The weakness of the Law (chap.7)
In the preceding chapter (chap.6), Paul exhorted that sin does not have dominion over Christians because they are under the grace , they have changed their masters. In this chapter (chap.7) Paul describes through the image of marriage the death of old husband (law) and living with the new husband (grace).
The Christian and the Law: (7:1-6):
Apostle Paul was speaking to the intellectuals, legalists, and those who are merely following the Mosaic law with a beautiful picture of marriage. The law has authority over man as long as he lives.
- The illustration of marriage: (7:1-3): A married woman is bound to her husband as long he lives. But if he dies, she is freed from the marriage bond. This is a self evident truth. But if a wife marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is committing adultery. But she is free to marry after the death of her old husband. The law of marriage is in force as long as both the partners are alive. In the same way we are bound to the law in our former ways. But now we are identified with Christ in His death and so we are no longer under the law.
- Our relationship with Christ: (7:4-6): Before we met the Lord Jesus Christ, we were bound by the Law and were condemned and we bore fruit for death. Because a death has occurred, a new relationship can be established. So now we are no longer married to the system because we died to law and now we have a new wonderful relationship with Christ. Our old husband has no control over us because of our death. Now we are delivered from the Law and can serve Christ in the Spirit and in truth, that we may bear fruit for God. The law can no longer condemn us. The Spirit enables us to bear good fruit for God. We serve not by obeying a set of rules or laws, but out of renewed hearts and minds that overflow with love for God. Further we serve God in a new way completely different from Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law says that murderers, perpetrators, adulterers, sinners are guilty, but the Lord Jesus said: hatred is equivalent to murder, looking with lustful eyes is equivalent to adultery. In other words, the very inclination towards the sin makes us guilty. The new relationship with Christ is too amazing and too wonderful to experience. It is not like the obedience of a slave fearing a master, but that of a bride lovingly pleasing her bridegroom.
Usefulness of law: (7:7-14):
The Law is useful, holy and gives the knowledge of sin. Where there is no law, there is transgression. It is a mirror that one can see his inner life through it. Let’s see of the useful points of the Law. From (7:7ff) the apostle turned to the first-person singular, describing his own experience, allowing the Holy Spirit to apply to the readers and also making him more committed to serve Christ.
- The Law reveals sin: (7:7a): When the bright sun beam is passed into the room, we see millions of particles or specks dancing in all direction, in the same way, the Law reveals sin when it is reflected in one’s life. The evil tendency was there already before, but there was no sufficient light to discover it. It is like a mirror that reveals the inner man and shows how dirty we are (1 Jam.1:22-25). “Where there is no law, there is no transgression” (4:15). People cannot know that their actions are sinful unless the law forbids their actions. Here the Apostle does not bring all the big sins we usually think of viz. murder, stealing, adultery etc. but he says: “For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, Do not covet.” (7:7b), because it is a sin very common in the lives of Christians. Covetousness breaks the Commandments. This is the last of 10-Commandments, yet it completely baffles many Christian. That’s why the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to the rich man “one thing you lack, go sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. At this the man’s fell . He went away sad, because he had great wealth” (Mk.10:21-22). This young rich man did not realize his own sinfulness although he had not committed any big sins. He rejected Christ instead of admitting his sins.
- The law is insufficient to deal with the sin: (7:7b): The law is holy and the commandments are holy too. But the law requires a very strict obedience, which discovers the sin and condemns men in all areas of life. Further it supplies neither hope or help, but leaves the men under the power of sin which ultimately leads to death. Man has always a tendency to do what is unlawful, law will make him more and more guilty.
- The law stimulates sin: (7:8-9): The law itself is not the sin nor the root cause for sin. Since the very tendency of human being is to break the commandments, this very law stimulates the sin-principle and reveals the violation of the commandments making the humans transgressors and more guilty. So the very law which was designed to curb the transgressions had made the mankind more and guiltier than before. This does not mean that sin has no existence without the law, but without the law, sin is less active.