ROMANS 7: 7-14
THE AWAKEN CONSCIENCE
A believer is to understand that his identification with Jesus Christ means that he has died to sin (6:2) and then he is to reckon or take hold of (appropriate) that as true (6:11) in his daily life. For there is a force within him will need to be deal with. The sin nature that remains within the believer & wants to express itself in his beliefs, thoughts, and actions. There is an internal conflict in the area of sanctification that every believer faces. This inner conflict is intensified for those who seek to fulfill the law (CIT).
That is why the believer must realize that we cannot be saved or sanctified by the law [Charles Hodges, Romans. Banner of Truth.1835, 220]. Therefore in Christ we died to the law also in order that Christ might be our Master (7: 4). For we cannot give our allegiance to Christ and to the law at the same time (v.5). So those in Christ have been released from the law so that we may live in the power of the Spirit (v.6).
It is often hard to maintain a balance of truth, so Paul, in his desire to remind his readers of their emancipation from the law, wanted to make sure that a false impression of the law would not result so here he will remind us of the purpose of the law also.
I. SIN'S SERIOUS AWAKENING, 7:7-8.
II. SIN'S DEATH BLOW, 9-12.
III. SIN'S CONTEMPTIBLE BONDAGE, 13-14.
This passage is the preparation for one of the most moving passages in the New Testament. For here Paul begins to give us his own spiritual pilgrimage, laying bare his heart and soul in auto-biographical form. Starting with verse 7 and continuing through this chapter, the Apostle Paul turned to the first person singular indicating that he is presenting his personal experience. [Up to this point he had used the third person, the second person, and even the first person plural. But now he described his own experience, allowing the Holy Spirit to apply the truth to his readers.] "What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet."
No doubt there were those who, on hearing Paul teach about the inadequacy of the law to reproduce a satisfactory life of righteousness, would leap to the conclusion that the law is bad [as Aldous Huxley the author of Brave New World believed]. Paul though does not allow this conclusion and strenuously sets about showing that he has a profound respect for the law which is not at all diminished by his clear perception of its inadequacies. [Briscoe, Stuart; The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol 29. Romans. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982, S. 143]
So after proving the laws failure he propose the query, "Is the Law sin?" The response again is a vehement denial. Certainly not! (genoito) The Law arouses sin (7:5) but that does not mean the Law itself is sin. In fact, Paul said later, the Law is holy (v.12) and good (v. 14). What is on the side of sin does not expose what sin is.
So Paul goes on to explain that the Law made sin known [egn n, aor. act. ind. of gin sk , to come about, give rise, to gain understanding; to acquire knowledge; 3:19-20]. The function of the law is to reveal to people their sinfulness and inability so that they might see and admit their need of deliverance which only God's Spirit can effect. This awakening is absolutely necessary for people have only a dim awareness of their sinfulness.
Then as an example, he mentioned the tenth commandment. Paul knew sin's power and specifically, covetousness as an expression of it, and that knowledge came through the Law. But more than that, the Law's prohibition, "Do not covet" (Ex. 20:17; Deut. 5:21), causes rebellious people to covet all the more.
The commandment not to covet provides sin with a beachhead to launch its attack. It not only informed what is sin but, because of our rebellious fallen nature, its prohibition aroused sin. Just like a no smoking sign causes a smoker to think about smoking and therefore want to smoke.
Paul states that coveting was his problem area. What was Paul craving after? Maybe Paul was lusting after prestige or had a craving to excel as a scholar—which seems a noble goal. Yet as he studied the law, it brought to light and awaken an inner intensity of desire that wanted to dominate his thinking and then spur his will, possibly changing a pursuit into a hunger [for place or prominence] for something more than his pursuit of God. []
Verse 8 described how it worked. "But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead."
The principle of indwelling sin, seizing the opportunity ["taking a start point" aphorm , a base for military operations or for an expedition] "afforded by the commandment (Rom. 7:11), produced in me every kind of covetous desire. The Law is not the cause of the act of sin; the principle or nature of sin within [indwelling] an individual is. But the Law's specific commandments stimulate the [indwelling] sin principle into acts that violate the commandments (4:15; 3:20; 5:13b, 20a). In other words, what I did not know was sin because of the Law I now realize is sin. So now that I know it is sin, indwelling sin seek to draw me into it. [So far from holding sin in check the law actually triggers it. James Edwards. Romans. New International Biblical Com. Hendrickson. Peabody, Mass. 1992. p 188]
As Paul concluded, "Apart from Law, sin is dead." This does not mean that sin has no existence without the Law (5:13), but [that without the Law sin is less active, for the Law arouses "sinful passions" (7:5). So] apparently inner sins are in a dormant state within us and when confronted with the Law they become aggressive in opposing God's Law.
One of humanity's greatest needs is to recognize that sin is "exceedingly sinful." The law as particularly helpful in this regard, because sin took something as wholesome and perfect as the law and used it as a means to become rampant. Paul had been confronted with his inability to control his inner desires and the harder he tried to keep the Law, the more sin's power was manifested. This strange work of the law causes us to forsake trusting our ability to keep it (Rom. 5:20).
II. SIN'S DEATH BLOW, 9-12.
In verse 9 we are taught that there is an age of accountability when we become cognizant of our sin. "I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;"
The apostle seems to be speaking of his personal experience as a child [or a youth] prior to his awareness and understanding of God's commandments. The clause, but when the commandment came, speak of the dawning of the significance of the commandment ["Do not covet"] on Paul's mind and heart before his conversion.
When Paul was young he had no consciousness of sin so he lived carefree, but one day he realized what the commandment meant and his conscience awoke and moral responsibility came. He reached the age of accountability. He realized that he had broken commandments and came under the realization of sin and capable of being convicted of sin and thus became accountable for his sin.
The result was that the principle of sin within [indwelling sin because is a descendant of Adam the fallen man] made its presence and power known (as it sprang to life) in his violations of the commandment. As a result of this realization indwelling sin woke us and the blissful innocent stage was gone. His innocence died under the sentence of judgment by the Law he had broken (6:23a). The commandment not to covet was given to help people see how to live, but it actually produced death because of the sin in human hearts.
Once we reach the age of accountability for our sins we are dead in our trespasses and sins. After that point should we died without trusting Jesus Christ as Master and Savior, we will go to hell. If we die before we reach this "age of accountability" God will not hold us accountable for or sin and we will go to heaven.
We are not conscious of our sinful inclinations until our obedience is tested as to whether we will do right or not. To learn what is right and see if we are doing it we must be confronted by God's Law. This is exactly what happened when Adam's obedience was tested by the commandment "thou shall not eat."
God's commandments that give life when obeyed bring death when disobeyed. Verse10, "and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;"
The commandments were given to direct us in the way of life. If one obeyed them he would be lead to divine blessings that result in life (Lev. 18:5) What happened though in fallen sinful humanity was that it put to death our innocence and made us accountable for our law breaking. Therefore man is dead in his trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1-5; Col. 2:13). Yet this realization is also a prerequisite for salvation by grace through faith. For had it not have been for the law, we would not know how weak we are, how much we sin and how little we can do about it.
The power of indwelling sin to take hold of life and kill it is stated in verse 11. "for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me."
Repeating the description of [indwelling] sin's relationship to the commandment (v.8), Paul declared that sin . . . deceived me" [ , - out of & privative- lose & - walk; meaning "walk out of the way" or lose walk]. Apart from the Law, the principle of [indwelling] sin was dormant and inactive; but rebelling against the commandments of the Law, it demonstrated its power to control one's actions. So indwelling sin "deceived" him (expatsen, "led astray," 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14) and put him to death (lit., "killed" him) or made him a sinner fully accountable for his sin. Sin is like a personal enemy within (Gen. 4:7).
[Let's take a moment to see how sin deceives us. Sin deceives us in at least three ways.
First, we are deceived regarding the satisfaction to be found in sin. No one ever took a sin's forbidden fruit without thinking that it would make him happy, and no one found it did.
Second we are deceived regarding the excuse that we can make for it. Every man thinks that he can put up a defense for doing the wrong thing. Yet not man's defense ever sounded anything else but futile when made in the Presence of God
Third we are deceived regarding the probability of escaping the consequences of it. No one sins without the hope that he can get away with it. Your sins will some day find you out.]
The word deceive means to delude & lead astray or make lose their way. Let's think of some ways that sin deceives us. Have you ever heard "sin" say these words to you?
1. "You're not really sinful. In fact, you are really a good person."
2. "What God says is unreasonable and oppressive." (Genesis 3:5)
3. "This isn't really sin, anyway. You're not angry; just frustrated. It's not immoral; it's love. You're not lying; you're just giving another perspective.
4. "Go ahead and do it. No one will ever know."
5. "Every bodies' doing it."
6. "You can't stop this sin or break this addiction because you've been doing it so long."
7. "This will satisfy, fulfill you, and make you happy."
8. "You won't get caught."
9. "God will forgive you anyway."
10. Then, after sinning, we hear these words: "You've really messed up. God won't forgive you now."
It's important to call sin "sin." Learn to recognize sin for what it is – a deadly killer. James 1:15 states that sin leads to death: "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Verse12 lead to the conclusion that sin, not law, is the culprit. "So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good."
"The Law" is oppose to sin (the answer to verses 7& 8). It is holy, and the commandment not to covet (which, as a part of the Law, represents the whole) is holy, righteous, and good. The law is holy because it comes from a holy God and searches out the sin within us. It lays righteous requirements on men. It is holy because it forbids and condemns sin. It is designed for man's welfare. It is through the law of God that sin is brought out into the open. The misuse of the law by [indwelling] sin does not alter its "holy righteous, and good" character.
III. SIN'S CONTEMPTIBLE BONDAGE, 13-14.
The goodness of the law is reaffirmed in verse13 along with the inner struggle it creates. "Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
Paul then considered still another possible misunderstanding in his effort to clarify the relationship of sin and the Law. Having just declare the commandment holy he asked, "Did that which is good, then, become death to me?" Once again his immediate response was a vehement denial-By no means! Then we have the explanation. The principle of [indwelling] sin, not the Law, becomes death to an individual (5:12). Sin uses the commandment, the good thing, as an agent or instrument to keep on producing death in a person and thereby sin is seen as utterly (lit., "exceedingly") sinful. The principle or nature of indwelling sin uses the specific "holy, righteous, and good" commandments [in part and in the whole] of the Law of God to manifest its true nature as opposed to God and to demonstrate sin's power within individuals.
When sin begins to dominate-control our life, when even in our fallen state we realize its effects, when we see its excesses, we may finally admit our true nature and our affinity for sin. When sin reaches a contemptible point in life, even in our own life, we can admit its depravity.
We say that we are a sinner and weak yet we do not really believe it. It is only when we understand the law's holiness and in its light we see our total failure to live up to its just standard that we may concede our hopelessly weak condition. The law proves our weakness beyond dispute. That is why God gave us the law. And why the world continuously lessens the seriousness of sin or to harden us to seriousness of sin.]
Sin abuses the law producing the opposite of what the law intended. The law however cannot be blamed for death any more than a detective who uncovers a crime or a corpse can be said to be guilty or the killer.
[Whenever I sense a pharisaical tendency in myself, I know it is an indication that I have not been immersing myself in the Spirit and the Word. You see, if we're truly spending time in the presence of the Lord, we'll find ourselves saying just what Isaiah said. After spending the first five chapters of his book pronouncing woe on peoples and nations, in chapter 6, he saw the Lord and said, "Woe is me" for in the presence of the Lord he realized he was no better than those he was indicting.
A life lived in God's presence excludes judgment of others. "I'm lusting; I'm coveting," said Paul. But] Paul didn't realize this until he spent time in the Scriptures and saw that he was a sinner. Now this was all pre-conversion. As evidenced by the use of the past tense, Paul was looking back. But as Chapter 7 unfolds, we see that even after he was saved, he still struggled. [Courson, Jon: Jon Courson's Application Commentary. Nashville, TN : Thomas Nelson, 2003, S. 929]
Verse 14 begins addressing the Conflict of the believer's Two Natures. "For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin."
Understanding the conflict in personal sanctification involves seeing the relationship between a believer and his indwelling sin nature. In verse 14 Paul makes a transition from the previous subject (vv. 7-13) to the next one. The statement, The Law is spiritual, is the conclusion of Paul's previous argument. The Law comes from God who is Spirit (John 4:24) and expresses God's will for human living. Paul, using himself as the example, said the problem is that I am unspiritual (sarkinos, "fleshy, made of flesh"). In addition he was sold as a slave (perf. pass. tense, indicating a state of completion "had been sold and remained in that state") to sin (lit. "under the sin"). Sin had foreclosed on the mortgage of his body or flesh and owns it as its slave.
[In relating his personal experience in 7:14-25 Paul consistently used the present tense whereas he had used the imperfect and aorist tenses. Obviously he was describing his present conflict as a Christian with indwelling sin and its continuing efforts to control his daily life.] [ The clause, "sold under sin" (kjv), could describe an unregenerate person; but also] sin resides in a believer, who is still subject to sin's penalty of physical death. As a result, indwelling sin continues to seek to claim what it considers its property even after one has become a Christian. [Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy; The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983, p. 466]
INVITATION
God's law demonstrates His beneficial standards. Sin though abuses the law producing the opposite of what the law intended. Is the law a bad thing because it illicit sin? No. First, in spite of whatever the consequences, sin had to be defined as sin. There had to be an absolute standard of right and wrong.
Second, it is only as sin grows to the point where it is finally seen and admitted to be utterly contemptible that we will seek to forsake it and seek the way out Through the law comes the knowledge and the consciousness of sin. Once we realize that it is sin that is seeking to destroy us, we become aware of sin's utter contemptibility.
God gave us the law, to show us that we are not good enough to make it into heaven because we have broken the law. For you cannot be saved unless you have obeyed all of the law. Maybe you're wondering how do you get to heaven? God gave you His Son, Jesus who died on the cross for your sins, so you can have a right to the tree of life. [That's why the law came. The law is an instructor, a tutor. The law brings you to a point, that causes you to say, "I know I need a change in my life." The law showed you how bad you are. Jesus shows you how good He can make you.
Salvation and sanctification comes from a relationship with Jesus, not from rules. Accepting a relationship with Jesus is more important than adherence to rules. It comes down to this: It's not performance according to some principles but pleasing a Person. Christianity is not a religion of "do's and don'ts" but a relationship where we say "I do" to Jesus Christ.
To enter this relationship we must die to self that we might live with Jesus. If you have trusted Jesus, you belong to Him, He is now your master. bound to sinful passions any longer(Rom 6:14). You need not be bound to self-effort any longer. You belong to Jesus who loves you and gave Himself for you!" For God sent Christ to fulfill the law-and we have satisfied the law through our identification with him. And that is God's word for you today.
Next time we will learn again that despite the law's holiness it does not produce holiness in the lives of believers. The law will not bring salvation or sanctification. Only by yielding to the Spirit of Christ in do we have the power to obey His commands.
