December 2, 2008

The Impact of the Law

“What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all [manner of evil] desire. For apart from the law sin [was] dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. And the commandment, which [was] to [bring] life, I found to [bring] death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed [me]. Therefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.” (Romans 7:7-13 NKJV)

Paul continues to explain how the law works to quicken the conscience. The law is not bad, but exposes bad motives and actions.

Paul says he was alive once without the law. This of course cannot mean that Paul ever lived without law for he was a Pharisee and always lived under the law of Moses. Some speculate that he was speaking of himself in Adam, but this is an obscure view and adds little understanding to his argument. Instead, Paul is speaking of his self-righteous condition before he understood the spiritual meaning of the law.

He speaks of a mental and spiritual transformation brought on by the law empowered by quickening of the Holy Spirit. This is the first step in salvation. A man must see his sinfulness to cry out for help. This is not salvation for it is incomplete. However, the law without any illumination has no impact on the conscience. Once the Holy Spirit empowers it, it does its job and reveals a person’s spiritual death. As Paul said, sin was producing death through what is good so that sin might become exceedingly sinful.

Throughout a man’s life, God will open windows of conviction. However, seeing your sin is not repenting of sin as knowing there is a God is not the same as believing in God. If your conscience is killing you, then don’t take comfort in this, but seek the peace of God through faith in Jesus Christ and His righteousness. When you understand that all your righteousness is as filthy rags, then you are near the kingdom. Throw off all notions that you can appease God. The blood of Christ only propitiates God. Seek mercy through faith and not self-righteousness by works. Amen.