The Law in Romans by R. F. Cottrell

International Tract and Missionary Society · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Jul 15, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 27.

The Law in Romans.

By R. F. Cottrell

HOW ANY one can read Paul's letter to the Romans, and come to the conclusion that the law of which so much is said in it is abolished, is the greatest mystery imaginable.

It is a law which existed from the most ancient times. Those who "did not like to retain God in their knowledge," but became idolators, worshiping "the creature more than the Creator," were violators of this law, and therefore were condemned and subject to the wrath of God on this account. See Rom. 1:17-32.

It is a universal law. It applies to man in the broadest sense. There is no difference in this respect between Jews and Gentiles. All have sinned; and "sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. Therefore he says he will render "tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; for there is no respect of persons with God." Rom. 2:6-11. Says the apostle: "We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin." Rom. 3:9. This simply means that all have transgressed the law. Hence the law is binding on all, Jews and Gentiles. All are subject to one law. Hear him again: "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Verse 19. How many are amenable to this law? The whole world.

But has not this law been abolished? does not the gospel supersede it, and faith make it void? Paul has answered this question directly; for when he came to speak of justification from "sins that are past" simply by faith in Jesus Christ, the propitiatory sacrifice, he seems to anticipate that some one would be just simple, or sinful, enough to raise this question, and so he asks it himself, that he may give it a decisive and emphatic answer. Said he, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law." Verse 31.

But are Christians, those who by the grace of Christ have had their sins forgiven, still bound to keep the precepts of the law? Does not grace make them free to transgress it? Hear the answer: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Rom. 6:1, 2. Bear in mind that sin is the transgression of the law. The teaching, then, is this: Shall we Christians, who have become dead to sin by the faith and grace of Jesus Christ, and have professed this by being buried in baptism in the likeness of his death, shall we continue longer to transgress the law? The apostle gives the question an emphatic negative. Then those who have been made free from sin by the grace of Christ, are not free to transgress the law thereafter. There is but one other thing that they can do in respect to the law, and that is to keep every one of its precepts. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Verse 16.

Again the apostle says: "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Rom. 7:12. Will God abolish that which is holy, just, and good? The Son of God came "in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:3, 4. On account of sin, Jesus came and condemned sin. The condemnation of sin is the approval of the law. Had he condemned the law, he would have justified sin. But Christ condemned sin; and for what purpose? "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us." There is still righteousness in the law. What can be said of the righteousness of a law that is abolished? Christ died because we were out of harmony with the law, that he might bring us into harmony with it, his obedience to it being imputed to us for our past transgressions. Being made free from our past sins, what shall we do? Shall we sin? or shall we keep the precepts of the law? Whiting's translation of this text says: "That the precept of the law might be fulfilled by us." Rom. 8:4.

But does not Paul say right in this connection: "The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death"? Now, as sin is the transgression of the law, and the wages of sin is death, is it not evident that by the law of sin and death he means the moral law, the ten commandments?

Law, in this verse, is used in a figurative sense. Neither the law of the spirit of life, nor the law of sin and death, is a literal law or code of precepts, but an effective principle; as when we speak of the laws of nature we do not mean laws that may be obeyed or disobeyed, but we mean fixed principles that certain causes will produce certain effects.

The objector may not have noticed that the apostle has told us where both these laws are to be found. That of the spirit of life is in Christ Jesus. "But," says Paul, personating the carnal man, "I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man!" etc. The law of sin and death is in the members of the carnal man. It is a controlling power, urging him on to sin, and to death as the result. Nothing can deliver him from it but the law of the spirit of life in Christ, who gave his life for ours, and now offers us life on the terms of the gospel,—repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

But the law which is a leading theme in this epistle is the moral law, the ten commandments. This we know, because the apostle quotes its tenth precept, "Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7. By this law, he assures us, sinners will be judged in the last day. He says: "As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;" "in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." Rom. 2:12, 16. If the gospel has superseded the law, then men of this age will be judged by the gospel. In this Judgment the doers of the law will be justified. "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Rom. 2:13.

In that day those who shall be found to have obtained pardon of their sins, being reconciled to God by the death of his Son, having come into harmony with the law so as to love and practice its precepts, will be accounted worthy of eternal life and a part in the everlasting kingdom. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven." Matt. 7:21. "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:17. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14.

R. F. COTTRELL.