The Goodness of the Law

Bible Text: Romans 7:7-12 | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 2003, Romans

August 31, 2003                                                                                                                            Northwest Bible Church

Worship Service                                                                                                                            Alan Conner (ox)

Rom. 7:7-12

The Goodness of the Law

 

INTRO

 

 

 

A.  THE JEWISH OBJECTION (Rom. 7:7).

 

1) The nature of the objection.

 

 

2) A review of Paul’s teaching on the law so far in Romans:

 

– it brings the knowledge of sin, but cannot justify (3:20)

– apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been manifested (3:21)

– a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law (3:28)

– it brings wrath (4:15)

– it increased the trespass (5:20)

– believers are not under the law (6:14)

– believers are dead to the law and released from it (7:4, 6)

– the sinful passions are aroused by the law, to bear fruit for death (7:5)

 

 

 

 

B.  AN OVERVIEW OF PAUL’S ANSWER (Rom. 7:7-12).

 

“Is the law sin?”    May it never be.  (6th of 10)

 

1) The law reveals sin (7b).

 

2) My sin, not the law, produced in me coveting of every kind (8).

 

3) My sin used the law to kill me (9-11).

 

4) Therefore, the law is not sinful, but holy (12).

 

 

 

C.  THE GOODNESS OF THE LAW

 

1)  The functions of the law.

 

a) Reveals God’s righteous will.

 

b) Reveals our rebellious sin.

 

c) Reveals God’s just judgments on sin.

 

d) Reveals our need for a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ .

 

 

 

2)  The law reveals sin (7b).

 

a) The law reveals sin to unbelievers and to believers.

 

 

b) The law’s ministry of revealing sin is an expression of God’s mercy.

 

 

(1) You cannot be saved without it.

 

 

 

(2) You cannot live the Christian life without it.

 

 

 

(3) You cannot love Christ without it.   Lk. 7:47

 

 

 

c) It is a mark of spiritual maturity and wisdom to desire to have your sin revealed.

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

The law is holy, not sinful, because it reveals to us our sin.  It is one of God’s precious gifts to us so that we can see our need for Jesus Christ.   Thank God for the law of God.