“A SURVEY OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS” ROMANS 7:7-12 SANCTIFICATION WITH REFERENCE TO THE BELIEVER, PART II

Thus far in Paul’s argument in this most sublime sanctification section of Romans chapters 6 – 8, Paul has demonstrated that believers have died to sin through spiritually being united to Christ in His death (Romans 6:2).  Not only have the believers died to sin, but they have also died to the Law (Romans 7:4).  So, why did the grand Apostle relate to these Roman believers that they had died to the Law?   God gave the Law to expose sin (Romans 3:19-20; I Corinthians 15:56).  If the believers were to be free of sin’s dominion, their relationship to the Law must be severed.

In this sanctification section of Romans, mainly Romans 7:1, Paul will stress that the Law controls a man until he dies.  However, in verses 2 and 3, a man can escape the Law’s control only through death.  But through identification with Christ in His crucifixion, each believer has a new Master, who is Jesus Christ (v. 4).  The sinner’s old master was sin, but Christ is the believer’s new Master.  Now that the believer has been delivered from the dominance of the Law, he is exhorted to live in the newness of the Holy Spirit (v. 6).  Paul begins in verse 7 by raising another poignant question – “What shall we say then?  Is the law sin?”  He answers the question by saying – “God forbid.”  The expression “God forbid” can mean “Away with the idea” or “Certainly not”.  Although the Law arouses sin (Romans 7:5), you can never say that the Law is sin.  In fact, Paul said that the Law was holy (v. 12) and spiritual (v. 14).  Paul went on to say that the Law revealed sin and even aroused sin.

In verse 8, the Law revealed the manner of lust of the old Adamic nature.  The Law revealed the exceeding sinfulness of man.  The Law was not the culprit but the old Adamic nature was!  The knowledge of the Law made known to Paul the principal and power of sin (v. 9).  However, the presence of the Law only served to condemn Paul, not to help him (vs. 10-11).  The Law was never at fault, but it was with the one who thought that the Law could produce life and power.  The Law only revealed the sinfulness and inability of mankind; the Law could never produce life.  Paul concluded this section of Romans by saying – “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just, and good” (Romans 7:12).  Thus, Paul proved that the relationship between the Law and sin was that the Law only served to reveal sin and the Law condemned mankind (II Corinthians 3:9).

May God Bless!