Message: Sinful tendencies remain in Christ
Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.
What the Lord is Saying:
Leading up
Paul continues to remind his reader that the Law is a good thing. We need it. Yes, the law exposes the sinner. The fascinating thing is people who don't know Christ live their life, trying to keep laws, thinking that good works will bring them to heaven and earn God's acceptance, but they never really would admit that their life is about keeping the Law. Internally they have a conscious, and they simply think and believe they are doing their best, according to their own standard of right and wrong.
Verses 7-14 are interesting because they really are from the perspective of the unregenerate person seeing and understanding the Law for the first time in their life. They are seeing that they are accountable to the Law. It is really an amazing thing for one to understand and comprehend and begin to be convicted about the Law. I remember when it happened me, when I was told there was nothing I could to merit God's acceptance. There were no amount of good works I could do. And suddenly, for the first time in my life, the law had meaning. Sin had meaning. I understood it. People without Christ and without conversion don't understand sin. They don't see the seriousness of it.
So this is where Paul has been in these verses. Leading up to verse 14 we see that through the commandment of God sin was made sinful. The Law exposes sin. But the Law has a purpose of Life. And recognizing that Jesus paid for my sin and fulfilled the Law then can move me to live the Law in my life.
The Law is spiritual
Paul here begins to contrast our two natures. I think it is here to not forget what has been read thus far. And remember that we are born in Adam, and then realize that we can't be free in Adam and can only be free in Christ for eternity. But, although, we are seen now in Christ by God we are still an "in Adam" creature while we walk and talk on this earth.
Paul has told me the Law is Good and states now in verse 14 that the Law is spiritual, meaning its origin is God. We can never think the Law is bad. Yes, it ignites sin in my life, that then yields to my view of Grace, and the need for it because sin is great in my life. But, the bottom line is that the Law if from God and very good.
I remain in the flesh, doing things I don't want to do because of sin
Verse 14 continues to contrast then my own self with the the goodness of God and the Law. Once sin came into the world through Adam, man has sinful tendencies. The power of God can move a person beyond this.
2 Corinthians 7:10, a verse I have been memorizing says, "For Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, where as worldly grief produces death." What's important to see in this verse is the Godly person and worldly person both experience grief in their lives. Both individuals experience sorrow for wrongdoing. The difference is the worldly person simply has a sorrow against self while the godly person has a sorrow against God, realizing their violation to the Law and their desire to never violate God again. The worldly person does have motivation to not do things that are improper, but for different reasons of outcomes. The worldly person is focused on man's opinion.
The problem is that man's standards constantly change. And when can man ever feel like they have arrived. This is why so many religions are set up to set the standard of what it means to arrive.
Verse 15 clarifies the sinful tendencies the person, in Christ, has still in his life. Sin still rears its ugly head in my life and I catch myself doing what I don't understand and even doing in a repeated fashion things I don't want to do anymore. The challenge remains in life to live the way God sees us. To love others and ourselves this way. And to view sin they way he views it: paid for and finished, so nothing good in it. And there is tension here.
The Law remains good and clearly different from me
Guzik explains that...Paul admits that he agrees the Law is spiritual and thus agrees that the Law is something of God and not of flesh. Just like God is good, the Law is good. On my own, though, I can't keep it. What man will have to do, is what he has done, and that is redefine it so that he can, at the end of the day, see himself worthy. Man must feel like he has at some point done what is right so man goes about changing the Law and changing God so that he can see himself worthy. And here in the 21st Century, this is where we are at. Sin is no longer sin, but it is acceptable behavior. Lying is necessary so we don't hurt people. Stealing is the norm because it is so easy. Blasphemy is just what people do now. Adultery is what everyone is doing and frankly, if I don't get what I want in a relationship, then it is fine. We work 24/7 so there is no Sabbath. Murder of babies, abortion, is the norm. Murder can even be justified in others if we think a person has wronged us enough. Idolatry is so rampant and in abundance we struggle even defining it because it is everywhere. Our phones, TV, status, wealth, power, movies, entertainment, jobs, relationships -- all have become idols. And since children are now so intertwined with the culture and the parents are so focused on their children and their safety and well-being, parents are really about honoring their children than the other way around. The laws of the land have removed the need to get parents permission for an abortion, a tattoo, most everything. If you want it and have money, then get it. And the normal person doesn't even comprehend coveting because it is so prevalent that we don't even realize we are doing it.
Paul’s problem isn’t desire - he wants to do what is right (what I will to do, that I do not practice). His problem isn’t knowledge - he knows what the right thing is. His problem is a lack of power: how to perform what is good I do not find. He lacks power because the law gives no power.
The law says: “Here are the rules and you had better keep them.” But it gives us no power for keeping the law.
In Conclusion, sin has taken over our lives and is living our lives.
Promise: The Law is Good because the law is of God. From Tabletalk, "The more i grow in conformity to Christ, the more I see how unlike Him I am."
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