Romans 7:7 –
Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.”
This again clouds things up, is Paul saying we are free to ignore the law or does the law still apply? Can you “sin” if you do not know it’s a sin? That is implied also with the Gentiles since they did not have the law. No wonder the church is so confused about the significance of the law in our Christian walk. You have in one chapter verses that could justify almost any position.
One can get consumed in the law and become legalistic about it thinking, like the Jews, that salvation comes from adherence to the law. Before you say no, think about how many times you have heard about people who get trapped in a huge sin trap. The “church” dismissed them as not really being saved, since if they “really” had Jesus they would not have done that. Really? Then you are giving sins value, because how many times have we wanted what Joe has? Many of us covet daily, yet we are still considered saved, but commit adultery or divorce and your banished.
A sin is a sin and we need to understand sin is covered by the death of Jesus on the cross. We are not going to magically end its hold on us by submitting. But with the help of knowing the law and having the Holy Spirit with us be able to sequester desires quickly. We all stumble, it is just life. We need to understand that assuming someone really didn’t have Christ to begin with is judging that person, possibly wrongly.
The key from this chapter is the importance of the law to teach us about sin. It no longer is the way to salvation, since no man can every hope to live up to the law (less Jesus). Therefore, the law is significant as a tool for instructing us, but again our faith that Jesus is who He said He is grants us salvation. Our lives are lost without God’s law, we need to understand it and try to live it. When we see we blow it, confess and stop the acts, then move on. Ideally we will learn to hear the Holy Spirit and discern it from our own selfish desires to guide us. But it helps knowing the laws on a conscious level also since relying on the Holy Spirit can get us in trouble.
I have always had a vision that my “destiny” was to bring wealth back into our family, since our grandparents were part of the “1%” at one time. Looking back I can’t say how many lottery tickets the “Holy Spirit” had me buy and how many real missed opportunities I had let pass because I ignored the “real” Holy Spirit. After 30 some years I wonder if I squandered this opportunity looking for the quick buck? Also, I really have to wonder if my original “vision” was just selfish wants and desires. The key is use the law to teach yourself what is right, so that inner voice of the Holy Spirit can be discerned!