 |  |
Paul now comes to his third question and asks, "is the law sin?" (verse 7). If the
believer has been delivered from the law as a task master, is there something wrong with
it? The answer is "certainly not". The wrong is in the sinner, not in the law of God. And
yet there is a connection between law and sin in at least two ways:
(1)
Sin would never be seen in its true colours unless there was a perfect standard
by which all conduct could be measured.
(2)
The law stirs up the latent rebellion that lies dormant in every heart. We all
know our reaction when someone tries to force us to act in a particular way.
As regards (1) the Apostle says:
"Indeed, I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would
not have known what it was to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet" (7: 7,
N.I.V.).
The word `covet' means desire. God's law goes deeper than the external act. Paul as
a Pharisee had been concerned largely with the external conformity to the law, but when
it dawned upon him that the law also had to do with `desires' before they had become
manifest as `deeds' the shock was intense. He might be able to control his action, but
what about his thoughts? The command at last `came', as never before and the Apostle
says: "sin revived, or sprang to life, and I died" (verse 9). All his boasted righteousness
vanished. The commandment which, if obeyed, would have led to life, he now found to
be too searching and deep--it led to death. Sin had deceived him, as it had done to Adam
and Eve and like them, it `slew him'.
Covetousness is a state of mind--it is idolatry (Col. 3: 5). It may be desire for right
or wrong but if such self-regarding is of such intensity, it can usurp the place God ought
to have, that is place No.1.