“The Law in Our Life”
Prayer partner Ron Hawks often accuses me of being forgetful. In fair play, I try to remind him he just told me that! But, all joking aside, forgetfulness in the Christian Life is a serious matter that can have drastic consequences. This is especially true when it comes to learning and remembering the purpose of the Law. The Apostle Paul in Romans 7:7-14 helps us both understand and, hopefully, never forget the purpose of the Law in our life, which is designed to bring us to THE SOURCE OF VICTORY. Listen, to God’s Holy Word in Romans 7:7-13:
“7. 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.” 8. But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10. And this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11. For sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12. So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13. 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.”
First, Paul shows us the LAW BRINGS SIN TO THE LIGHT. Paul says in verse 7, “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.” The Law is the Great Physician’s diagnostic microscope. It brings into light that which the naked eye often does not see. It is the Physician’s way of diagnosing the disease but as Paul says it is not the disease. Can you imagine getting mad or blaming a doctor because his diagnostic workup correctly diagnosed cancer in your body? Paul says, “May it never be!” Thank the Lord, prayer partners the Law brings sin to the light where it can be exposed and seen for what it is – a foreign presence out to kill, steal, and destroy our life.
If you knew you had a cancer destroying your body would you want to remain in the dark about the situation – especially, if you knew a physician could give you hope for a cure? Would you want your cancer to remain undiagnosed knowing your ignorance would in time rob you of all you hold dear – life, love, relationships, etc.? As we thank the doctor for the diagnostic workup that discovers the cancer, we should thank the Lord for His diagnostic instrument that gives an accurate diagnosis every time and brings sin to the light.
Second, the LAW BRINGS SIN TO LIFE. Paul says in verses 8 and 9, ”But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;” The Law of God under The Holy Spirit’s direction goes much deeper than the surface and doesn’t settle for the way things appear outwardly – it examines, as in Paul’s use of coveting, our very attitudes and motives of heart which may not be visible to others. For example, I can do a good work outwardly for the wrong reason inwardly. If I am doing good works to be recognized, to appear godlier or more spiritual than my brothers, the Law under The Holy Spirit’s direction looks at my heart and sees an attitude of pride and self-centeredness which it reveals to me as sin. After all, did not Paul tell us to “esteem others more highly than ourselves?”
Likewise, if you tell a young child not to touch the vase on the coffee table, you “produce” or bring to life every desire to touch the vase in the child’s mind. That is what Paul means when he says, “”But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment produced in me coveting of every kind..” That is why Paul told the churches at Ephesus, “And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light” (Ephesians 5:11-13). My brothers and sisters that is why the Scripture admonishes us to flee from youthful lusts. Sin will use the Law as a base of operation to awaken in us or bring to life every desire and temptation to lust.
However, the Law is essential because it unmasks sin’s deadly deception. It brings this deadly deception to light and life in my life. It makes my sin very personal and I see my possession of it and its claim on my life. It shows up on the test results (see Romans 3:23) even if I want to deny its presence. Paul says, “…for apart from the Law sin is dead.” Having you deny your sins even when the Law reveals them is one of Satan’s most successful strategies. Take the unbeliever that does not view his behavior and actions as sinful. That type of thinking places the unbeliever right where Satan wants him – in a hopeless and helpless state of darkness. Why? Because the sin remains dead in their life.
This is seen today in the practicing homosexual who has bought the enemy lie hook, line and sinker of being genetically bent or oriented toward that lifestyle. In other words, “He or she accepts this is the way I am, the way I was born and nothing can be done about it.” How sad, prayer partners that many homosexuals have bought into this deception because it leaves them without hope.
You see, until sin is brought to light and life in one’s heart, that person will not look to the CROSS OF CHRIST where deliverance from sin is available. The Law’s purpose is to bring sin to light and life so Christ can bring darkness and death to sin. Likewise, we must not forget, the purpose of the Law is the same in the Christian even though our relationship to the Law is different since we are now married to Christ. We must allow the Law to work in our life to bring our sins to light and life so Christ can bring death to sin as we repent (1 John 1:9) and look to that very same CROSS for deliverance.
Third, THE LAW REVEALS SIN AS THE CAUSE OF DEATH. Paul says, “…sin became alive and I died; And this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11. For sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”(9b-11). How many unsaved people believe, “If I live a good life or if I do good works or try to keep the Ten Commandments, I’ll go to heaven?” This is viewing the Law as having the power to give you life. Sadly, many Christians that are truly saved by grace live under the same deception. They believe the Christian life involves living a moral life, doing good works and trying to keep the Ten Commandments. Like Paul they discover sooner or later that no man is justified or sanctified by the works of the Law. The Law has no power to save and the Law has no power to sanctify. IT IS CHRIST WHO IS OUR SAVIOR! IT IS CHRIST WHO IS OUR SANCTIFIER! Instead of bringing life, the Law brings you death – it brings you to the end of your self effort and your resources. The Law bankrupts you and you come up short every time, especially, if you are trying to live the Christian life under the Law. I believe it was Warren Wiersbe that said, the new nature has no power if lived under the Law. Paul says sin uses the Law as a base of operation to deceive sinner and saint alike in thinking the Law will result in life when in truth it does the opposite. The Law, as stated in the Book of Galatians, is the tutor to lead you and I to the source of life but it has no life in itself.
Paul goes on to say, “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” (v. 13). Again, the Law is designed to bring us to the cure but it is neither the cure nor the disease. The Law brings light and life to sin so we see sin as “effecting my death.” We must see sin as extremely dangerous and as the cause of death in us. A cancer must be accurately diagnosed and not treated as if we had a head cold. Cancer requires radical surgery and so does sin if one’s life is to be saved or the Christian life made fruitful.
Prayer partners, may your prayer and mine be that the Revelations of God’s Holy Law in our life will keep us trusting only in the Savior and His power to give us victory in the struggle we face in this life. Remember, walk so close to God that nothing can come between. Jesus paid it all, all to Him we owe,
Give Him the Glory!
