Romans 7:8: But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9: For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Many of the writers say that Paul's meaning is that sin made him rebel against obeying the law, but is that the case? Paul was brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, a teacher of the law. Paul received permission from the high priest to bring those from Damascus who he perceived to be lawless so that they could be punished according to the law (Acts 22:3-5.) He told the Philippians, "If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Philippians 3: 4-6.) Paul was zealous for the law. What then is this concupiscence of which Paul speaks? The evil lust forbidden by God is to trust in our so-called obedience. It is to imagine ourselves righteous, holy and accepted of God (or a little more accepted after a profession) by our obedience to his law. (Read Romans 10: 1-4.)
The worst of all fornication, uncleanness and inordinate affection is playing the harlot in self-righteousness. There can be no worse evil concupiscence and covetousness than lusting after the glory which belongs to Christ Jesus the Lord alone! (Col 3: 5.) Christ is the perfect fulfillment of all God's law: Christ is the fulfillment of God's purpose in giving the law, Christ is the fulfillment of the shadows and types in the law, Christ is the fulfillment of every precept and penalty of the law for the believer, Christ is the rejoicing which causes every believer to delight in all God's law and walk in newness of spirit. Thus Paul declares that the believer who trusts Christ is the only person who truly "establishes the law." Believer, herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (Ro 3: 31; 4:13; 6:14; 7:4,6,22; 8: 3,4,7; 9: 31,32; 10:4; Ga 2:16,21; 3: 2,3, 21-25; 4:9-11; 5:1-6,11,12,18,22,23; 6:12-15; 1 Ti 8,9. 1Jo 4:17.)
After conversion Paul preached Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. The charge made against Paul by religious men was that he was against the law (Acts 6:13; 21:27,28.)On the contrary, Paul says that while he imagined acceptance with God through obedience to the law, it was then that he was actually against the law. He had the law, he sought to obey the law, but in imagining and teaching men that righteousness and holiness comes by the law, he proved himself to have no spiritual understanding of the law, thus he says, "I was alive without the law once."
But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. When God writes his law in the inward man, we behold all our righteousness as filthy rags. Through the law the Holy Spirit shut us up to faith in Christ. Believers delight in Christ and desire to honor him in every aspect of their lives. They cease calling their former obedience righteousness and begin calling it what Paul called it, lusting after what God forbids.
May Paul's testimony be our own, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Philippians 3: 8, 9.)
"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain" (Ga 2:19-21.)
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH Of Princeton, New Jersey
LOCATION & WEB ADDRESSES Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor 150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES Sunday 10 AM Bible Class 11 AM Morning Worship Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service (The first Sunday of each month, morning worship begins at 10am followed by observing the Lord's Table. Afterwards we have lunch together.)