“What then should we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died, and the very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. Did what is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.” Romans 7:7-13

Paul and the Law. Like all Jews, Paul believed that the law was “holy and just and good.” But Paul also saw a negative side to Torah (law). Paul knew that the Law causes sin to be known, and even incites sin, thus bringing G-d’s wrath. His road to Damascus revelation taught him that, despite his adherence to the law, his persecution of Jesus and followers of “the way” opposed G-d and also taught him that a relationship with G-d is grounded in grace, not law. As seen in the example of Abraham, law and circumcision are not the means to righteousness with God, but this is only found in faith alone. For the Christian, the only remaining use of the law is as a norm for behavior pleasing to God, made possible by the indwelling Spirit of G-d (Luther’s Third Use of the Law). (New Interpreter’s Study Bible, p. 2020)

This “Third Use of the Law” is not something to consider lightly — we still need laws that help us to find true boundaries to our living — laws that come from the commonwealth, and laws that come from the common understanding of right and righteous living.

Pastor Dave

“What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:1-11

“No one is happier than the one who has sincerely repented of wrong. Repentance is the decision to turn from selfish desires and seek God. It is a genuine, sincere regret that creates sorrow and moves us to admit wrong and desire to do better. It’s an inward conviction that expresses itself in outward actions. You look at the love of God and you can’t believe he’s loved you like he has, and this realization motivates you to change your life. That is the nature of repentance.” (Max Lucado)

The words of Romans 6 are often read at the funeral service — for nothing brings us comfort more than knowing that “if we have been united with Christ in a death like his, we will certainly be united with Christ in a resurrection like his”. This is a love that is just impossible to comprehend. And when we know this love, then we are moved to live into that love.

Pastor Dave