The Law & Sin

Have you ever been on the road when you’re in a hurry and lost track of how fast you were going? You know that sinking feeling when you suddenly notice a car quickly catching up to you with flashing lights in your rearview mirror. Unfortunately, you didn’t see that “reduced speed zone” a mile back, and now you’re up against the law. As much as you might try to explain that you didn’t mean to break the law; unless the officer is feeling generous, you’re going to end up paying the penalty.Most of us realize that laws are important, but what we also understand is that laws are limited in what they can do. Police officers may diligently enforce the rules of the road, but laws are unable to make us better drivers. Similarly, laws against bullying at school cannot make a bully into a kind person, nor do laws about sugary snacks make someone healthy. In the end, we need more than the law to transform our lives.As we will see as we continue in our study of Romans 7, the apostle Paul knew the importance of God’s law. At the same time, he also knew that pleasing his heavenly Father was not just a matter of obeying a set of rules. Jesus gets at the spiritual nature of law when he says he came to fulfill the law rather than to do away with it.However, as Paul wrestles with his own sinful nature, he cries out, “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” But then comes the glorious answer: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Amen to that!Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron