"The Law In Our Life”

“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.