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Romans 7:7-9 By no means, God forbid, - Day 229

Hello again,

Rhetorical questions are a great tool for showing emphasis.  Today's passage is an example where Paul asks a questions (What then shall we say), gives an answer (That the law is sin) and then launches into the true purpose of the law.  Hope these thoughts help.

Blessings,

Jeff

I think I have mentioned that I have been listening to Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermons on Romans.  I highly recommend them.  If you are interested, RefNet (Ligonier) carries him Sundays at 6:30 AM and 7:00 PM or you can go to mljtrust.org.  The series ran for 13 years ('55 to '68) on Friday nights.  I can only imagine what it was like to actually hear him.  Any way, it is very hard to pull a passage out and think of it in devotional terms.  Everything is part of an argument.  Chapters 6 and 7 are both answers to objections that Paul knew people would have to what he said in Chapter 5.  

So these 3 verses I focused on illustrate this idea.  in 7:1-6, Paul seems to be critical of the law.  The law aroused our sinful passions and produced death in us.  Paul answers the objection that some might have, that he is saying that the law is sin.  He denies this is strongest possible terms. The purpose of the law is to show us that we are dead spiritually.  As long as I think I am alive spiritually, the law has not "come to me".  It is only once I am convicted by the law that I realize I am actually dead.  Lloyd-Jones is adamant that the law must be used for its true intent.  Cannot be justified or sanctified by the law.  But the law and our failure to obey it shows us the need for salvation by faith.

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