"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin" (Romans 7:14)

A common misconception is that God sold us as slaves to sin as a result of the trespass of Adam in the garden. Many think that this was part of his punishment. However, the scriptures teach that Adam sold himself into bondage when he disobeyed God's direct command. As a result the rest of mankind was also part of the package. We were delivered lock, stock and barrel to Satan's kingdom when the dominion and authority of the world was transferred to him. And the result is that God gets blamed for a lot of things that are no fault of his. Truth be told, the fault was ours.

It was always God's plan from the very beginning to fellowship with us face to face. The Bible says that He walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening. Even after the fall, he continued to fellowship with Adam, Eve and their children. He created us in His very own image and gave authority over all of creation and every living being to us. But everything was ruined with the introduction of sin because that dominion was given, by Adam to Satan. Humankind cascaded downward until the law was given to show us how sinful we were in comparison to God's holy standard. It was the awareness of that standard that separated us from God.

Therefore, the law is good, but Paul goes one step further to let us know that the law is also spiritual. We are by nature carnal and unspiritual because of what happened in the garden. Which means that the law is perfect but we are not nor could ever be. If we could have lived up to that perfect, holy standard then we would have obtained salvation by it. But since we are carnal and slaves to the default nature of this world it is impossible for us to obtain salvation by fulfilling the law. The result being death because we could not earn salvation by it.

Jesus on the other hand was perfect. He was born in the flesh as a hostage to the kingdom of darkness but since he was perfect he was able to fulfill the law in it's entirety. Because of this, he was able to redeem everything that was handed over to Satan in the garden. By faith, we can obtain the righteousness of the law that was impossible to obtain in the flesh. Romans 8 says, "in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit" ( Romans 8:4 ). The key is living by the Spirit of God and putting your trust in him. By faith we have all the benefits of Jesus fulfilling the law.

Previous: Romans 7:12-13  Next: Romans 7:15-17

Original article published November 11, 2009.

"So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful" (Romans 7:12-13)

Paul raises an important question in today's passage, did the law, which was good become death to us? In other words, can something that is good produce something that is evil? Paul's answer, an emphatic NO! His reason... the law was simply a means to an end. The Law showed us what sin was in order that we would recognize how sinful we really were.

The law is called the ministration of death (II Corinthians 3:7) because the commandment drew out what was already at work within our sin nature... death. Without a basis for comparison it was easy to rationalize sin. Even among human standards we have degrees of sin, some more severe than others. The law, on the other hands shows us God's standard and leaves no room for comparison after all, God does not grade on a curve. The commandments themselves were holy, pure, righteous and good, but with them came the awareness of how utterly sinful we were. The illusion that we are okay on our own is annulled in light of the law and God's standards.

It is through the law that the awareness that we need a Savior comes. When we see ourselves in our sin soaked state powerless to break free, then we look outside of ourselves for salvation. So the purpose of the law has always been to bring us to Christ as our savior (Romans 3:28; Galatians 3:24). Therefore the law is good, holy and just and the outcome when used properly brings us life instead of death (I Timothy 1:8-11).

Today, I praise God for using the law as an instrument to bring us to him. I am so thankful that Jesus came and fulfilled the letter of the law in order that we can be completely whole in him. May you be blessed by this revelation of grace.

Previous: Romans 7:11  Next: Romans 7:14

Original article published November 10, 2009.

"For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death" (Romans 7:11)

We always want what we can't have. That is the rebellious nature of mankind. We see something that is just out of our reach and then the desire to have it comes alive on the inside of us. We can see evidences of this in children. As soon as you tell them not to touch something, then the command produces within them the desire to touch it. Chances are before you spoke to the situation the child was only mildly interested in the object. However, afterwards the child strives to disobey and take hold of that object. The same thing happened with humankind when the law was introduced.

When the commandment came then sin sprang alive on the inside of us. Sin had been alive in us since birth, but it was revived when we realized God's standards for the first time. When the commandment came, we desired to do the very things God commanded us not to do. This may seem like a double edged sword, but Paul stresses that this a necessary byproduct of those commandments? Sin, which was always alive on the inside of us, used the law to beguile, entrap and bring death. It used the commandments as a weapon to kill us. Why was this allowed to happen to us?

It happened fulfill the true purpose of the Law. The true purpose of the law was to point us to Christ Jesus as our savior. The law was to show us our shortcomings and thus held us accountable before God ( Romans 3:19-20, Galatians 3:10-14 ). Before the law was given, God did not hold men's sin's against them ( Romans 5:13 ), so without understanding what sin was, it would be easy to misinterpret it and believe that we were good enough on our own accord. The truth is that sin had already defeated us and made us slaves, but until the law gave us the perfect representation of God's requirements, we were blinded to it. When the law came, the realization that we were defeated came with it. The harder we tried, the farther we fell. Sin used the very things that God spoke to condemn us to death before him. In order that we could come to him and find mercy.

Paul is using this passage in Romans 7 to build the case for grace. He is showing us that when we were bound to the law we were bound to sin. The law strengthen that bond by awakening and feeding the desire to continue in sin. It was a vicious cycle. The result is that we would never be able to break free of sin by adhering to the law. Fortunately for us, Paul explained that Jesus freed us from both the sin nature and the law so we could live in the new way of the spirit ( Romans 6:6-7; Romans 7:6 ). This was accomplished upon the cross. What we were powerless to do, Jesus did by offering himself in our place ( Romans 5:6 ). He was condemned for our sins and was sacrificed for us to pay the price of reconciliation ( Romans 5:9-11 ). Since he broke the cycle that held us in bondage, we are totally free by trusting him as our savior. Doing this fulfils the true purpose of the law, and once the law is fulfilled in our lives then we are no longer under its control.

Today, I am thankful that God used the commandments to show us our need for Jesus. He did not leave us unaware. Rather he showed us the truth that we were previously blinded to in order that we would eagerly except his unconditional offer of grace. Today I pray that you also experience this gift and are forever changed. Amen!

Previous: Romans 7:10  Next: Romans 7:12-13

Original article published November 9, 2009.

"I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death" (Romans 7:10)

Isn't it interesting that the law actually widened the gap between us and God. Instead of reconciling fellowship with the Lord, it proved to be our undoing. Paul said in verse 9 that sin was revived within him once he understood his sin in contrast to God's holiness, a contrast that was illuminated through the law. This disparity is evident because the law describes the standard to which God requires and to which we cannot obtain on our own. Trouble comes when we look to works of the law as a means to obtain salvation. In that sense, the law, which holds the keys to life, actually brings about death.

How can something that is good, righteous and holy bring us death? It condemns us, because it stands as our accuser before God. It shows the level of righteousness that God possesses and it shows us how we fall short of obtaining the required standard. Jesus said in Matthew 5, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." ( Matthew 5:20 ). The Pharisees were the most righteous holy people that have ever lived in the world. They went through great pains to live by every commandment handed down by Moses. The average person will never measure up to the standard that the Pharisees lived by and yet, Jesus said for us to see the kingdom of heaven our righteousness has to far exceed them. How can this be?

Paul is speaking to those aware of the law. He knew how important adherence to the law was for the Jews. Paul himself started out as a Pharisee. He was a devout follower of the Law and lived by the letter of it. As a teacher of the law, I am sure Paul loved the scriptures and took great pride in following them. Along the way as he grew in knowledge, he must have realized that living a perfect holy life, to which the law required, was impossible. However, he continued to do this until he came face to face with Jesus on the road to Damascus. After that experience, Paul had a revelation of grace. This revelation led him to pen this very thought, "the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death" ( Romans 7:10 ) The Law in itself is good and holy, but as a Pharisee, Paul misinterpreted the application of the scriptures. It was never a means to make him justification before God. After knowing Jesus and what he had done, he understood the real purpose of the law. The law was intended to bring him to a place where he fell upon God mercy and received his grace.

The good news for us today, is that our salvation is not in the written code. Our Salvation is in Jesus. While it is true that the law points out our shortcomings compared to God's righteousness, it also points the only one who has ever fulfilled the law, Jesus. By trusting in him to save us, his holiness is transferred to us and we stand before God completely justified. Today, may you rejoice in knowing that you are freely and eternally justified by Jesus... May you experience true freedom in him from now on. Amen!

Previous: Romans 7:9  Next: Romans 7:11

Original article published November 6, 2009.

"Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died" (Romans 7:9)

Certain laws and guidelines do not apply to children because they are under age. Likewise, little children are unaware of many rules and laws in our society because they have no basis of understanding. Because of it, they are not ruled by these ordinances. For instance a five year old child does not know what a speed limit is, nor does this law apply to them because they do not drive. However, at the appropriate time, this law will apply to them. It applies when they start driving with a permit or drivers license. The speed limit laws will apply to them because they are of age and operating within the limits of our society. The law existed when they were five, but its application and authority over them comes later in life.

The same is true for mankind. Sin has been in the world since the time of Adam, however Paul said in Romans 5:13, "before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law." ( Romans 5:13 ) Meaning, God did not impute men with their sins before the time of Moses. He bestowed grace upon them the same way that he operates with us today. When the law came, so did our awareness of God's holiness. This understanding of God's righteousness brought about our separation from Him. Once the commandments came, so did our comprehension of what our sin was.

However, before this time, God did not hold sins against mankind because they had no bases of understanding His requirements. The same is true for children today. Every human being born into this world is born with the default nature of this world, the sin nature. Even in newborn babies the sin nature is evident. However based on their limited understanding, as little children, God does not hold their sins against them. Children can understand between right and wrong but there comes a time in their lives when that understanding is far deeper. A time comes when they understand that they are sinning against God and not just those around them. We call this the age of accountability. Before this time, God does not hold their sin against them and operates in grace the same way he did with mankind as a whole before the law was given.

This is what Paul is saying in today's passage, "Once I was alive apart from the law; but the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died." ( Romans 7:9 ). The law was given hundreds of years before Paul, so it makes sense that he is talking about the age of accountability. Notice that he said with the commandment sin sprang to life. The Amplified Bible says that sin lived again... meaning that it was revived and lived. It had always existed as we were born with the sin nature, but unconscious of the law we were alive because God did not count our sins against us. When we become aware that our sin separates us from God, that is when that sin is revived in our lives and we are held accountable to God for them. The Law merely shows us what sin is and condemns us to death before God.

In context of this passage in Romans 7, Paul is stressing that the law is not evil, but it shows us our inability to obtain the righteousness that the law prescribes as necessary to remain in fellowship with God. The result is that we are condemned before God. Sin took advantage of what the law said to awaken the desire within us to go contrary to it, furthering our separation from God. It was the awareness and knowledge of God's holy standards that produced the desire to sin against God. Before this, we sinned according to our sin nature out of ignorance but God was gracious with us. Paul is concluding that God's wrath against sin is based on willing intent and not ignorance. Because of this we will receive the penalty for our sin, which is death, prescribed in the Law.

Fortunate for us, Paul is using this argument to further stress that as born again believers we have been freed from the sin nature and are no longer subjected to the law ( Romans 6:6-7 ). In the previous verses, Paul stated that we have also died to the law with Christ so that we could belong to another ( Romans 7:4 ). Now that this has happened, we are released from it in order to serve in the new way of the spirit and not the old way of the written code ( Romans 7:6 ). God did this because he did not want to leave us condemned under the law subjected to the nature that makes us slaves. He did this because the loves us unconditionally and wanted to provide a way for union with him. God has always operated with us in grace, but he also allows us to choice him. He made every provision for us because he knew we could not do it on our own, however the choice is still ours to make. Today, may you choose life and live!

Previous: Romans 7:8  Next: Romans 7:10

Original article published November 5, 2009.

"But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead" (Romans 7:8)

Sin existed before the Law was given and sin dominated the lives of every human being dating back to the fall of Adam. With Adams transgression, all authority that had been given to him by God was transferred over to Satan legally. Since that time Satan and the sin nature ruled mankind. Sin had dominion over everyone born into the world and we were subjected to Satan's kingdom because of it. When the Law was given it merely strengthen the hold of sin upon our lives because pointed out the obvious, that we were sinners. It gave humankind the means of comparison between God's standards and our shortcomings.

Because we were able to compare ourselves against God's holy standard for the first time, the Law brought about the consciousness of sin. We fell short, then we experienced guilt, shame and remorse on new levels. Sin was allowed to express itself in the commandments and accuse us before God. The Law strengthened sin against us and awakened the desire within us to sin. Sin had always existed but the craving of our sin nature came through awareness of the Law. That is why Paul said that ‘apart from the law, sin is dead' ( Romans 7:8 ). Meaning that the knowledge between right and wrong is what gives sin power. It wasn't dead in that it didn't exist before the law was given, but dead in the sense that it was an inactive and lifeless thing. We still sinned in ignorance because of our sin nature, but knowledge brought about awareness and awareness brought about our willingness to participate.

This is why it is so important to understand several things concerning the Law, our sin nature and what was accomplished through Christ Jesus. First of all, the Law strengthened sin against in order that we would realize our inability to keep the law. ( James 2:10, Romans 3:19-20, Galatians 3:10-11, Galatians 3:21-22 ) When we realize this, then we hopefully will realize our need for a Savior. ( Romans 3:21, Galatians 3:13 ) When we understand that Jesus is able to save us from the curse of the law then hopefully we will also understand that he saved us from the sin nature as well. ( Romans 6:6-7, Galatians 3: 13 ) Lastly he provided for us the righteousness that the Law describes as our new nature so that we would no longer struggle under the burden of sin or the law. ( Romans 3:22, Romans 6:18, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 4:24 ) Understanding all of this will allow you to be free in Christ Jesus. ( John 8:36, II Corinthians 3:17 )

If we don't understand who we are in Christ and what he has provided for us in our redemption then we will never be free from those things that use to keep us in chains. For example when slavery was abolished in America, many slaves remained with their former masters. Some of them chose to remain even though they were freed because they were comfortable and didn't know how to live apart from their former owners. Some remain because they did not know they were free. This news had been kept from them. This is a risk for Christians as well. If we are too comfortable with the old nature and its desires then we will choose to stay in bondage to it even though we are free. On the other hand, if we are not aware that we have been freed by Christ Jesus when we received our born again spirit, then will unknowingly remain in bondage to our previous nature. But if we know we are free based upon God's Word and we choose to walk in who we are in our spirits rather than what we know in the flesh, that is when we will experience the abundant live that Christ Jesus paid a heavy price for us to have. Today, my you encourage yourselves through these words to walk in newness of life. May you walk in freedom steaming out of the incredible gift that has been purchased and provided for you. Amen and Thank you Jesus!

Previous: Romans 7:7  Next: Romans 7:9

Original article published November 4, 2009.

"What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet" (Romans 7:7)

After hearing Paul's argument that we are freed from both the sin nature and the Law through Christ, the next logical question was 'Is the law sin?' We see the correlation between the two, the law strengthens the desire within us to sin and sin gives the law power over us. When you see that the law is what condemns us then it is natural to start questioning it's intent.... Since the law strengthens sin against us and is used to condemn us, is the law identical with sin?

Paul's response, certainly not, God forbid! He used the strongest nuance of the Greek text to stress that this isn't so. Instead he illustrates one of the benefits of the Law, the law makes us aware of what sin is. The law is what brought about the consciousness of sin and the sense of guilt associated with it so that we would know what sin was. When the commandments came, along with it came the awareness of our inability to keep the Law. Later on in this very same passage, Paul tells us that the sin used the law as a weapon against us so that we could plainly see our sin and our shortcomings before God ( Romans 7:13 ). The Law is not sin, the Law merely gave us a perfect representation of the righteousness that God ascribes to. Sin is what made us fall short of obtaining this. ( Romans 3:23 ) When you look at vastness between the our sin and God's holiness, then the realization comes that you will never be righteous before God by observing the law, because the law is what convict you of your sins. ( James 2:10 )

Therefore the Law is not sin, the law is good because it arouses the need within us for a Savior. The law is the vehicle for us to come to Christ Jesus and fall upon his mercy and loving kindness. Paul says in Romans 3, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." ( Romans 3:20 ). The law, when taught correctly points us to Christ, which is a good thing. He then goes on to say, "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. ( Romans 3:21-22 ) It takes faith to believe in Jesus as your Savior, and this faith in what Jesus accomplished in his death and resurrection is what saves you. Therefore the law, which solely points to Christ, is a good thing when that faith in Christ is realized.

Today I pray that you get a revelation of grace. May you fully understand the purpose of the Law and how Christ fulfilled it in order to rescue you from sins dominion. May you understand that you are not bound by the written code but you are called to live by the Spirit of God in true righteousness and holiness. May you live according to who you really are in your spirit through Christ Jesus. Amen.

Previous: Romans 7:6  Next: Romans 7:8

Original article published November 3, 2009.

"But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code" (Romans 7:6)

The difference between the living under the Law and living according to the Spirit is huge. There is hardly a comparison. That is why Paul says in today's passage that we serve in a new way. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "But now we are discharged from the Law and have terminated all intercourse with it, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life]." ( Romans 7:6 Amp ). It is not out of obedience or obligation but out of a inspiration by the Spirit of God.

We can look at a child to further understand this concept. When you tell a child not to touch the stove because it is hot, they have to obey based on your knowledge. The only knowledge of what is hot comes by your experience. They are choosing to obey according to your understanding of what is hot, not their own. Most of the time, they cannot fathom what hot is, so they will touch it and experience it for themselves. It turns out unpleasant but their understanding then comes from experience and not theory.

The same comparison is true for living under the old nature bound to the Law and living according to the Spirit. When we are bound to the Law, we are bound to the written code. Which is the rules and guidelines and how we should live. However by living this way we are not living out of knowledge and experience but living out of the understanding of another. We are like children without understanding. That is why Paul told us in Galatians 3, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. " ( Galatians 3:24-25 KJV ). We only need a schoolmaster as a child. When we are older we have an understanding of our own based on our knowledge not guidelines.

"When faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." ( Galatians 3:25 ) When we were freed from the Law through faith in Christ we started living by the Spirit. With the Spirit comes an intuitive knowledge base on experience that we did not have under the Law. It is a completely new way of life for us. This knowledge is based on what Christ knows, not based on rules. I Corinthians talks about this. "... God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ." ( I Corinthians 2:10-16 ).

Now, by living by the Spirit, we are living out of the newness of life with the Spirit and the mind of Christ as our guide. Our obedience comes from and in-depth understanding of God and not from the mindset like a child trying to live by rules. It is a completely new way of life and in no way compares to the old way. Today I praise God through our Lord Jesus Christ that we are free to live according to the Spirit being guided by Him and living in newness of life.

Previous: Romans 7:5  Next: Romans 7:7

Original article published November 2, 2009.

"For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death" (Romans 7:5)

Do you ever notice how you want to do exactly what you have been instructed not to do? Take a diet for example, you want to eat everything that is on the list of what not to eat. Before you saw the list you probably did not have a craving for those items. However, as soon as you read what foods to stay away from you starting desiring those foods constantly and set yourselves up for failure. We see the same behavior in children. As soon as you tell them not to do something, they start scheming on how to do those very things. When we become aware, that is the moment in which the struggle starts. The same thing happened to us when the Law was given. When we knew those things that we were instructed not to do, that is when the desire for sin came alive on the inside of us and we wanted to do those things.

In today's passage Paul is contrasting the effects of the sinful nature and what fruit we bore under that nature so that we can fully understand what how we have been freed from it. "When we were living in the flesh (mere physical lives), the sinful passions that were awakened and aroused up by [what] the Law [makes sin] were constantly operating in our natural powers (in our bodily organs, in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh), so that we bore fruit for death." ( Romans 7:5 Amp ). The fruit came about by the desires and sinful passions that were stirred by knowing the Law. If the seeds were sinful passions then the fruit we bore from it was according to that nature and brought about death.

The more we knew of the Law and the righteousness that God ascribes to, the more we desired to break the Law. The Law told us what was holy and like a child, we wanted to do what we had been instructed not to. We became aware of what was sin. Since we were controlled by the sinful nature that aroused a desire to sin. The fruit of that desire brought about death.

In the previous passage Paul is stating again and again that we no longer belong to the sinful nature. We have been freed from it. In yesterday's passage Paul told us, "So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God." ( Romans 7:4 ). No longer do we need to bear fruit for death, instead we are to bear fruit for God. We have been set free from the Law and freed from the controlled of that old nature. Now we are controlled by the Spirit. We are operating in an entirely new way. Today I praise God that we are free in Jesus' name to live according to the Spirit of God and bear fruit for righteousness sakes. May you know and understand that you are free! Amen.

Previous: Romans 7:4  Next: Romans 7:6

Original article published November 1, 2009.

"So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God" (Romans 7:4)

The law of marriage applies to a person as long as both people are alive. But when one spouse dies the law is no longer in effect because the law of marriage is only binding in life. That is why it was necessary for us to die to sin with Christ Jesus, so we could be freed from the union with our old nature. In today's passage Paul tells us that the reason we died to our old nature was not only to belong to another but also to bear fruit for Him.

Bearing fruit is a byproduct of marriage. Even as children we sings songs to that effect... 'first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage'. Interesting thing about marriage is that intimacy between a husband and a wife will produce children from that union. The same is true for our marriage to Christ. Paul uses this example of marriage to illustrate the type of union we are to have with Christ. That union will produce fruit from intimacy with Him.

The church is the bride of Christ. You are the church, so as a born again believer you are the bride of Christ. He has chosen you as a wife to bear fruit for his kingdom. The seed is from him, you are the one to bear it and bring it forth. There is no greater honor than to birth what God has sown into your heart and watch it come forth. This might look like a ministry or simply of change of heart. But you were called according into a purpose when you were called into Christ Jesus. He freed you from the bondage that held you in order that you could fulfill the destiny in which he created you for. Today, may you seek the Lord's will for your life and start bearing fruit for His kingdom.

Previous: Romans 7:2-3  Next: Romans 7:5

Original article published October 31, 2009.