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Pastor's Blog May 13, 2021
"View of God in Romans X"
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According to Paul, there are three things in Romans 7 that are shown to us: a central problem (verse 12) and two truths about the human condition (verses 11 and 25). Romans 7:12 articulates the central problem we face in life: "So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good" (NASB).
How is this a problem? The Bible often talks about how holy and righteous and good God's law is, so how could this present a problem for humans? The answer to that question is found in the first truth that Romans 7 shows us: the reality of sin. "For sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me" (Romans 7:11, NASB). Paul makes it very clear that God's law is not sinful (verse 7), that it's something very good for me (verse 13), and that it has its origin in the Holy Spirit (verse 14).
But Paul is even more emphatic that God's law opens my eyes to what sin is and reveals to me all the ways it tries to destroy me: sin takes advantage of the commandment not to covet by producing covetousness in me (verse 8); sin uses the law to point out all the ways I'm not following God, and then uses my disobedience as justification for my condemnation and death (verses 9-10); sin uses disobedience to God's law to show itself as thoroughly and utterly sinful (verse 13); and sin keeps me from doing the good I want to do, as well as keeps me doing the evil I don't want to do (verses 14-23).
This is a morally frustrating situation that leaves us helpless and longing for intimacy with God! And that's where the second truth is revealed: " Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (Romans 7:25, NASB). Jesus saves us from all of sin's effects on us. Jesus delivers us "from the body of this death" (Romans 7:24, NASB). Paul repeatedly explains what this deliverance looks like in Romans 8, where he will continually emphasize the completely new life Jesus gives us.
But friends, this much has already been shown to us: when you recognize the sinfulness of sin and come to know the beauty of Jesus, you will find living life with Jesus to be the solution to your problem of obeying God's law.
God bless,
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
