reasoning about the purpose of the law, the work of sin, and our freedom in Christ. One might infer that since we need to die to the law to bear fruit for God, the law must be equal to sin. But, he goes on in verse 7b to explain that without the law, he would not know what sin was:
"For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said..."
Too many Christians believe that the Old Testament is no longer relevant. While Christ fulfilled the Old Testament (Covenant) and the requirements, the writings are still applicable. Romans 15:4 tells us this:
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."
If you're skipping over the Old Testament, you're missing out on endurance, encouragement, and hope!
Part of the reason the law existed was to restrain the transgression of men by clearly revealing God's holy standard. God had to give us His standard so we would not destroy ourselves before the Messiah came.
Think about that for a moment. If no one articulated God's holy and awe-inspiring character, then we would not know how to model ourselves after Him. So, God provided the law to help communicate His character to His chosen people who were now out of bondage (Egypt) as they awaited the coming Messiah.
Another way to think about it is that the law turned previously invisible sin visible. The law exposes the present corruption and shines a light on our broken and flawed character! But, at the same time, the law illuminates God's holy and perfect character.
The law excites man's innate rebellion (because of the first sin of Adam) by revealing a holy standard, showing us more clearly our need for salvation in Jesus. Too often, Satan inserts his deception into this divine process. We see (#1) our rebellion and (#2) the holy standard of God, but the devil cycles us through his lies of unworthiness, shame, and guilt and we are blinded to the answer of (3) Jesus! #1 and #2 our simply the addition needed to get us to #3; they are not the answer. Only Jesus.
Finally, Paul's explanation in these verses shows how great the evil of sin is: it can take something good and holy like the law and twist it to promote evil. Sin warps love into lust, an honest desire to provide for one's family into greed, and the law into a promoter of sin. Ouch.
Don't be discouraged if all of this sin talk seems too familiar to you. I'm writing this Bible study for myself, first, and then for others. I am walking the same road of redemption you are, friend. Hope is coming as we continue through this chapter and next.