Wednesday July 23, 2014

Read: Romans 7:7-13

We have seen that the main thrust of Paul’s argument about the law in this passage is how the law stirred up sinful desires in him and revealed the true extent of sin. In making this point Paul describes the role of the law in mostly a negative fashion. This is an important point to the argument Paul is making here in Romans. Paul is very clear that man cannot be saved by keeping the law, it is only by the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ. But even as Paul makes this argument about the role of the law he goes to painstaking effort to make it clear that the law itself is not evil but good.

As a reaction against legalism and works righteousness, Christians often have a tendency to give little attention to the law, to ignore the law or even to blatantly disregard the law. Often they tend to react with suspicion and even anger when Christians talk about the role of the law for believers today. It is right to react against abuses of the law but we must be very careful that our view of God’s law is accurate and faithful to God’s word.

Notice how careful Paul is to avoid this kind of attack against the law. In verse 7 when Paul responds against the charge that the law is sin he exclaims: “certainly not!” In the original language this is an absolute emphatic statement. Paul is jumping up and down and saying “NO WAY!”

Paul continues in verse 10. Even as he argues about the way that the law provided an opportunity for sin which brought about death in him he defends the law: “I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.” God’s laws and commandments were not given to destroy mankind or to bring death. God did not bring about the wickedness that occurred as a result of the law. It is the sinful and broken nature of man that brought about these wicked things. The law was intended to bring life to those who heard it and perfectly obeyed it, both richness and fullness of life now and eternal life with God later. But because of mankind’s wickedness we disobeyed God’s law and it instead brought us condemnation and wrath. Paul does not blame the law for this, it is entirely our fault.

Perhaps the greatest positive statement about the law that Paul makes in this section is found in verse 12. Paul does not speak badly about the law, far from it, instead he declares that the law and its commands are holy, righteous and good. It is hard to imagine a greater statement about the good nature of the law in itself. God did not give mankind something evil or defective, he gave something that was intended to bring life, something that was holy, righteous and good.

So how should we view the law? Rather than react with suspicion and hostility we can remember that salvation comes through Christ alone and that the law is good and plays an important role in the life of the Christian. Instead of treating others poorly we can encourage them and seek to be encouraged as we discuss the law. Instead of viewing it badly we can view it as Paul does: holy, righteous and good.

Prayer:

Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

¥ Pray for the Committee of Management in your church. Pray that God would give them wisdom and insight in their role in the church. Pray that they might be passionate about the growth of God’s Kingdom and that they would make wise decisions out of that passion. Pray that they would serve God and His church cheerfully and with joy.

 Word Moment:

How does having this kind of view of the law change the way you read the Old Testament?  Take some time to sit down and read some of God’s law with this view in mind. Pray that God would help you to understand and to apply what you read.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. What are some of the negative things that you have heard Christians say about the Law?

2. What would you say to those people based on Paul’s words here in Romans 7?

3. How have Paul’s words confronted some of your own negative attitudes about the law?

 Discipleship Moment For Girls

Intro: Everyone finds some parts of the Bible harder to understand than others. That’s because the Bible is such an amazing book that it takes time to understand.

Share: If you can, some parts of the Bible that you have found hard to understand? What made them hard?

Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17. It would seem easy to ignore the parts of the Bible that seem hard to us. The Bible tells us that the whole thing is helpful for us. What does this passage say the Bible is helpful for? What do you think you should do when you find a hard to understand part?

Pray Together:  Thank God that He has provided the Bible to help us.

 Discipleship Moment For Boys

Intro: Everyone finds some parts of the Bible harder to understand than others. That’s because the Bible is such an amazing book that it takes time to understand.

Share: If you can, some parts of the Bible that you have found hard to understand? What made them hard?

Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17. It would seem easy to ignore the parts of the Bible that seem hard to us. The Bible tells us that the whole thing is helpful for us. What does this passage say the Bible is helpful for? What do you think you should do when you find a hard to understand part?

Pray Together:  Thank God that He has provided the Bible to help us.