Chapter # 7 Paragraph # 3 Study # 2
March 20, 2007
Lincolnton, N.C.
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1769 Translation:
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
1901 ASV Translation:
13 Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
- I. The Perceived Impact of the Law.
- A. Paul's question raises the issue of whether the Law works death.
- 1. This would be an extraordinary result of something "good".
- 2. But this seems to be the natural conclusion of Paul's argument.
- B. Paul's answer is that it is "Sin", not the Law, that works death.
- 1. Is he just splitting hairs?
- 2. He actually says that it is Sin's use of that which is good that "works" the death.
- a. If the Law is the tool, how is it not in the "death to me" loop?
- b. If the Law is not the tool, what is the point of all of the warning and promise that is attached to the Law...Sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the Law...etc.?
- c. But this is the point: the Law is the tool, but its usefulness in producing death is rooted in the tool being in the wrong hands. Can one blame a hammer for striking what it does, or for the result such a strike causes? Or does the blame go to the one whose power and guidance is what causes the hammer to strike where it does?
- 3. In what sense does even Sin "work" death?
- a. "Death" is the result of the imposition of "distance" between God and men.
- b. Such "distance" is the divine/human reaction to the commission of sins.
- c. However, there is never a "divine" withdrawal before the "human" withdrawal. God has never been seen to withdraw from a man who was upright; if He withdraws at all, it is only in response to the already-withdrawal of the ungodly. This raises this question: does God withdraw at all, or does He simply not pursue the one who is doing the "distance-imposition"? In the Garden, God made His presence known and Adam and Eve -- the Withdrawers -- ran to hide. Jesus said, "...light is come into the world [God pursuing man], and men loved darkness rather than light...". The overwhelming testimony of Scripture is of God in pursuit of men and man in flight from God.
- d. Thus, Sin "works" death by persuading men to impose distance between themselves and God. Let those who believe that God withdraws establish their case from the Bible.
- e. Here, again, those who promote the doctrine of man's "free will" attempt to put the onus upon the God of grace by claiming that such a God would be arbitrarily rejecting men who are in pursuit of Him.
- II. The True Impact of the Law.
- A. The Law clearly reveals what is sinful and what is righteous.
- B. By this revelation, Sin is unmasked.
- 1. Without clarity, deceit flourishes because it can.
- 2. Once clarity is given, deceit no longer has the ability to remain deceitful.
- C. That there is such a thing as a deceiver in God's universe is an enormous travesty: by the unveiling, it is seen to be exceedingly sinful.
- 1. What "excuse" can a creature render for rebellion against its Creator? The entire notion is beyond wicked.
- 2. It is not just foolish for a creature, lacking the qualities and balance of God in every respect , to rebel against its Maker, it is evil.
- a. What "creature" has omnipotence? What exercise of lesser power is legitimate if that exercise is applied to vanity?
- b. What "creature" has omniscience? What exercise of lesser knowledge is legitimate if that exercise is actually guided by foolishness?
- c. What "creature" has omni-wisdom? What exercise of lesser wisdom is legitimate if that exercise results in death?
- D. Perhaps the greatest deception of all time is the notion that knowledge is the key to the effective use of power.
- 1. Every legalist under the sun believes this: just teach me and I will be able to act properly.
- 2. The "tree" in the Garden was called "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil": the problem was to be the knowledge.
- 3. The promise of the New Covenant was not a new "brain", but a new "heart": the point being that if "love" is unsettled, knowledge will run amuck. Knowledge legitimately serves Love, but Love never legitimately serves knowledge.