(Read Romans 7:7-13)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” In our last message we looked at how we are to transition from being under the obligation of the Law, to being led of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. As we continue to walk through Romans we get to a passage where Paul explains how God’s Law is perfect, how we are not, and how sin is magnified by the Law. It is a very enlightening passage. Read it with your heart open to receive:
“Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.
But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. The Law exposes to us our sin. Paul said, “it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” We have covered this many times in this series, but this truth is worth repeating: The Law was not designed to make you right, it was designed to show you that you are wrong and that you are in need of a Savior. That Savior came, His name is Jesus, and He came to save us from sin and death.
2. Sin focuses on the Law for it’s power. Paul said, “But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me!” and “Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.” In another letter Paul wrote, “For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power” (1 Cor 15:56). Sin uses the Law to highlight all the things you have done and continue to do wrong. Without the Law sin would have no power. But thankfully Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law.
3. The Law brings death, Jesus brought life. Paul said, “I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead.” In another letter Paul said, “The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death” (2 Cor 3:7). The Law is so perfect that we, as mere humans, are doomed to violate it and therefore doomed to reap the consequences of our violation. If Jesus had not come to fulfill the Law and to pay the penalty for sin we would have no hope. But Jesus did come, He did live a perfect life for us, He did die on the cross in our place, and He is our hope. We are now righteous! Not because of what we do or because of what we fail to do; we are only righteous because of what Jesus did!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me more and more about Your amazing, unyielding and undeserved Grace. The more I understand how perfect the Law You etched in stone is, the more I realize how imperfect I am and how amazing Your Grace is. The Law exposed to me my sin. The Law brought me to the point where I realized I was condemned. The Law made me acknowledge the fact that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. If it were not for the Law I would have never called out to Jesus. The Law brought death, but Jesus came to bring life. I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and I fully embrace what He did in my place. I am far from perfect, but Jesus was perfect for me. I could never keep the Law, but Jesus kept it for me. I could never pay the penalty for my sin, but Jesus paid it for me. Jesus paid a price I could not pay for a debt He did not owe. Jesus stepped in and saved me from sin, hell and the grave. Under the Law I would be condemned to death. Under the Grace provided to me by Jesus the Christ, I have and enjoy eternal and abundant life. Thank You Father for being so good to me. You bless me richly, not because I am so good, but because You are. And for that I shall never cease to give You praise. I enter this day as a forgiven and empowered child of the Most High God! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
