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The Commentary

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 23.

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The Commentary.

THE LAW OF GOD.

Under the Law.

(Lesson 11.—Sabbath, July 3.)
1. WHAT exhortation does Paul give in Romans 6:12?
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."
2. What is sin?
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law," 1 John 3:4.
3. Then what does the apostle really warn us not to do?
"Sin is the transgression of the law," therefore when Paul warns us against letting sin reign over us, he warns us against transgressing the law.
4. Where is this exhortation repeated?
"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin." Rom. 6:13, first part.
5. If people heed this exhortation, what will have no dominion over them?
"For sin shall have no dominion over you." Rom. 6:14, first part.
6. If a person sins, what does he transgress?
He transgresses the law.
7. Then if sin has no dominion over him, what does he keep?
Since when a person sins he transgresses the law, it follows that when sin has no dominion over him he obeys the law.
8. What does Paul say to those who thus refrain from sinning?
"For ye are not under the law, but under grace." Rom. 6:14, last part.
9. Will those sin who are not under the law but under grace?
"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Rom. 6:15.
10. Speaking to those who are not under the law, to what does Paul say they had formerly been subject?
"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you." Rom. 6:17.
11. But now, being not under the law, from what are they free?
"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Rom. 6:18.
12. Then what must be meant by "being under the law"?
In speaking to those who are not under the law, Paul says that they had formerly been the servants of sin (Rom. 6:18), but that now they are "made free from sin." Now if when they are not under the law they are free from sin, it necessarily follows that when they were under the law they were servants of sin. "Under the law," therefore, is equivalent to being in a state of sin.
13. What do those do who are free from sin, or who, in other words, are not under the law?
"Ye became the servants of righteousness." Rom. 6:18, last part.
14. And what is righteousness?
"All thy commandments are righteousness." Ps. 119:172.
15. Then if people are not under the law, what do they do?
It has been shown that those who are "under the law" are those who are breaking the law; then it necessarily follows that they who are not "under the law," are those who keep the commandments.
16. Under what must they then necessarily be?
"Ye are not under the law, but under grace." Rom. 6:14, last part.
17. Why?
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:4, 5. "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:14-16.
The commandments can be kept only by the help of Christ, and this help is given by the grace of God (Heb. 4:16); therefore those who are not under the law are under grace.