The Impact of the Law

Romans 7:7-13

Before Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they had no standard of right and wrong, no conscience. They could be held accountable for nothing, except disobeying God. Once they ate the fruit, it gave them a knowledge of good and evil, and they began to try to correct the evil. They were not responsible until they knew the difference. From the moment they took the fruit, sin was in the world, as Romans 5:13 states. “For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Though man could not be charged with sin, because there was no law, sin still resulted in death, just as using drugs will destroy the body, whether there are laws against them or not.

"What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.” (Romans 7:7-10)

The conscience provided no absolute standard of good and evil, because as Titus 1:15 tells us, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” As a result, Proverbs 21:2 tells us, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.”

God gave the Law to overcome this deficiency of the conscience. Man would know absolutely what was wrong. He would also be guilty as a result. Romans 3:19-20 explains. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The intent was to prevent sin, but the effect was condemnation. “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression,” (Romans 4:15). Galatians 3:21 makes it clear that it was not possible for laws to be given that could neutralize the effects of sin and give life. The law depended on the flesh’s ability to keep it according to Romans 8:3.

Sin plays on man’s fleshly desires and rebellious state to induce man to break the commandments. It doesn’t make the law bad, but it emphasizes man’s wickedness. Now man has broken the Law. He is responsible for his actions. His punishment is deserved.

“For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.” (Romans 7:11-13)