The apostle now reverts to the question, "Is the law sin?" His answer is, No; and his

reasoning is as follows.

While it is perfectly true that the believer must die to the law, even as he must die to

sin if he is to possess life and liberty and sanctification, it must be most clearly

understood that there is no other relation between sin and law, except that through the

flesh both tend to death. The apostle had insisted upon the necessity of deliverance from

law, not because it was evil, but because it could not produce holiness in man. What it

did produce was an intensified knowledge of sin and of inward corruption.

The prohibitions of the law were for the protection and blessing of man, but he needed

something more than prohibition and penalty. What the law actually did was to stir up

the latent rebellion that lies dormant in every heart. But this, while it for ever sets aside

the law as a possible means of life and holiness, in no sense reflects upon the holiness of

the law itself:--