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I am the Problem
Anticipated objection: Paul’s view cannot produce a godly lifestyle among the committed because in his system the law does not affect salvation (justification) or sanctification (spiritual growth in godliness, holiness). The Apostles teach that the moral law is part of the gospel message leading to salvation and aids each human to realize that they are a sinner. The moral law is also an aid to the believer who is governed by grace and walking by faith to see what is pleasing and displeasing to the God he/she loves and serves as a purchased slave. But for the Judaizers, the ceremonial law is what they want forced on New Covenant believers, and all the New Testament Apostles of Christ and prophets strongly oppose this plan. Paul argues against it.
I. The law has no part in the justification of a sinner. Its task is to bring exposure of sin and condemnation for sin (a pre-salvation work) vs. 1-13
A. Paul is
addressing the Jews, who know the whole Mosaic law about the mystery of the law
vs. 1
B. Paul’s fact:
Every person is under the law’s authority as long as he lives
C. Paul’s illustration: A married couple that makes vows; the woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive vs.2-3
1. If her husband dies, she is free to remarry
2. If she breaks her vows while he is alive, she is an adulteress
3. In wills and covenants, a death changes everything
4. We are bound to the law as long as we are alive (in Adam)
D. Paul’s application: You have died to the law through your identification with the Messiah vs. 4
1. You are no longer under the dynamic of law, condemnation, everlasting punishment as is every natural person
2. You have been joined to Messiah in His death, burial, and resurrection and are under the dynamic of grace
3. Under the dynamics of the law, your deeds (fruit) were only sinful (motive)
4. Under the dynamics of grace, your deeds (fruit) can and should be good works that please God (with the motives of glorifying and loving God)
E. Paul’s explanation of the difference between a believer’s past and present vs. 5-6
1. Before we were saved, the law incited the sinful passions of our sinful nature; we acted upon them and increased our sin, guilt, and criminal record, causing our punishment due (everlasting death) to increase
2. At our conversion, we died to sin’s control and the law’s condemnation through our connection with Jesus the Messiah. The law’s authority to say, “Do this or die!” was removed at that moment
3. Because the surrender of the sinner to be a slave of Jesus is a death to self and sin, we are now serving Jesus with the new (to us) power of the Holy Spirit, and we are not motivated by legalism, but by gratitude
F. Paul’s explanation of the operations of the moral law and sin in a sinner vs. 7-13
1. Q.: Is the law sinful since it stirs the natural person (lost, unsaved, pagan) up to sin? A.: Don’t even think such a thought!
2. We do not know something is sinful until the law reveals that it is sinful
3. Some things are revealed clearly by the natural law in our hearts; others only from special revelation (Bible)
4. Illustration: The tenth commandment. “Do not covet what belongs to others.” Paul was lusting, but he did not know it was sin until he heard the law read to him. The moral law first shows my attitude or behavior to be sin, to be against God, and to be forbidden vs. 7
5. When the knowledge comes to a natural person who is a rebel that God in His authority has forbidden what I am doing, then the sin nature, even more, longs and seeks ways to covet to further rebel against the holy standard vs. 8
6. So, because of a person’s sin nature, the law’s revelation awakens more lustful longings, lust grows, and the condition of the sinner is worse because of the knowledge provided by the moral law vs. 8
7. Paul the Pharisee discovered through the tenth commandment that he was spiritually dead and unable to have godly attitudes on his own vs. 9
8. Paul realized the promise of everlasting life to all who completely keep the law was not good news. They all needed a deliverer because the law condemned their failure and sentenced them to everlasting death, not life. The law brings the knowledge that we are not able to obey God’s righteous demands in our own strength vs. 10-11
9. The problem is not with the law; it is holy, righteous, and good. The real problem is the sinful heart (inner person), not the exposure of sin. The law shows the excessive wickedness of my sin vs. 12-13
10. The more a person tries to keep the law, the more they sin. But they are the problem; they are the ones enslaved to sin; the problem is not the moral law. The truth is, I am a sinner; the law is not sinful; I am
11. Thus, I must be separated from the law’s condemnation and authority and be married (a blood bought slave) to King Jesus—my Lord and Messiah—to enter heaven and to have everlasting life
12. The moral law shows me my sin, pronounces my condemnation, and incites sin in my heart, proving that I am a rebel by nature and by choice. I am spiritually dead. I need a resurrection from the dead; I desperately need a deliverer
