p. 8 | Studies in Romans

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 29, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 34, No. 18.

Studies in Romans

The Bondage of Sin.

AS was seen in last week's study in Romans, the first part of the seventh chapter presents the strong figure of the sinner's becoming dead to his past life of sin in order that he may be united to Christ. The illustration is given of the woman being bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth, but if the husband is dead the woman is free to marry again. By the illustration Paul showed how the sinner could come to Christ, and also the binding obligation of the law of God. His conclusion, as expressed in the twelfth verse, is, "So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good." The remainder of the chapter is the following:

"Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me thru that which is good;—that thru the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do. But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good. So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good is not. For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise. But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me. "I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. "Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? I thank God thru Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Rom. 7:13-25. The first verse in the foregoing quotation should be studied in connection with verse 12 which was the last verse in the study for last week. That verse is the conclusion that the apostle has drawn from his reasoning, and reads: "So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good." Then the question is raised that forms the opening sentence of verse 13, "Did then that which is good become death unto me?" Was it the law and the commandment that was "holy, righteous, and good," that was the occasion of death? To this question the emphatic "God forbid" is the answer. It was not the law, "but sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me thru that which is good." Then it is very clear that the reasoning of this scripture is to show that it is sin that causes death; and the purpose of the law is to cause sin to appear in its true light, the evil thing that it is. "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." Verse 14. It is the natural, sinful man that is carnal. But God's law is spiritual, and its mighty rays of clear light reveal the sin that is already there, and cause it to appear in its true light. It is the secret, hidden disease that is surely working death. God's law does not create the sin, but instead it reveals the thing that is already rooted in the sinful heart and working the ruin of the individual. "For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do." Verse 15. How true this statement is! Any one who has tried to break away from any of the evil habits that sin has formed, knows just what the apostle is talking about in the foregoing text. He knows that it is the very nature of sin to keep him doing the thing that he hates, and the things that he would do as his ideals of right are not accomplished at all. Good resolutions are formed on birthdays, on New

Year's day, and at other times, but these resolutions are not kept.

Paul would impress this great truth upon our minds, for he states the same thought over again in verse 19 in these words: "For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise."

From this experience of trying to break away from sin and finding that we are bound by it in chains that we have no power in ourselves to break, the conclusion is again reached, "But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good." Verse 16. Thus are we brought again and again in this scriptural reasoning to the important question that the law is good, and is an essential part of the Gospel plan to bring the sinner out of his awful condition, and implant within him the workings of righteousness.

Men have tried to break away from the binding claims of God's law because its commandments may not be convenient for them to observe. And in order to ease their consciences, they have taught that the Ten-Commandment law of God belongs to an old order of things, and has been done away. Stranger still, some of them have taken these very texts which we are now studying, and, by wrestling them, have sought to show that they teach that doctrine of anarchy. But how can such conclusions be honestly reached when it is stated over and over that the law is binding, and has an essential place in pointing the wrong-doer into the way of righteousness? If men had not thus tried to evade the law of God, which is the foundation for all law, we should not see the lawlessness and anarchy that are so apparent in all parts of the world at the present time.

"I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members." Verses 21-23. Then there is a "law of sin." But in the very nature of things this law of sin is a law that has come into existence because of sin, and not a law that God has made. It is in nowise a creation of our divine Father; it is "a different law in my members," and it is all the time "warring against the law of my mind." It is in open and constant warfare against the law of God which is ever pointing the way of righteousness, and it is also at war with the Gospel which is constantly offering the remedy that relieves us from sin and establishes us in the ways of right-doing.

In view of this ever-present "law of sin" that holds the individual in such fetters that he can not do the things that he would, the apostle cries out, "Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death!" And then comes the prompt answer to the question: "I thank God thru Jesus Christ our Lord." Yes, there is deliverance for every one. And this deliverance is absolute and complete, and floods the soul with perfect peace and indescribable joy. The abundant fulness of this peace is the theme of the verses that are to be considered in the study of next week.