The Law In Romans

As I prepared to teach the book of Romans at Church, I thought it critical for those attending my Bible study, to better understand some of the Doctrinal concepts mentioned by the apostle Paul throughout this letter. So I've written a few brief descriptions and explanations of these Biblical teachings to help us to grasp more fully the content of Paul's message. I also thought that maybe others might benefit from them, so as I put them to paper I have included them in my blog, next is this important doctrine:  

THE LAW IN ROMANS


“The Law” in Romans typically meant the “Law of Moses”, or the “Law of the Old Testament”, but this does not necessarily prevent Paul from using the term in different ways.


It is used in the general sense:

Romans 2:12; both as “law” and “the law” expressing a general principle relating to law, also in the later part of Romans 2:14.

Romans 3:27; “By what law?” or by what sort of principle?

Romans 4:15; “where there is no law”

Romans 5:13; “For until the law sin was in the world,..” referring to the period between Adam’s sin and the giving of the law.

Romans 7:1; “..those who know the law,”



It is used of a force or influence impelling to action:

Romans 7:21; “So I find it to be a law, that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.”

Romans 7:23; “but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin...”



It is used of the Mosaic law, the law of Sanai:

1. With the definite article in; Romans 2:15, 18, 20, 26, 27 ; 3:19 ; 4:15 ; 7:4, 7, 14, 16, 22 and 8:3, 4 & 7.

2. Without the article, stressing its quality as “law” in; Romans 2:14 ; 5:20 and 7:9 where the stress in the quality lies in this, that which he thought would be a means of life, he found to have the effect of revealing his actual state of death.



“the law of faith”:

Romans 3:27; The principle that demands only faith on mans part to activate justification.


“the law of my mind”:

Romans 7:23; The principle that governs the new nature in view of the new birth.


“the law of sin”:

Romans 7:23; The principle by which sin exerts its influence and power despite the desire to do what is right; “the law of sin and death” death being the effect.


“the law of the Spirit of life”:

Romans 8:2; The principle by which the Holy Spirit acts as the imparter of life.


“the law of righteousness”:

The general principle presenting righteousness as the object and outcome of keeping the law of Moses.


Paul goes on to emphasis that the law does not bring salvation. He repeatedly links sinning to the law. The law came in so that transgressions might abound (Rom. 5:20), and where there is no law there is no transgression (Rom. 4:15; 5:13). The righteousness of God is “apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21, 28), this has always been God’s way: the promise that came to Abraham was “not through law”. The law works wrath, that is, it brings the wrath of God on sinners.


It was not the function of the law to justify, but rather to give knowledge of sin, to make sin obvious, to make more evident the need for redemption. Apart from the law sin was dormant, but the law aroused a desire to do that which it forbad. Sin is responsible for death, not the law. God’s law, reflecting His righteous moral principles, is holy. It simply does not have the power to make us righteous. While the law can enlighten ones conscience, it is powerless to produce holiness in a life because it depends on sinful human nature to carry it out.


The gentiles did not have the law as the Jews did, but by nature they do some of the things that are stipulated in the law. God has given all people a moral instinct. People will be judged according to the revelation they have. The standard for the pagans will be the unwritten law of conscience and nature. To be “under the law” is to be under a system of trying to earn salvation in our own strength by obeying the law. But to be “under grace” is to be justified and to live by the indwelling resurrection power of Christ.


Some interpret Christ to be the end of the law (Rom. 10:4) in the sense that He is the goal of fulfillment of the law. However, “law” here refers to the system of earning righteousness in our own strength. Christ truly is the perfect fulfillment of everything the law requires, but He also put an end to the law as a way of achieving righteousness for everyone who believes. Thus, Paul emphasizes the sufficiency of faith in receiving the righteousness of God because in fulfilling the laws demands, Christ terminated its claim. This verse does not mean that a Christian may ignore God’s moral standards or commandments. It is only when we experience the love of Christ that we come to see the place of the law and find that “love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10).


Freedom from the law does not mean license to sin, but servitude to God. In the newness of the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to obey God, a power the law by itself could never give. The law is good, but it cannot empower us to obey.


Conclusion:

*To have this law is one of the high privileges of Israel. The law is meant for life. It is holy, spiritual and good. It is a source of instruction and of truth. People will be judged by it, so it is important to obey. However, Paul says no one will be justified by the works done in accordance with the law of Moses, but he is probably saying something more, namely that no one is justified by any works of the law, the law of Moses or any other. God’s way has always been the way of grace, and we misunderstand the law if we see it as the way of earning salvation. It is God’s way of showing our shortcomings so that we will turn to Christ for our salvation.


God Bless and Press On
Larry


*Leon Morris