The chapter explores exactly how the laws and commandments of the Lord provide sin to be exposed. " But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment, wrought in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead (Romans, 7:8). I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died (Romans, 7:9).
This passage provides strength for the argument that until man has an understanding of God and the commandments, man is not breaking them however once the commandments have been outlined and spoken they are law and sin becomes alive dwelling within man.
The battle is founded in the serious nature of sin as is illustrated in verses 8-11. Verse 10 goes over the fact that until the commandments was written, spoken and commanded sin was not in existence because man did not know it was wrong.
A it is interesting to note that this passage is not unlike the story of Adam and Eve. They were unclothed and felt no embarrassment or shame. Once Eve ate from the forbidden fruit and cast a shadow of sin upon the entire world they understood that they were to be clothed and not show their flesh to the world.
This is a similar situation in the book of Romans Chapter Seven. It provides this knowledge of sin and the importance of understanding sin and its battle with the Holy Spirit when it proclaims, "The very commandment which promised life proved to be death to me (Romans, 7:10)"
The fact that sin dwells within man is also exposed during this chapter as it explains sin has always been within but was not defined until the commandments made it so. It is at this point according to the bible that sin found opportunity to move from within and create sinful acts and thoughts because of the commandment allowing for the boundaries to begin existing.
For sin, finding opportunity in the commandment, deceived me and by it killed me (Romans, 7:11)."
Expressions of God's Righteousness
The expression of God's righteousness is clearly illustrated in this chapter and dovetails with the message of the battle between sin and the Holy Spirit that dwells within mankind.
The 12th verse in the chapter explores the reason the law is to be obeyed. It states that the law is holy and the commandment is also holy and they are both just and good. It is important to remember instructs mankind to obey the laws of the land. The Ten Commandments are direct from God and lead mankind in the basis expectations of the Lord and the way mankind conducts his life.
So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good."
In stating that the law is just the Lord is letting mankind know that it is there to provide balance in what should and should not be done in life. It provides fair boundaries in that it asks man to follow what is fair and just and is now boundaried by the laws and the commandments of God.
The Law and the Carnal Man
The law and carnal man are in constant conflict because of the battle within. The battle is about sin and the Holy Spirit and that battle is never more illustrated than it is in the 14-16 of chapter seven of the Book of Romans.
In the 14th verse the passage admits to having sin dwell within the body. It explores the fact that the law is based in spiritual understanding of what is just and what is good and holds it against the vernal nature of mankind. This underscores the battle that goes on within each person as they struggle with carnal desires and knowledge and knowing that they must turn against those desires and instead obey the law and the commandments of the Lord.
In verse 15 the speaker alludes to a clash of personality when the text explores two different desires. On the one hand the speaker does not want to sin, knows it is wrong and has no desire to take part in those actions, however, he does.
I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate (Romans, 7:15).
In the very next verse however the speaker attributes the law with the keeping of the good and just behaviors that should be followed. The previous passages discussed the strictness of the law and the fact that the law actually made sin possible by setting the boundaries and restrictions. Before the law the things that man wanted to do could not be considered sinful because there was no limit to what was...
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