ROMANS 7
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. – Romans 7:7-12
ROMANS 7 THE LAW EXPOSES SIN
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you didn’t know the law, you kept on sinning
But Jesus died for you to keep you from wrongdoing
When the law was presented to God’s people
The automated sinful nature of humans was exposed
Therefore, the law is good because it shows sinfulness
Before the law came about, people lived in covetousness.
In this letter, Paul explains to the church in Rome that the purpose of the law is to expose man’s sinful nature. Before they were aware of the law, they didn’t know that what they were doing was wrong. In verse 7, he expounds that until the law says for them not to be greedy, they thought that they were just doing what is right for them. But, once the law was laid down, they are now aware that it is wicked and it is evil to continue doing it. Paul emphasizes that the law is good and holy because it makes us see when we are sinning and when we are going against God.
Isn’t this also true in criminal laws in our country? A good example would be the law about bigamy. In Ontario, bigamy is a criminal offence. If one is found guilty of bigamy, they can be locked up for at least 5 years. The law prohibits marrying someone when you are already married to someone else. If you marry someone knowing they are already married, you also commit bigamy.
REFLECTION How does the law expose sin as Paul cited in verse 7? Cite other examples
