A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 45 Chapter 7:12 – 13

 

  1. Introduction
    1. Last week Paul continued about the law and sin.

a.       In verse 7 Paul noted that the law was not sin but rather he was the sinner. The law did not let Paul down but his fleshly nature let him down.

b.      Paul noted in verse 9 that he was (in his own way of thinking) alive by the law, or he was a good Jew and lived by the Jewish law and considered himself justified as the Jews today still believe.

c.       However because he learned the law it (the law) showed him to be a sinner. He used the tenth commandment as an example.

d.      Paul also noted in verse 10 the commandments I saw that justified me really showed me to be dead to God.

e.       Paul finished in verse 11 that the law deceived him and brought death, however what Paul really was saying is the law brought the “occasion” or opportunity to sin.

f.       The law is not sin, nor is the law bad; it is Holy in every letter. The problem is not the law but rather man who cannot follow the law.  

    1. Man is totally depraved in every possible way, the reason the law delivers to man the opportunity to sin is because man in the flesh would rather break God’s law rather than obey it.
  1. Verse 12 “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” - This is Paul’s conclusion in summing up what he had just said.
    1. “The law is holy” – “holy” means it is pure - Because it is of God, God did not create anything unholy or sinful. Satan is unholy because he sinned on his own; man is unholy because he sinned on his own. Both were created in a holy state. The law is not just God’s creation but His law which makes it a part of God and to conclude it is sinful or unholy is to say that God is also.
    2. The law is “just” which means it is Righteous in its claims and penalties. To all of creation, we are all condemned by the same law. It is not sin nor is it false in its claims of us being unjust, and it is correct in condemning us.
    3. The law is “good” – even though it condemns us and even though it brings great punishment on us, it is good. Good in that if man could follow it it would bring happiness just as Christ Jesus brings happiness. Walking with God is always happiness. But even though the law condemned us, if (since we are saved) we lived the law today it would still bring us happiness and still be good to us. What makes it bad to us is that we fail to follow it.
    4. Psalms 19:7-11 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (8.) The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (9.) The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. (10.) More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (11.) Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”
  2. Verse 13 “Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”
    1. “Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid…” The law did not deliver death or cause our unrighteousness; it was our failure to follow the law. The law is as pure today as it was the day God spoke it.
    2. “But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good…” We properly see sin because of the law, isn’t that good? We can see death because of the law, isn’t that good? So the law even though it seems to be the cause it is not, it is simple our guide to show us our sin and death, so that is good and therefore the law is still good.
    3. Barnes' Notes on the New Testament says – “The law of God is often applied to a man's conscience, that he may see how deep and desperate is his depravity. No man knows his own heart until the law thus crosses his path, and shows him what he is.”
    4. “That sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”  Not only that the law shows us our sinfulness and our need of a Saviour, but that it would show us how exceeding our sin is. The word “exceeding” means - pre-eminently or beyond measure our sin is, and how horrible sin has separated us from God. Paul used this word in describing his persecution of the Lord’s church at Jerusalem. Galatians 1:13 “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:”
    5. Psalms 94:23 “And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.”
    6. Proverbs 8:36 “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”
    7. Isaiah 3:9 “The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.”
    8. Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
    9. Philippians 3:19 “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”
    10. What part of this did the law of God make us do?