The natural man does not have the Spirit. The natural man can be either religious or irreligious. Regardless of whether he is religious or not, the natural man does not have the Spirit. It is the religious natural man for which the Bible has the most negative denunciations and against which the severest of warnings are directed. The religious natural man who claims to be saved and claims to be a servant of God only has a form of godliness but has denied its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5). He does not have the Spirit; he is not saved; he cannot properly interpret Scripture; he cannot and will not subject himself to the Law of God; the requirement of the Law is not fulfilled in him; and he cannot please God (Romans 8:4-8).
The Christian does have the Spirit. The Christian doesn’t have a form of godliness that is devoid of the power of godliness. The Christian has a form of godliness and the force of godliness – the Holy Spirit. Because the Christian has the Spirit he receives the things of the Spirit; he sets his mind on the things of the Spirit; he can properly interpret Scripture; he obeys the Scriptures because he loves Christ; the requirement of the Law is being fulfilled in him; and because he is living by faith and not the flesh he can please God.
The Spirit has the Christian (Romans 8:12-17). Here we are getting to what is the all important and logical conclusion of the matter – not only are we indwelt by the Holy Spirit we are owned by the Spirit. When a Christian stops short of this conclusion he may wrongly believe that he has the Spirit and that the Spirit is under his control or that the Spirit is only there as some form of mystical magic genie to solve our problems when we can’t solve them ourselves. However this is a reversal of true Christianity and the purpose of the Spirit’s indwelling us. We don’t have the Spirit so that we can control Him – we have the Spirit so that He can control us!
Many a person has falsely concluded that Christianity is inviting Jesus into ones life. The fallacy of this kind of thinking is that it turns Christianity into a utilitarian religion where Jesus is “added” to ones life for selfish reasons. Some examples of this would be someone “adds” Jesus to his life so that he can have his best life now, or so that he can have the purpose driven life, or so that he can have a fire insurance policy from hell, and all sorts of other wrong and selfish reasons for “adding Christ to ones life.”
Christianity is not inviting Jesus into ones life. Christianity is “Christ, who is our life!” Christianity is not us holding on to our lives and “adding” Jesus to it. Christianity is dying to our life and having it replaced by His life. “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” Christianity is substitution not supplementation; it is replacement not redecoration. Christianity is exchanged living!
The sooner we learn that it is the Spirit who gives life and that the flesh profits nothing (John 6:63) – that the flesh cannot add anything of any value to serving God and pleasing God – the sooner we can learn the lesson of Romans 7 – that there is nothing good in us, that is, in our flesh (Romans 7:18). We cannot and dare not serve God in the flesh.
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – (Romans 8:12). We don’t owe the flesh anything. The flesh has only brought trouble into our lives. It does not subject itself to the Law of God, it is hostile to God, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. The one who sows to the flesh will from the flesh reap corruption (Galatians 6:8). Instead we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts (Romans 13:14).
We are not to coddle the flesh we are to crucify the flesh! “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). And since that monumental moment when we first died to self and crucified the flesh through identification with Christ our substitute we don’t revert back to believing that our old self is capable of being reformed and being able to serve and please God. No! Instead we die daily and set aside the old self with its evil practices and put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.
We have no obligation to the flesh – we have no obligation to the old self – we are not to live according to the flesh. We are to no longer be guided by our sinful and selfish desires.
For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die (Romans 8:13). Here we understand that those who are living by the flesh and not by faith are going to face eternal death. We know this because everyone whether saved or not is going to die a physical death except for the saved that are alive at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. So this death that is warned against in this verse is eternal death and judgment that will happen to those who although they may claim to be saved and claim to be serving God have not crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. They are not living by faith; they are not being guided by the Word of God but instead are leaning on their own understanding and attempting to do the will of God the way that seems best to them. They have not been saved and they must die!
But if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13). Here we understand that those who are putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit are never going to face eternal death and destruction. Christians do and will face physical death but never eternal death. In these verses we are seeing the differences between living in the flesh and living by faith – between being self-led and Spirit-led. Those who are self-led do not have the Spirit no matter how loudly they proclaim that they do. Genuine Christians do have the Spirit but more than that – the Spirit has genuine Christians. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to control and guide the Christian. The Christian does not lean on his own understanding but trusts God with all his heart. Yielding to the Spirit’s control means that the deeds of the body are being put to death.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). And all who are not being led by the Spirit of God, these are not the sons of God!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Exalted Living (Romans 8:9-11)
Romans 8:5-8 tells us of those who operate in the flesh – in their own strength and wisdom – rather than by faith – in the strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Those who operate in the flesh are “trying” to live the Christian life; trying to please God in their own power through their own ingenuity. It cannot be done! The requirement of the Law is not being fulfilled in those who walk according to the flesh, whether they are religious or irreligious (Romans 8:4). It is impossible because the flesh does not and cannot subject itself to the Law of God (Romans 8:7) and therefore the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8).
Since the flesh does not have the power to obey God and please God, then the Christian life cannot be lived by inspiration but only by incarnation. The Christian life can only be lived by the indwelling Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The flesh may wrongly believe that it has the ability to obey and please God, but it doesn’t! Christianity is not a reformed life but a replaced life. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Those in the flesh can only live by inspiration in their own power and are certain to fail in their attempts to obey God and please God. It is impossible that they can succeed – if they could then Christ died needlessly! Those in the flesh are excluded from being able to fulfill the requirement of the law and from being able to please God – they are excluded from exalted living. Only those in the Spirit can live the exalted life and that life is lived by faith and not in the power of the flesh. Those in whom the Spirit of God dwells and who by faith are guided by the Word of God will experience three aspects of the exalted life.
The extraordinary life - Romans 8:9 – those in the Spirit; in whom the Spirit of God dwells are able to live the exalted life because Jesus is able to live His life in and through them. Those in the Spirit live the exalted life because they are in the process of living the extraordinary life (Galatians 2:20). Anyone who is not living the extraordinary life cannot live the exalted life and does not belong to Christ.
The exchanged life - Romans 8:10 – here we see that the essence of Christianity is the exchanged life – “If Christ is in you”. Colossians 3:3-4 gives us a clearer understanding of this verse showing that the essence of Christianity is the exchanged life – “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
Galatians 2:20 also gives more clarity to this verse so that we can understand what is meant by “though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” “Though the body is dead because of sin” corresponds to “It is no longer I who live.” “Yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness” corresponds to “But Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” The essence of Christianity is the exchanged life. It is the replaced life and not the reformed life. Don’t forget that Jesus warned of the extreme dangers of having a reformed life but not a replaced life (Matthew 12:43-45).
The expectant life - Romans 8:11 – to get clarity and understanding about this verse we go back to Colossians 3:3-4 – “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” The Christian is sealed by the Holy Spirit who was given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:14). Our resurrection from the dead is guaranteed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
We don’t have the power in and of ourselves to live the Christian life and neither do we have the power to raise ourselves from the dead. The Christian life is by faith from start to finish! The Christian life is by incarnation – “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) and not by inspiration.
Can you imagine someone in the flesh getting inspired to raise himself from the dead? No – because he doesn’t have that capability! Neither does the man in the flesh have the capability of living the exalted life – it can only come by the exchanged life which is a result of true and saving faith in Jesus Christ. No one who wants to keep control of his own life has understood the gospel or responded properly to Jesus Christ. If Christ isn’t your Lord – if the government of your life doesn’t rest on His shoulders – then there has not been an exchanged life and neither can there be an experience of the exalted life which only comes by faith in the Son of God.
We can’t live the God-pleasing life; He never said we could; He can and He always said He would. We don’t have to try – we have to trust – hallelujah! Christians have the Spirit and can therefore live the exchanged life which will translate into the exalted life. The Christian will be sanctified because he no longer lives for himself but for Him who died on his behalf
Since the flesh does not have the power to obey God and please God, then the Christian life cannot be lived by inspiration but only by incarnation. The Christian life can only be lived by the indwelling Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The flesh may wrongly believe that it has the ability to obey and please God, but it doesn’t! Christianity is not a reformed life but a replaced life. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Those in the flesh can only live by inspiration in their own power and are certain to fail in their attempts to obey God and please God. It is impossible that they can succeed – if they could then Christ died needlessly! Those in the flesh are excluded from being able to fulfill the requirement of the law and from being able to please God – they are excluded from exalted living. Only those in the Spirit can live the exalted life and that life is lived by faith and not in the power of the flesh. Those in whom the Spirit of God dwells and who by faith are guided by the Word of God will experience three aspects of the exalted life.
The extraordinary life - Romans 8:9 – those in the Spirit; in whom the Spirit of God dwells are able to live the exalted life because Jesus is able to live His life in and through them. Those in the Spirit live the exalted life because they are in the process of living the extraordinary life (Galatians 2:20). Anyone who is not living the extraordinary life cannot live the exalted life and does not belong to Christ.
The exchanged life - Romans 8:10 – here we see that the essence of Christianity is the exchanged life – “If Christ is in you”. Colossians 3:3-4 gives us a clearer understanding of this verse showing that the essence of Christianity is the exchanged life – “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
Galatians 2:20 also gives more clarity to this verse so that we can understand what is meant by “though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” “Though the body is dead because of sin” corresponds to “It is no longer I who live.” “Yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness” corresponds to “But Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” The essence of Christianity is the exchanged life. It is the replaced life and not the reformed life. Don’t forget that Jesus warned of the extreme dangers of having a reformed life but not a replaced life (Matthew 12:43-45).
The expectant life - Romans 8:11 – to get clarity and understanding about this verse we go back to Colossians 3:3-4 – “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” The Christian is sealed by the Holy Spirit who was given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:14). Our resurrection from the dead is guaranteed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
We don’t have the power in and of ourselves to live the Christian life and neither do we have the power to raise ourselves from the dead. The Christian life is by faith from start to finish! The Christian life is by incarnation – “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) and not by inspiration.
Can you imagine someone in the flesh getting inspired to raise himself from the dead? No – because he doesn’t have that capability! Neither does the man in the flesh have the capability of living the exalted life – it can only come by the exchanged life which is a result of true and saving faith in Jesus Christ. No one who wants to keep control of his own life has understood the gospel or responded properly to Jesus Christ. If Christ isn’t your Lord – if the government of your life doesn’t rest on His shoulders – then there has not been an exchanged life and neither can there be an experience of the exalted life which only comes by faith in the Son of God.
We can’t live the God-pleasing life; He never said we could; He can and He always said He would. We don’t have to try – we have to trust – hallelujah! Christians have the Spirit and can therefore live the exchanged life which will translate into the exalted life. The Christian will be sanctified because he no longer lives for himself but for Him who died on his behalf
Friday, February 5, 2010
Excluded Living (Romans 8:5-8)
In this section Paul contrasts the differences between the saved and the unsaved – between those who experience exempted and exalted living and those who are excluded to that way of life because they are trying to live it in their own power. So it is here that Paul speaks of the differences between the Spirit-led life and the self-led life; humble dependence verses prideful independence; Lordship verses non-Lordship; and trusting verses trying.
This is of utmost importance because the Bible speaks clearly and completely about the truth of multitudes perishing who thought they were saved (Matthew 7; 24; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-2).
Because of the reality of the danger of being deceived we are told to make sure that we are saved – “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you…” (2 Peter 1:10). We are told to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith – “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith: examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). And we are told how to test ourselves (1 John and Romans 8:5-17).
So in this section (Romans 8:5-17) Paul contrasts and compares the differences between the saved and the unsaved primarily to show how those who are saved will live an exalted and sanctified life in the Spirit and how those who are not saved will live an excluded and unsanctified life in the flesh. We can divide this section into three categories: (1) those who are in the flesh (8:5-8), (2) those who have the Spirit (8:9-11), and (3) those whom the Spirit has (8:12-17).
For now our primary concern will be with those who are in the flesh according to Romans 8:5-8. Here we see three characteristics of those who are in the flesh:
Those who are in the flesh mind the things of the flesh (Romans 8:5). What does it mean to mind the things of the flesh? Before we answer that question let me tell you what it does not mean. Minding the things of the flesh does not mean that a person is not religious; it does not mean that a person does not go to church; it does not mean that a person does not read the Bible; and it does not mean that a person does not have a profession of faith. A person can do all those things and still be someone who minds the things of the flesh. A person can do all those things and still be lost – the Bible even tells us that many preachers and teachers of God’s Word mind the things of the flesh instead of things of the Spirit and that they are false and lost.
So what does it mean to mind the things of the flesh? As simply as I can state it, minding the things of the flesh means to live by the flesh rather than by faith. It means to be self-controlled or self-led rather than Spirit-controlled or Spirit-led. It means to be governed by worldly principles rather than by principles of the Word. We are actually given many examples of this in the Bible.
In Jude 11 we read about Cain, Balaam, and Korah – all given as examples of men who operated by the flesh and not by faith.
Cain rebelled against God’s way of justification by approaching God on his own terms and not on God’s terms. Cain departed from the Word of God and offered God something other than what God prescribed. Cain operated in the flesh and not in faith – he minded the things of the flesh. Cain wanted to do it his own way and not God’s way. And we read that by faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous… (Hebrews 11:4). We also read that Cain was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous (1 John 3:12).
Balaam rebelled against God’s way of sanctification by encouraging the people of God to compromise their purity, holiness, and separation through committing acts of immorality both spiritually and physically. Balaam caused the people of God to be defiled with the world by teaching them to be friends with the world and to love the world. Balaam operated in the flesh and not in faith – he minded the things of the flesh. Balaam wanted to do it his own way and not God’s way and he taught the people of God to do it the same way. Balaam’s motive was fame and fortune and not the well-being of God’s people or the glory of God.
Korah rebelled against God’s way of glorification by exalting himself over God’s appointed leaders. Korah deceived himself with his works by gathering 250 men of renown and assembling themselves against Moses and Aaron for the purpose of self-exaltation. Rather than by faith trusting God to exalt him in due time, Korah took matters into his own hands and operated in the flesh. Korah operated in the flesh and not in faith – he minded the things of the flesh. Korah wanted to do it his own way and not God’s way!
In Jude 16 we read about these people who mind the flesh – “These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts [desires]; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.” Now let me ask you, where do you see any living by faith in the person who is taking matters into his own hands to bring about what he desires? This is minding the flesh and not living by faith. Is this person saved?
Jude 17-19 says, “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, ‘In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.’ These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly minded, devoid of the Spirit.” Being worldly minded is to mind the things of the flesh; to be devoid of the Spirit; and to not live by faith.
So we ought to be able to see that those who are in the flesh and mind the things of the flesh are worldly minded rather than Word minded. They operate in the realm of man’s best thinking (philosophy) rather than God’s revealed truth (theology). This is what makes the false preachers and teachers so dangerous and so successful. To the worldly minded man the worldly minded teaching of the false prophets sounds like truth.
The Bible tells us that these false prophets are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them (1 John 4:5). But it also tells us that the true prophets are from God; he who knows God listens to them; he who does not know God does not listen to them. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 John 4:6).
False prophets and their followers mind the things of the flesh and are worldly minded. What does it mean to mind the things of the flesh? It means to be self-controlled or self-led.
So I pray that you get the picture that those who are in the flesh and mind the things of the flesh do not live by faith and end up violating the Word of God. The requirement of the Law is not fulfilled in them.
Those who are in the flesh are dead to the things of God and are still at war with God (Romans 8:6-7). We saw what it means to mind the things of the flesh, but what does it mean that the mind set on the flesh is death? First it means that the mind set on the flesh is a mind that is in rebellion against God. The root of death is sin or rebellion against God. The mind set on the flesh is death because it is an independent spirit. It has a suicidal love affair with independence and self-determination. The mind set on the flesh is worldly minded and devoid of the life giving Spirit of God. No matter how loudly it proclaims to honor and serve God it is anti-God and anti-Christ and it does not and cannot subject itself to the Law of God.
For another thing it means that those who are in the flesh and set their minds on the things of the flesh are dead to the things of God. We will look to 1 Corinthians 2:3-14 to establish this truth.
Those whose minds are set on the flesh have a type of faith but not biblical saving faith. The mind set on the flesh rests on the wisdom of men rather than the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:3-5). The mind set on the flesh is dead to the things of God and alive to philosophy and worldly wisdom.
The mind set on the flesh does not understand the wisdom of God nor the ways of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). God’s wisdom is hidden from the unsaved and it is foolishness to those who are perishing. The unsaved look at the ways of God and in essence say, “God wouldn’t do that; God doesn’t work that way; or that will never work.” It is impossible for the unsaved to operate by faith according to God’s wisdom because they are dead to the things of God.
The mind set on the flesh does not accept or receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised or understood (1 Corinthians 2:14). Therefore, the unsaved, those who set there minds on the things of the flesh cannot and will not live by faith. This truth leads to the second truth that is stated in Romans 8:7 – “Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the Law of God, for it is not even able to do so.”
So those who are in the flesh are dead to the things of God and are still enemies of God – they are hostile toward God. This means that they have not been justified and that they do not have peace with God. They are still in their stubborn independence and self-determination – even as they attempt to do what they think to be the will of God.
No man can do the will of God in the flesh. Our text says that it is impossible. The only way to do the will of God is by faith through the indwelling Spirit. This is why Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This brings us back to the truth that Christianity is trusting not trying. We can’t obey God in the flesh – He never said we could – He actually said we couldn’t. We can only obey God by faith – trusting Him with all our hearts and leaning not on our own understanding. We must remember this truth – we can’t, He never said we could; He can, and He always said He would.
So clearly we can see that those who are in the flesh are dead to the things of God and are still at war with God – they have not been justified.
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8). This truth is more than obvious. Since those who are in the flesh are still in their rebellion and suicidal love affair with independence and self-determination – they cannot please God. All that this type of person can do is sin against God while claiming to obey God. This means that they are not being sanctified no matter how religious or how good their works seem to be when judged according to appearance.
A person can give his life going around trying to bring about world peace or cure world diseases or fight world hunger or diminish world poverty and still not please God. All of this can be done in the flesh and can be a result of the heresy of works righteousness which will eternally damn the soul.
Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Romans 8:8 says that those who are in the flesh cannot please God. It is of utmost importance that Christians learn the differences between flesh and faith because much of what is being called Christianity in our day is nothing short of deeds of the flesh counterfeiting and posing as faith.
This is of utmost importance because the Bible speaks clearly and completely about the truth of multitudes perishing who thought they were saved (Matthew 7; 24; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-2).
Because of the reality of the danger of being deceived we are told to make sure that we are saved – “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you…” (2 Peter 1:10). We are told to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith – “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith: examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). And we are told how to test ourselves (1 John and Romans 8:5-17).
So in this section (Romans 8:5-17) Paul contrasts and compares the differences between the saved and the unsaved primarily to show how those who are saved will live an exalted and sanctified life in the Spirit and how those who are not saved will live an excluded and unsanctified life in the flesh. We can divide this section into three categories: (1) those who are in the flesh (8:5-8), (2) those who have the Spirit (8:9-11), and (3) those whom the Spirit has (8:12-17).
For now our primary concern will be with those who are in the flesh according to Romans 8:5-8. Here we see three characteristics of those who are in the flesh:
Those who are in the flesh mind the things of the flesh (Romans 8:5). What does it mean to mind the things of the flesh? Before we answer that question let me tell you what it does not mean. Minding the things of the flesh does not mean that a person is not religious; it does not mean that a person does not go to church; it does not mean that a person does not read the Bible; and it does not mean that a person does not have a profession of faith. A person can do all those things and still be someone who minds the things of the flesh. A person can do all those things and still be lost – the Bible even tells us that many preachers and teachers of God’s Word mind the things of the flesh instead of things of the Spirit and that they are false and lost.
So what does it mean to mind the things of the flesh? As simply as I can state it, minding the things of the flesh means to live by the flesh rather than by faith. It means to be self-controlled or self-led rather than Spirit-controlled or Spirit-led. It means to be governed by worldly principles rather than by principles of the Word. We are actually given many examples of this in the Bible.
In Jude 11 we read about Cain, Balaam, and Korah – all given as examples of men who operated by the flesh and not by faith.
Cain rebelled against God’s way of justification by approaching God on his own terms and not on God’s terms. Cain departed from the Word of God and offered God something other than what God prescribed. Cain operated in the flesh and not in faith – he minded the things of the flesh. Cain wanted to do it his own way and not God’s way. And we read that by faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous… (Hebrews 11:4). We also read that Cain was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous (1 John 3:12).
Balaam rebelled against God’s way of sanctification by encouraging the people of God to compromise their purity, holiness, and separation through committing acts of immorality both spiritually and physically. Balaam caused the people of God to be defiled with the world by teaching them to be friends with the world and to love the world. Balaam operated in the flesh and not in faith – he minded the things of the flesh. Balaam wanted to do it his own way and not God’s way and he taught the people of God to do it the same way. Balaam’s motive was fame and fortune and not the well-being of God’s people or the glory of God.
Korah rebelled against God’s way of glorification by exalting himself over God’s appointed leaders. Korah deceived himself with his works by gathering 250 men of renown and assembling themselves against Moses and Aaron for the purpose of self-exaltation. Rather than by faith trusting God to exalt him in due time, Korah took matters into his own hands and operated in the flesh. Korah operated in the flesh and not in faith – he minded the things of the flesh. Korah wanted to do it his own way and not God’s way!
In Jude 16 we read about these people who mind the flesh – “These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts [desires]; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.” Now let me ask you, where do you see any living by faith in the person who is taking matters into his own hands to bring about what he desires? This is minding the flesh and not living by faith. Is this person saved?
Jude 17-19 says, “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, ‘In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.’ These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly minded, devoid of the Spirit.” Being worldly minded is to mind the things of the flesh; to be devoid of the Spirit; and to not live by faith.
So we ought to be able to see that those who are in the flesh and mind the things of the flesh are worldly minded rather than Word minded. They operate in the realm of man’s best thinking (philosophy) rather than God’s revealed truth (theology). This is what makes the false preachers and teachers so dangerous and so successful. To the worldly minded man the worldly minded teaching of the false prophets sounds like truth.
The Bible tells us that these false prophets are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them (1 John 4:5). But it also tells us that the true prophets are from God; he who knows God listens to them; he who does not know God does not listen to them. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 John 4:6).
False prophets and their followers mind the things of the flesh and are worldly minded. What does it mean to mind the things of the flesh? It means to be self-controlled or self-led.
So I pray that you get the picture that those who are in the flesh and mind the things of the flesh do not live by faith and end up violating the Word of God. The requirement of the Law is not fulfilled in them.
Those who are in the flesh are dead to the things of God and are still at war with God (Romans 8:6-7). We saw what it means to mind the things of the flesh, but what does it mean that the mind set on the flesh is death? First it means that the mind set on the flesh is a mind that is in rebellion against God. The root of death is sin or rebellion against God. The mind set on the flesh is death because it is an independent spirit. It has a suicidal love affair with independence and self-determination. The mind set on the flesh is worldly minded and devoid of the life giving Spirit of God. No matter how loudly it proclaims to honor and serve God it is anti-God and anti-Christ and it does not and cannot subject itself to the Law of God.
For another thing it means that those who are in the flesh and set their minds on the things of the flesh are dead to the things of God. We will look to 1 Corinthians 2:3-14 to establish this truth.
Those whose minds are set on the flesh have a type of faith but not biblical saving faith. The mind set on the flesh rests on the wisdom of men rather than the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:3-5). The mind set on the flesh is dead to the things of God and alive to philosophy and worldly wisdom.
The mind set on the flesh does not understand the wisdom of God nor the ways of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). God’s wisdom is hidden from the unsaved and it is foolishness to those who are perishing. The unsaved look at the ways of God and in essence say, “God wouldn’t do that; God doesn’t work that way; or that will never work.” It is impossible for the unsaved to operate by faith according to God’s wisdom because they are dead to the things of God.
The mind set on the flesh does not accept or receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised or understood (1 Corinthians 2:14). Therefore, the unsaved, those who set there minds on the things of the flesh cannot and will not live by faith. This truth leads to the second truth that is stated in Romans 8:7 – “Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the Law of God, for it is not even able to do so.”
So those who are in the flesh are dead to the things of God and are still enemies of God – they are hostile toward God. This means that they have not been justified and that they do not have peace with God. They are still in their stubborn independence and self-determination – even as they attempt to do what they think to be the will of God.
No man can do the will of God in the flesh. Our text says that it is impossible. The only way to do the will of God is by faith through the indwelling Spirit. This is why Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This brings us back to the truth that Christianity is trusting not trying. We can’t obey God in the flesh – He never said we could – He actually said we couldn’t. We can only obey God by faith – trusting Him with all our hearts and leaning not on our own understanding. We must remember this truth – we can’t, He never said we could; He can, and He always said He would.
So clearly we can see that those who are in the flesh are dead to the things of God and are still at war with God – they have not been justified.
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8). This truth is more than obvious. Since those who are in the flesh are still in their rebellion and suicidal love affair with independence and self-determination – they cannot please God. All that this type of person can do is sin against God while claiming to obey God. This means that they are not being sanctified no matter how religious or how good their works seem to be when judged according to appearance.
A person can give his life going around trying to bring about world peace or cure world diseases or fight world hunger or diminish world poverty and still not please God. All of this can be done in the flesh and can be a result of the heresy of works righteousness which will eternally damn the soul.
Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Romans 8:8 says that those who are in the flesh cannot please God. It is of utmost importance that Christians learn the differences between flesh and faith because much of what is being called Christianity in our day is nothing short of deeds of the flesh counterfeiting and posing as faith.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
No Condemnation - Exempted Living (Romans 8:1-4) Part 2
The Law cannot claim you (Romans 8:3-4)
Since the Law cannot condemn you it also cannot claim you. Why is this so? Because Christ has already set you free from the Law’s condemnation by suffering and paying for the Law’s just claim over you on the cross. The “law of double jeopardy” states that a man cannot be tried twice for the same crime. God would not be just to condemn you when He has already condemned Jesus Christ in your place as though He was you. Since Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins and since you are in Christ, God will not condemn you.
The only safe place from the just wrath of God is in Christ Jesus. This is true because the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who could and did suffer the wrath of God in our place so that we wouldn’t have to.
The Law cannot save a sinner from the wrath of God – it can only condemn the sinner and guarantee that he will indeed be the recipient of God’s wrath. Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20) and because of this the Law brings about wrath (Romans 4:15).
In Romans 8:1-2 we saw the twin truths of justification and sanctification and their relationship to one another. Romans 8:1 is a declaration of justification through no condemnation. Romans 8:2 is a declaration of sanctification because of no condemnation. We saw that justification is the cause of sanctification and that sanctification is not and cannot be the cause of justification. So this means that God’s legally declaring us righteous in Christ is the foundation and cause of our actually becoming righteous by loving Jesus and living for Jesus.
Romans 8:3-4 declares these twin truths of justification and sanctification once again. The Holy Spirit of God wants us to understand the God ordained order of our salvation. Justification always precedes and causes sanctification. Where there is no sanctification, justification has not taken place – not because sanctification causes justification but because justification always causes sanctification. These twin truths are devastating to the heresy of easy-believism and firmly establish the Biblical truth of Lordship salvation.
But not only are these twin truths devastating to libertinism they are also devastating to legalism. Paul has been laboring to show both the intent and the inability of the Law so that men would see their need to be justified and sanctified by faith and not by the Law. In other words the apostle has been laboring to show that the Law cannot justify and that it cannot sanctify. This is the perfect antidote against legalism.
So in Romans 8:3 we read about what the Law could not do but what God could and did do. “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.” Here we see four statements in this verse: (1) The Law cannot condemn sin in the flesh and therefore it cannot justify or sanctify, (2) the Law cannot justify or sanctify because of the weakness of our flesh, (3) what the Law could not do God did, and (4) God condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son and therefore we can be justified and sanctified by faith in Christ.
The Law cannot condemn sin in the flesh and therefore it cannot justify or sanctify. This doesn’t mean that the Law cannot criticize sin or show it to be worthy of death – this is precisely what the Law does. In the sense of passing the sentence of death on the sinner and guaranteeing that it must take place, the Law is perfectly capable. But this is not what our text is speaking of. Our text is speaking of having the ability to set us free from the law of sin and death not by condemning sin in the flesh by criticizing it but by actually condemning sin in the flesh by carrying out sin’s penalty through capitol punishment on a willing and able Substitute. This the Law cannot do! The Law cannot justify the sinner; it cannot exempt him but can only demand his execution. The Law cannot sanctify the sinner; it cannot change him but can only charge him with his crimes.
The Law cannot justify or sanctify because of the weakness of the flesh. “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh….” This portion of verse 3 tells us why the Law cannot justify or sanctify – the weakness or wickedness of our flesh. The problem with the Law is not that its commandments are evil (Romans 7:12) but that we are evil and sold into bondage to sin (Romans 7:14). The word flesh means our old fallen nature – what we are by nature because of our connection to Adam. We are by nature sinners! Therefore it is our nature to rebel against God and His Law and therefore we are rightfully under condemnation. This means that we need to be delivered from the just condemnation that belongs to us and we need a new nature. We need justification and sanctification.
How will we be delivered from condemnation? Not by keeping the Law – we can’t! How will we get a new nature? Not by keeping the Law – we can’t! How then? By trusting not trying! The sooner we see our sickness the sooner we can seek the Savior! Our flesh cannot be empowered by the Law for the Law does not arrest sin in us but arouses it!
What the Law could not do, God did! The Law could not exempt us it could only guarantee our execution; the Law could not justify us. The Law could not change us it could only charge us with our crimes; the Law could not sanctify us! What the Law could not do, God did! God exempted us and justified us and He changed us and sanctified us. How did God do this?
God condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son. Here is the high and holy doctrine of Penal-Substitution. God executed the just penalty for sin in the flesh of His sinless Son as an offering or substitute for my sin and your sin. There was no sin in Christ to condemn so the condemnation that He received was not His own but as a substitute for others. This is clearly seen in 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
My sin was punished fully and in its finality in the body of Christ. And if my sin was punished there finally and fully, then I will not be punished for it again – “My sin O the bliss of this glorious thought; my sin not in part but the whole; is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!” (Horatio G. Spafford, It Is Well With My Soul, 1873).
But what was the purpose of God justifying us by condemning our sin in the flesh of His sinless Son? Was it just so that we would be justified and have a fire insurance policy guaranteeing that we wouldn’t go to hell? Did God intend to justify us and not change us? What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the condemnation of the Law but under grace? May it never be!
God justified us so that we would love Him and serve Him and thereby be sanctified. This is what verse 4 declares – “So that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
The love of God rescued us from the wrath of God so that we would love God and serve Him in newness of life. Our justification causes our sanctification. We love Him because He first loved us. Another way of saying this wonderful truth is that we are sanctified because He first loved us and justified us. Our obedience is a result of love not Law.
The believer lives a righteous life, not in the power of the Law, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. The believer lives a righteous life, not by trying, but by trusting. This is what Paul meant when he said all the way back in Romans 1:17 that the righteous man shall live by faith.
The righteousness that God demands in His Law is fulfilled in us through the Holy Spirit’s power. Our sanctification – fulfilling the requirement of the Law – is based on our justification – Christ’s fulfilling the requirement of the Law on our behalf.
The Law cannot condemn us and it cannot claim us because of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. We now have no condemnation and experience exempted living.
Since the Law cannot condemn you it also cannot claim you. Why is this so? Because Christ has already set you free from the Law’s condemnation by suffering and paying for the Law’s just claim over you on the cross. The “law of double jeopardy” states that a man cannot be tried twice for the same crime. God would not be just to condemn you when He has already condemned Jesus Christ in your place as though He was you. Since Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins and since you are in Christ, God will not condemn you.
The only safe place from the just wrath of God is in Christ Jesus. This is true because the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who could and did suffer the wrath of God in our place so that we wouldn’t have to.
The Law cannot save a sinner from the wrath of God – it can only condemn the sinner and guarantee that he will indeed be the recipient of God’s wrath. Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20) and because of this the Law brings about wrath (Romans 4:15).
In Romans 8:1-2 we saw the twin truths of justification and sanctification and their relationship to one another. Romans 8:1 is a declaration of justification through no condemnation. Romans 8:2 is a declaration of sanctification because of no condemnation. We saw that justification is the cause of sanctification and that sanctification is not and cannot be the cause of justification. So this means that God’s legally declaring us righteous in Christ is the foundation and cause of our actually becoming righteous by loving Jesus and living for Jesus.
Romans 8:3-4 declares these twin truths of justification and sanctification once again. The Holy Spirit of God wants us to understand the God ordained order of our salvation. Justification always precedes and causes sanctification. Where there is no sanctification, justification has not taken place – not because sanctification causes justification but because justification always causes sanctification. These twin truths are devastating to the heresy of easy-believism and firmly establish the Biblical truth of Lordship salvation.
But not only are these twin truths devastating to libertinism they are also devastating to legalism. Paul has been laboring to show both the intent and the inability of the Law so that men would see their need to be justified and sanctified by faith and not by the Law. In other words the apostle has been laboring to show that the Law cannot justify and that it cannot sanctify. This is the perfect antidote against legalism.
So in Romans 8:3 we read about what the Law could not do but what God could and did do. “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.” Here we see four statements in this verse: (1) The Law cannot condemn sin in the flesh and therefore it cannot justify or sanctify, (2) the Law cannot justify or sanctify because of the weakness of our flesh, (3) what the Law could not do God did, and (4) God condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son and therefore we can be justified and sanctified by faith in Christ.
The Law cannot condemn sin in the flesh and therefore it cannot justify or sanctify. This doesn’t mean that the Law cannot criticize sin or show it to be worthy of death – this is precisely what the Law does. In the sense of passing the sentence of death on the sinner and guaranteeing that it must take place, the Law is perfectly capable. But this is not what our text is speaking of. Our text is speaking of having the ability to set us free from the law of sin and death not by condemning sin in the flesh by criticizing it but by actually condemning sin in the flesh by carrying out sin’s penalty through capitol punishment on a willing and able Substitute. This the Law cannot do! The Law cannot justify the sinner; it cannot exempt him but can only demand his execution. The Law cannot sanctify the sinner; it cannot change him but can only charge him with his crimes.
The Law cannot justify or sanctify because of the weakness of the flesh. “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh….” This portion of verse 3 tells us why the Law cannot justify or sanctify – the weakness or wickedness of our flesh. The problem with the Law is not that its commandments are evil (Romans 7:12) but that we are evil and sold into bondage to sin (Romans 7:14). The word flesh means our old fallen nature – what we are by nature because of our connection to Adam. We are by nature sinners! Therefore it is our nature to rebel against God and His Law and therefore we are rightfully under condemnation. This means that we need to be delivered from the just condemnation that belongs to us and we need a new nature. We need justification and sanctification.
How will we be delivered from condemnation? Not by keeping the Law – we can’t! How will we get a new nature? Not by keeping the Law – we can’t! How then? By trusting not trying! The sooner we see our sickness the sooner we can seek the Savior! Our flesh cannot be empowered by the Law for the Law does not arrest sin in us but arouses it!
What the Law could not do, God did! The Law could not exempt us it could only guarantee our execution; the Law could not justify us. The Law could not change us it could only charge us with our crimes; the Law could not sanctify us! What the Law could not do, God did! God exempted us and justified us and He changed us and sanctified us. How did God do this?
God condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son. Here is the high and holy doctrine of Penal-Substitution. God executed the just penalty for sin in the flesh of His sinless Son as an offering or substitute for my sin and your sin. There was no sin in Christ to condemn so the condemnation that He received was not His own but as a substitute for others. This is clearly seen in 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
My sin was punished fully and in its finality in the body of Christ. And if my sin was punished there finally and fully, then I will not be punished for it again – “My sin O the bliss of this glorious thought; my sin not in part but the whole; is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!” (Horatio G. Spafford, It Is Well With My Soul, 1873).
But what was the purpose of God justifying us by condemning our sin in the flesh of His sinless Son? Was it just so that we would be justified and have a fire insurance policy guaranteeing that we wouldn’t go to hell? Did God intend to justify us and not change us? What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the condemnation of the Law but under grace? May it never be!
God justified us so that we would love Him and serve Him and thereby be sanctified. This is what verse 4 declares – “So that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
The love of God rescued us from the wrath of God so that we would love God and serve Him in newness of life. Our justification causes our sanctification. We love Him because He first loved us. Another way of saying this wonderful truth is that we are sanctified because He first loved us and justified us. Our obedience is a result of love not Law.
The believer lives a righteous life, not in the power of the Law, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. The believer lives a righteous life, not by trying, but by trusting. This is what Paul meant when he said all the way back in Romans 1:17 that the righteous man shall live by faith.
The righteousness that God demands in His Law is fulfilled in us through the Holy Spirit’s power. Our sanctification – fulfilling the requirement of the Law – is based on our justification – Christ’s fulfilling the requirement of the Law on our behalf.
The Law cannot condemn us and it cannot claim us because of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. We now have no condemnation and experience exempted living.
Monday, February 1, 2010
No Condemnation - Exempted Living (Romans 8:1-4)
The Law cannot condemn you (1-2)
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The apostle is here speaking of justification. For those who are in Christ Jesus their penalty for violating the Law has been paid by Jesus Christ. All who are under the Law are under the Law’s condemnation and curse. The Law condemns those who are not in Christ and it demands their execution for their violation of the Law. Romans 3:20 shows the “therefore” of condemnation because of the Law’s conclusion that by works of the Law no flesh shall be justified in God’s sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Romans 8:1 shows the “therefore” of no condemnation on the basis of being in Christ under grace and not in Adam under the Law. For all who are in Adam and have not been transferred into Christ through faith in Christ, have not been justified; the Law’s condemnation on their lives has not been eradicated; and their penalty or condemnation must be paid by them just as the Law demands.
For those who are in Christ, the requirements of the Law have been fully satisfied on the basis of the sinless life, sacrificial death, and supernatural resurrection of Christ, so that the Law no longer has jurisdiction over the believer and it cannot condemn the believer. By faith in Christ and being in Christ we have died to the Law and been released from its condemnation of us.
What does “no condemnation” mean for those who are in Christ in this fallen sin-sick world? What is Paul saying in Romans 8:1 when he says, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”?
Paul was saying that all of God’s just and righteous wrath and holy opposition toward us has been absorbed by another on our behalf. In other words, the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty has been turned away from us by being poured out on Jesus Christ so that what God’s holy nature and Law required for our sin was fulfilled in Christ our Substitute so that God can justify us and remain just in the process. This means that in Christ, God is for us and not against us. Paul comes to the glorious climax of this truth in Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
But now on the other hand, those who are not in Christ Jesus, those who have a profession of faith but no possession of faith, and those who make no claim of faith whatsoever will find the terrible truth that the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty has not been turned away and that God is against them and not for them.
This truth is easily seen in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 – “…when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His might angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”
So Romans 8:1 is the wonderful good news of no condemnation for those who have been justified by faith in Christ and are indeed in Christ. But how does one begin to know for sure that he has been justified and is indeed in Christ?
Well for starters as we answer that question let me state the obvious truth and then we will proceed to prove it – genuine and biblical justification always precedes and empowers sanctification. Without sanctification following justification there has been no justification. This is what James was writing about in his letter. A faith that does not work cannot be saving faith. In other words a justification that does not produce sanctification cannot be biblical justification.
Notice Romans 8:2 – “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Here we don’t see justification, we see sanctification. The declaration of our justification is in verse 1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” – that’s justification. But here in verse 2 we see a description of practical sanctification. Sanctification proves justification but does not cause it. Justification causes sanctification and if there is no sanctification then justification hasn’t taken place. This is the truth the apostle Paul was teaching in 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
The basis for the truth and assurance that there is therefore now no condemnation is the phrase “in Christ Jesus.” In Adam all die – in Adam we were all condemned. In Christ there is no condemnation because in Christ all shall be made alive – so in Christ all are justified.
But we also see the wonderful truth that all who are in Christ are also in the process of being sanctified because we have been set free from the law of sin and death through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Paul went on to say in his letter to the Corinthians – “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).
We have died to the Law and its penalty in Christ and have been given a new life principle by the Spirit of life so that the Law cannot condemn us. We are new creatures who are no longer under condemnation. Our penalty has been paid by our Substitute who loved us and gave Himself up for us so that we no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf. Because this is true we are in the process of being sanctified because we are now living for Jesus. This is exempted living – from the Law.
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The apostle is here speaking of justification. For those who are in Christ Jesus their penalty for violating the Law has been paid by Jesus Christ. All who are under the Law are under the Law’s condemnation and curse. The Law condemns those who are not in Christ and it demands their execution for their violation of the Law. Romans 3:20 shows the “therefore” of condemnation because of the Law’s conclusion that by works of the Law no flesh shall be justified in God’s sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Romans 8:1 shows the “therefore” of no condemnation on the basis of being in Christ under grace and not in Adam under the Law. For all who are in Adam and have not been transferred into Christ through faith in Christ, have not been justified; the Law’s condemnation on their lives has not been eradicated; and their penalty or condemnation must be paid by them just as the Law demands.
For those who are in Christ, the requirements of the Law have been fully satisfied on the basis of the sinless life, sacrificial death, and supernatural resurrection of Christ, so that the Law no longer has jurisdiction over the believer and it cannot condemn the believer. By faith in Christ and being in Christ we have died to the Law and been released from its condemnation of us.
What does “no condemnation” mean for those who are in Christ in this fallen sin-sick world? What is Paul saying in Romans 8:1 when he says, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”?
Paul was saying that all of God’s just and righteous wrath and holy opposition toward us has been absorbed by another on our behalf. In other words, the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty has been turned away from us by being poured out on Jesus Christ so that what God’s holy nature and Law required for our sin was fulfilled in Christ our Substitute so that God can justify us and remain just in the process. This means that in Christ, God is for us and not against us. Paul comes to the glorious climax of this truth in Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
But now on the other hand, those who are not in Christ Jesus, those who have a profession of faith but no possession of faith, and those who make no claim of faith whatsoever will find the terrible truth that the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty has not been turned away and that God is against them and not for them.
This truth is easily seen in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 – “…when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His might angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”
So Romans 8:1 is the wonderful good news of no condemnation for those who have been justified by faith in Christ and are indeed in Christ. But how does one begin to know for sure that he has been justified and is indeed in Christ?
Well for starters as we answer that question let me state the obvious truth and then we will proceed to prove it – genuine and biblical justification always precedes and empowers sanctification. Without sanctification following justification there has been no justification. This is what James was writing about in his letter. A faith that does not work cannot be saving faith. In other words a justification that does not produce sanctification cannot be biblical justification.
Notice Romans 8:2 – “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Here we don’t see justification, we see sanctification. The declaration of our justification is in verse 1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” – that’s justification. But here in verse 2 we see a description of practical sanctification. Sanctification proves justification but does not cause it. Justification causes sanctification and if there is no sanctification then justification hasn’t taken place. This is the truth the apostle Paul was teaching in 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
The basis for the truth and assurance that there is therefore now no condemnation is the phrase “in Christ Jesus.” In Adam all die – in Adam we were all condemned. In Christ there is no condemnation because in Christ all shall be made alive – so in Christ all are justified.
But we also see the wonderful truth that all who are in Christ are also in the process of being sanctified because we have been set free from the law of sin and death through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Paul went on to say in his letter to the Corinthians – “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).
We have died to the Law and its penalty in Christ and have been given a new life principle by the Spirit of life so that the Law cannot condemn us. We are new creatures who are no longer under condemnation. Our penalty has been paid by our Substitute who loved us and gave Himself up for us so that we no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf. Because this is true we are in the process of being sanctified because we are now living for Jesus. This is exempted living – from the Law.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Inability of the Law (Romans 7:14-25)
Paul has been laboring in the book of Romans to prove that the gospel of justification by faith in no way nullifies the Law of God and by no means is a message that means that the Law of God is bad. Paul has already declared that the Law itself testifies that the righteousness of God does not come through the Law but is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-22). Paul has also declared that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ does not nullify the Law but actually establishes the Law (Romans 3:31).
The reason that Paul would have been accused of preaching against the Law as he preached the good news of justification by faith in Christ was because too many misunderstood the purpose or intent of the Law. The Law was not given to show man’s goodness but his badness by showing God’s goodness and man’s violation of that which is good. This is why Paul said, “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase” (Romans 5:20). Although this may seem to be a bad thing it is really a good thing because it is only through seeing our badness that we will see our need for a Savior.
So the intent of the Law is to announce sin (Romans 7:7), arouse sin (Romans 7:8-9), authorize sin (Romans 7:10-11), and amplify sin (Romans 7:12-13). By the Law being the perfect standard of that which is good it gives an accurate and totally true evaluation of that which is not good. So the Law is that which is holy and righteous and good (Romans 7:12) and sin is that which is unholy and unrighteous and bad – and we are sinners – a truth to which the Law testifies without fail. Since we are sinners and are unable to do good then both our justification and our sanctification are by faith in Christ.
Now this is the context of what we are studying in the book of Romans. If we will keep in mind that Paul is showing that justification by faith in Christ is what the Law is pointing to as our only hope and that sanctification by faith in Christ is what the Law is pointing to as our only help we will be able to better understand what Paul is talking about in the rest of chapter 7.
Having explained what the Law is supposed to do – its intent – Paul now explains what the Law cannot do – its inability. That brings us to this tremendous truth – the Law can show us our badness but it cannot provide us with any goodness. This means that the righteousness of God that I need to be acceptable to God is out of my reach through the Law so I need someone who has completely fulfilled God’s Law to give me His righteousness on the basis of His love and grace apart from anything that I have done.
Once these two inseparable ministries of the Law (its intent and inability) are properly understood then the sinner is left standing before God stripped of any false notions of self-righteousness so that he can throw himself on God’s mercy in Jesus Christ and receive God’s grace through receiving Jesus Christ. Having been justified by faith and not the Law the believer can then also live by faith and not the Law – the righteous man shall live by faith (Romans 1:17).
In Romans 7:14-25, Paul explained the inability of the Law and gave three necessities that the Law cannot give:
The Law can educate about sin’s control but cannot empower you to change (Romans 7:14-17).
Not only is there no justification through the Law neither can one be sanctified through it. In his attempts to keep the Law and live a sanctified life Paul was agreeing that the Law was good but he was finding out that it couldn’t change him. The Law had “come” to Paul fulfilling its intent showing him that it was spiritual and dealt with the inner man and not just the outer man. Outwardly one can appear to be righteous but inwardly full of wickedness – this is what the Law taught Paul.
Human nature is carnal (fleshly); but the Law’s nature is spiritual. This explains why the old nature responds as it does to the Law. It has well been said, “The old nature knows no Law, the new nature needs no Law.”
It was through Paul’s attempts to keep the Law that he also was educated by it about his true condition – he was of the flesh, sold into bondage to sin. Every time Paul attempted to do what the Law wanted him to do he couldn’t and every time Paul attempted not to do what the Law prohibited – inwardly he couldn’t. Through this experience Paul was agreeing with and confessing that the Law was good – but that he wasn’t.
Have you ever made a resolution and didn’t keep it? What did you learn in the process? Did you learn that you wanted to do good but couldn’t? Did you learn that you were controlled by a force greater than you? (Romans 7:17)
The Law cannot empower the old nature to change; it can only educate how sinful that old nature is.
The Law can enlighten about sin’s corruption but cannot enable you to do good (Romans 7:18-21).
After attempting to do what the Law requires and failing, Paul was enlightened about his true condition – “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me (in my mind), but the doing of good is not (in my flesh). Paul found out that the Law can enlighten about sin’s corruption but cannot enable you to do good.
Paul was saying that in and of himself he could not obey God’s Law; and that even when he did evil was still present with him. So the Law was powerless to enable Paul to do good just as it still is today with any man. The Law can enlighten about sin’s corruption but it cannot enable you to do good.
Even after a man is saved the Law does not enable him to do good. His sanctification cannot be attained through the Law. The Law cannot enable you to do good – it can only enlighten you about sin’s corruption.
The Law can elucidate about sin’s captivity but cannot emancipate you (Romans 7:22-25).
Elucidate means to make clear or explain – to give explanation. Emancipate means to free from bondage. The Law elucidates the reality of sin’s captivity of our old natures – it makes clear and explains our imprisonment to the law of sin in our bodies.
After having been justified by faith apart from works of the Law, many wrongly conclude that they now have the ability to be sanctified by keeping the Law. This is not true and would mean that having begun by the Spirit we are now being perfected by the flesh (Galatians 3:3). However, anyone who has ever tried his best and made resolutions and even “rededications” has discovered that painful reality that though he wants to do good he cannot free himself for his old nature – not even through trying to keep God’s Law.
The Law cannot free us from the bondage of sin in the old nature. The inward man may delight in the Law of God, but the old nature delights in breaking the Law of God. People who wrongly believe that they must live the Christian life in the power of the flesh under the Law will say things like, “Living the Christian life is hard!” Actually, living the Christian life in the power of the flesh under the Law isn’t hard – it’s an impossibility!
The only proper response of any person attempting to live the Christian life by keeping the Law is to exclaim what he has discovered – “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?”
Is there any deliverance? Sure there is! “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Because the believer is united to Christ, he is dead to the Law and no longer under its authority. But he is alive to God and able to be led by the Holy Spirit. The explanation of this victory is in Romans 8.
The final sentence (Romans 7:25) does not teach that the believer lives a divided life but that there is a struggle within him between the flesh and the Spirit. The believer does not obey the flesh and the Spirit at the same time. He either obeys the flesh and his old nature and sins or he obeys the Spirit and his new nature and is sanctified.
The Bible has nothing good to say about the flesh – nothing good dwells in it (Romans 7:8); the flesh is hostile toward God (Romans 8:7); does not subject itself to the Law of God (Romans 8:7); those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8); those who are living according to the flesh must die (Romans 8:13); and so on it goes.
The Law cannot emancipate you – it can only elucidate about sin’s captivity. If we are to be set free and sanctified we must yield to the Holy Spirit and not attempt to serve God in the flesh!
The reason that Paul would have been accused of preaching against the Law as he preached the good news of justification by faith in Christ was because too many misunderstood the purpose or intent of the Law. The Law was not given to show man’s goodness but his badness by showing God’s goodness and man’s violation of that which is good. This is why Paul said, “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase” (Romans 5:20). Although this may seem to be a bad thing it is really a good thing because it is only through seeing our badness that we will see our need for a Savior.
So the intent of the Law is to announce sin (Romans 7:7), arouse sin (Romans 7:8-9), authorize sin (Romans 7:10-11), and amplify sin (Romans 7:12-13). By the Law being the perfect standard of that which is good it gives an accurate and totally true evaluation of that which is not good. So the Law is that which is holy and righteous and good (Romans 7:12) and sin is that which is unholy and unrighteous and bad – and we are sinners – a truth to which the Law testifies without fail. Since we are sinners and are unable to do good then both our justification and our sanctification are by faith in Christ.
Now this is the context of what we are studying in the book of Romans. If we will keep in mind that Paul is showing that justification by faith in Christ is what the Law is pointing to as our only hope and that sanctification by faith in Christ is what the Law is pointing to as our only help we will be able to better understand what Paul is talking about in the rest of chapter 7.
Having explained what the Law is supposed to do – its intent – Paul now explains what the Law cannot do – its inability. That brings us to this tremendous truth – the Law can show us our badness but it cannot provide us with any goodness. This means that the righteousness of God that I need to be acceptable to God is out of my reach through the Law so I need someone who has completely fulfilled God’s Law to give me His righteousness on the basis of His love and grace apart from anything that I have done.
Once these two inseparable ministries of the Law (its intent and inability) are properly understood then the sinner is left standing before God stripped of any false notions of self-righteousness so that he can throw himself on God’s mercy in Jesus Christ and receive God’s grace through receiving Jesus Christ. Having been justified by faith and not the Law the believer can then also live by faith and not the Law – the righteous man shall live by faith (Romans 1:17).
In Romans 7:14-25, Paul explained the inability of the Law and gave three necessities that the Law cannot give:
The Law can educate about sin’s control but cannot empower you to change (Romans 7:14-17).
Not only is there no justification through the Law neither can one be sanctified through it. In his attempts to keep the Law and live a sanctified life Paul was agreeing that the Law was good but he was finding out that it couldn’t change him. The Law had “come” to Paul fulfilling its intent showing him that it was spiritual and dealt with the inner man and not just the outer man. Outwardly one can appear to be righteous but inwardly full of wickedness – this is what the Law taught Paul.
Human nature is carnal (fleshly); but the Law’s nature is spiritual. This explains why the old nature responds as it does to the Law. It has well been said, “The old nature knows no Law, the new nature needs no Law.”
It was through Paul’s attempts to keep the Law that he also was educated by it about his true condition – he was of the flesh, sold into bondage to sin. Every time Paul attempted to do what the Law wanted him to do he couldn’t and every time Paul attempted not to do what the Law prohibited – inwardly he couldn’t. Through this experience Paul was agreeing with and confessing that the Law was good – but that he wasn’t.
Have you ever made a resolution and didn’t keep it? What did you learn in the process? Did you learn that you wanted to do good but couldn’t? Did you learn that you were controlled by a force greater than you? (Romans 7:17)
The Law cannot empower the old nature to change; it can only educate how sinful that old nature is.
The Law can enlighten about sin’s corruption but cannot enable you to do good (Romans 7:18-21).
After attempting to do what the Law requires and failing, Paul was enlightened about his true condition – “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me (in my mind), but the doing of good is not (in my flesh). Paul found out that the Law can enlighten about sin’s corruption but cannot enable you to do good.
Paul was saying that in and of himself he could not obey God’s Law; and that even when he did evil was still present with him. So the Law was powerless to enable Paul to do good just as it still is today with any man. The Law can enlighten about sin’s corruption but it cannot enable you to do good.
Even after a man is saved the Law does not enable him to do good. His sanctification cannot be attained through the Law. The Law cannot enable you to do good – it can only enlighten you about sin’s corruption.
The Law can elucidate about sin’s captivity but cannot emancipate you (Romans 7:22-25).
Elucidate means to make clear or explain – to give explanation. Emancipate means to free from bondage. The Law elucidates the reality of sin’s captivity of our old natures – it makes clear and explains our imprisonment to the law of sin in our bodies.
After having been justified by faith apart from works of the Law, many wrongly conclude that they now have the ability to be sanctified by keeping the Law. This is not true and would mean that having begun by the Spirit we are now being perfected by the flesh (Galatians 3:3). However, anyone who has ever tried his best and made resolutions and even “rededications” has discovered that painful reality that though he wants to do good he cannot free himself for his old nature – not even through trying to keep God’s Law.
The Law cannot free us from the bondage of sin in the old nature. The inward man may delight in the Law of God, but the old nature delights in breaking the Law of God. People who wrongly believe that they must live the Christian life in the power of the flesh under the Law will say things like, “Living the Christian life is hard!” Actually, living the Christian life in the power of the flesh under the Law isn’t hard – it’s an impossibility!
The only proper response of any person attempting to live the Christian life by keeping the Law is to exclaim what he has discovered – “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?”
Is there any deliverance? Sure there is! “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Because the believer is united to Christ, he is dead to the Law and no longer under its authority. But he is alive to God and able to be led by the Holy Spirit. The explanation of this victory is in Romans 8.
The final sentence (Romans 7:25) does not teach that the believer lives a divided life but that there is a struggle within him between the flesh and the Spirit. The believer does not obey the flesh and the Spirit at the same time. He either obeys the flesh and his old nature and sins or he obeys the Spirit and his new nature and is sanctified.
The Bible has nothing good to say about the flesh – nothing good dwells in it (Romans 7:8); the flesh is hostile toward God (Romans 8:7); does not subject itself to the Law of God (Romans 8:7); those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8); those who are living according to the flesh must die (Romans 8:13); and so on it goes.
The Law cannot emancipate you – it can only elucidate about sin’s captivity. If we are to be set free and sanctified we must yield to the Holy Spirit and not attempt to serve God in the flesh!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Is the Law Sin? (Romans 7:7-13)
Paul was accused constantly of preaching against the Jews and their Law. We see the reality of this truth as it came to a head in Acts 21:27-28 – “When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, ‘Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place….’”
Paul wrote his letter to the Romans years ahead of his arrest in Jerusalem. However, Paul was constantly running into the arguments and accusations that if the Gospel that he preached was true then he was indeed preaching against the Jews and the Law. This is evident all over the place in the book of Romans.
Don’t forget that Romans is the Holy Spirit inspired explanation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and in it the Spirit of God using the apostle Paul as a weapon of righteousness demolishes and destroys the false accusations raised up against the truth of the Gospel. This is what we are seeing as we move through this letter. At every turn we are seeing the speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God’s Gospel and every wrong thought about the Gospel being destroyed and taken captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Follow that trail with me for just a few moments: In Romans 2:17, Paul began to demolish the false assurance of the Jews who relied upon their lineage and their Law. This would seem to the Jews that Paul was preaching against the people and against the Law. However, he was only establishing the truth that salvation always had been and always would be by faith apart from works of the Law for anyone who believes – whether Jew or Greek. So in Romans 3:21-30 the apostle preached the truth of justification by faith in Jesus Christ as the only means by which God could and would forgive a sinner and remain just in the process.
The truth of justification by faith in Christ alone apart from works of the Law would have brought out the false accusation that if the Gospel is true that it nullifies the Law. So we read, “Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law” (Romans 3:31). The Gospel doesn’t nullify the Law it establishes the Law. We looked at that truth and saw that through faith the Law is established because the perfect obedience to the precepts of the Law were fulfilled in the sinless life of Christ; the penalty for violating the Law was fulfilled in the sacrificial death of Christ; the probity (integrity or rightness) of the Person of the Law was fulfilled in the supernatural resurrection of Christ; and the potential for our fulfilling the Law is made possible through our loving and living for Jesus (Romans 8:4). So the Gospel doesn’t nullify the Law it establishes it!
Then in Romans 5:20-21 Paul went on to show one of the purposes of the Law – “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This truth would prompt the faulty reasoning and false accusation that the Gospel is that which gives a license to sin – “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:1-3).
So in Romans 6 the apostle showed how the believer has died to sin and is alive to God through identification and union with the death of Christ and the resurrection of Christ. It was here that Paul was proving that sin’s mastery over us was broken and Christ’s mastery over us was born. Paul had already stated that the Law cannot break the mastery of sin but instead increases it (Romans 5:20). This being true then it is of necessity that a person be released from the dominion of the Law if he is to be released from the mastery of sin. This is precisely what Paul is teaching – “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
For the life of him, the legalist cannot see how not being under the law but under grace does not lead to a life of more sin and more lawlessness. And I want to add that for the life of him, the libertine cannot see how not being under the law but under grace does lead to a life that fulfills the Law. The truth that those who have been saved are not under law but under grace would prompt the faulty reasoning and false accusation that a person can sin all they want – “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!” (Romans 6:15). It is this accusation that Paul destroys in Romans 7.
The legalist believes that the Law is that which arrests sin when in truth it is that which arouses sin (Romans 7:5). The purpose of the Law was not to remove sin but to reveal sin (Romans 7:7). Since the Law arouses sin and does not arrest sin and the Law reveals sin but does not remove sin, then we must be released from the Law’s dominion and the only way that is possible is for us to die to the Law through the body of Christ so that we might be joined to the Lord and not the Law (Romans 7:4). This now means that we are not under law but under grace – we are not under law but under love – we are not under law but under the Lord – we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter (Romans 7:6).
But now to the heart of the problem: Paul has been speaking the truth about the intent of the Law which was in contradiction to what the Jews believed to be its intent. Paul said that the duty of the Law was to condemn not justify (Romans 3:20); that the Law was to witness to God’s righteousness through faith not work it in us through the flesh (Romans 3:21-31); that the Law had never been and never would be God’s means of justification (Romans 4:1-25); that the Law was given to increase transgression so that grace could prove to be greater (Romans 5:20-21); that we have to be released from the Law’s dominion if we are to be released from sin’s mastery over us (Romans 6:14 – 7:4); and that the Law arouses sin and does not arrest sin (Romans 7:5). All of these truths about the Law bring us to this faulty reasoning and false accusation that the Law is sin – What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? (Romans 7:7a).
Here’s how that faulty reasoning would work to bring about a false conclusion and result in a false accusation:
1. The Law arouses sinful passions (Romans 7:5)
2. Sin is bad
3. Therefore the Law is bad
So the charge is laid that Paul is preaching that the Law is bad and therefore the Law is sin.
Paul answers his would be critics – May it never be! Perish the thought! Don’t even think about it! On the contrary, he says, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law. He has already stated this truth in Romans 3:20 – For through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Paul wasn’t teaching that the Law causes sin but that sin is already there and that the Law reveals it – it arouses it. You cannot arouse what isn’t there but you can arouse what is. You can’t reveal what isn’t there but you can reveal what is.
This is the duty or intent of the Law. It is to reveal or reflect what is there. The Law serves the purpose of a mirror or standard by which to accurately measure or evaluate ourselves. We look into the Law and we do not see our baldness but our badness; we don’t see our sweetness but our sourness; we don’t see our outer features but our inner filth.
What shall we say then? Is the mirror bad? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know my badness except through the mirror; for I would not have known that desiring was ugly if the mirror had not said, “You shall not desire” (7:7). For without the mirror my ugliness was dead. For I was handsome in my own estimation without the mirror once; but when the mirror came, my ugliness was revealed and revived and I saw how ugly I really am (7:8b-9).
Is the Law sin? Are God’s commandments evil? No! The Law is an expression of the holy character and nature of God. Sin is a violation of God’s holy character and nature. The Law reveals our wickedness but is not responsible for it!
Paul wrote his letter to the Romans years ahead of his arrest in Jerusalem. However, Paul was constantly running into the arguments and accusations that if the Gospel that he preached was true then he was indeed preaching against the Jews and the Law. This is evident all over the place in the book of Romans.
Don’t forget that Romans is the Holy Spirit inspired explanation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and in it the Spirit of God using the apostle Paul as a weapon of righteousness demolishes and destroys the false accusations raised up against the truth of the Gospel. This is what we are seeing as we move through this letter. At every turn we are seeing the speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God’s Gospel and every wrong thought about the Gospel being destroyed and taken captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Follow that trail with me for just a few moments: In Romans 2:17, Paul began to demolish the false assurance of the Jews who relied upon their lineage and their Law. This would seem to the Jews that Paul was preaching against the people and against the Law. However, he was only establishing the truth that salvation always had been and always would be by faith apart from works of the Law for anyone who believes – whether Jew or Greek. So in Romans 3:21-30 the apostle preached the truth of justification by faith in Jesus Christ as the only means by which God could and would forgive a sinner and remain just in the process.
The truth of justification by faith in Christ alone apart from works of the Law would have brought out the false accusation that if the Gospel is true that it nullifies the Law. So we read, “Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law” (Romans 3:31). The Gospel doesn’t nullify the Law it establishes the Law. We looked at that truth and saw that through faith the Law is established because the perfect obedience to the precepts of the Law were fulfilled in the sinless life of Christ; the penalty for violating the Law was fulfilled in the sacrificial death of Christ; the probity (integrity or rightness) of the Person of the Law was fulfilled in the supernatural resurrection of Christ; and the potential for our fulfilling the Law is made possible through our loving and living for Jesus (Romans 8:4). So the Gospel doesn’t nullify the Law it establishes it!
Then in Romans 5:20-21 Paul went on to show one of the purposes of the Law – “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This truth would prompt the faulty reasoning and false accusation that the Gospel is that which gives a license to sin – “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:1-3).
So in Romans 6 the apostle showed how the believer has died to sin and is alive to God through identification and union with the death of Christ and the resurrection of Christ. It was here that Paul was proving that sin’s mastery over us was broken and Christ’s mastery over us was born. Paul had already stated that the Law cannot break the mastery of sin but instead increases it (Romans 5:20). This being true then it is of necessity that a person be released from the dominion of the Law if he is to be released from the mastery of sin. This is precisely what Paul is teaching – “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
For the life of him, the legalist cannot see how not being under the law but under grace does not lead to a life of more sin and more lawlessness. And I want to add that for the life of him, the libertine cannot see how not being under the law but under grace does lead to a life that fulfills the Law. The truth that those who have been saved are not under law but under grace would prompt the faulty reasoning and false accusation that a person can sin all they want – “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!” (Romans 6:15). It is this accusation that Paul destroys in Romans 7.
The legalist believes that the Law is that which arrests sin when in truth it is that which arouses sin (Romans 7:5). The purpose of the Law was not to remove sin but to reveal sin (Romans 7:7). Since the Law arouses sin and does not arrest sin and the Law reveals sin but does not remove sin, then we must be released from the Law’s dominion and the only way that is possible is for us to die to the Law through the body of Christ so that we might be joined to the Lord and not the Law (Romans 7:4). This now means that we are not under law but under grace – we are not under law but under love – we are not under law but under the Lord – we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter (Romans 7:6).
But now to the heart of the problem: Paul has been speaking the truth about the intent of the Law which was in contradiction to what the Jews believed to be its intent. Paul said that the duty of the Law was to condemn not justify (Romans 3:20); that the Law was to witness to God’s righteousness through faith not work it in us through the flesh (Romans 3:21-31); that the Law had never been and never would be God’s means of justification (Romans 4:1-25); that the Law was given to increase transgression so that grace could prove to be greater (Romans 5:20-21); that we have to be released from the Law’s dominion if we are to be released from sin’s mastery over us (Romans 6:14 – 7:4); and that the Law arouses sin and does not arrest sin (Romans 7:5). All of these truths about the Law bring us to this faulty reasoning and false accusation that the Law is sin – What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? (Romans 7:7a).
Here’s how that faulty reasoning would work to bring about a false conclusion and result in a false accusation:
1. The Law arouses sinful passions (Romans 7:5)
2. Sin is bad
3. Therefore the Law is bad
So the charge is laid that Paul is preaching that the Law is bad and therefore the Law is sin.
Paul answers his would be critics – May it never be! Perish the thought! Don’t even think about it! On the contrary, he says, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law. He has already stated this truth in Romans 3:20 – For through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Paul wasn’t teaching that the Law causes sin but that sin is already there and that the Law reveals it – it arouses it. You cannot arouse what isn’t there but you can arouse what is. You can’t reveal what isn’t there but you can reveal what is.
This is the duty or intent of the Law. It is to reveal or reflect what is there. The Law serves the purpose of a mirror or standard by which to accurately measure or evaluate ourselves. We look into the Law and we do not see our baldness but our badness; we don’t see our sweetness but our sourness; we don’t see our outer features but our inner filth.
What shall we say then? Is the mirror bad? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know my badness except through the mirror; for I would not have known that desiring was ugly if the mirror had not said, “You shall not desire” (7:7). For without the mirror my ugliness was dead. For I was handsome in my own estimation without the mirror once; but when the mirror came, my ugliness was revealed and revived and I saw how ugly I really am (7:8b-9).
Is the Law sin? Are God’s commandments evil? No! The Law is an expression of the holy character and nature of God. Sin is a violation of God’s holy character and nature. The Law reveals our wickedness but is not responsible for it!
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