Romans 7:7-12: a reflection

7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” 8But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead. 9I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10The commandment which was for life, this I found to be for death; 11for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. 12Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, righteous, and good.

Paul explains the role of God's law in relation to our sin, and it is a revealing one. I wouldn't have known sin except through the law, he says; I wouldn't have known coveting unless the law had said, You shall not covet. The law, he insists, is not itself sin; it is holy, righteous, and good. But it serves to reveal sin, to show us what sin is, to expose the sin in us that we might not otherwise have recognized. The law holds up a standard that exposes our failure to meet it, revealing the sin within.

Notice the role Paul gives the law: to reveal sin, to expose it. The law is not the problem; it is holy and good. But it functions to show us our sin, to make us aware of what we would not otherwise recognize. Paul says he would not have known coveting as sin apart from the commandment against it; the law named it, and so exposed it in him. The law holds up God's standard, and in doing so reveals how far we fall short, exposing the sin within us that we might otherwise excuse or not see. The law's exposing of sin is not cruelty, but a necessary revealing.

That revealing role of the law is worth taking to heart, for we need our sin exposed before we will see our need. We can be comfortably unaware of our sin, excusing or not recognizing it; but the law exposes it, holding up God's standard and showing how far we fall short. And this exposing, painful as it is, is necessary: it shows us our sin, and so our need of the grace God provides. Do not resent the law's exposing of your sin, as though it were merely condemning; its revealing of your sin is meant to show you your need of grace. Let the law do its work of exposing your sin, showing you what you are and how far you fall short, that you may see your need and flee to the grace God provides; for the law reveals our sin not to leave us in despair, but to drive us to the grace that answers it, as Paul found the commandment exposing the sin in him.

Lord, Paul explains the role of your law in relation to our sin, and it is a revealing one. I wouldn't have known sin except through the law, he says; I wouldn't have known coveting unless the law had said, you shall not covet. The law, he insists, is not itself sin; it is holy, righteous, and good. But it serves to reveal sin, to show us what sin is, to expose the sin in us that we might not otherwise have recognized. Show me the role Paul gives the law: to reveal sin, to expose it. The law is not the problem; it is holy and good. But it functions to show me my sin, to make me aware of what I would not otherwise recognize. Paul says he would not have known coveting as sin apart from the commandment against it; the law named it, and so exposed it. The law holds up your standard, and in doing so reveals how far I fall short. Take that revealing role to my heart, for I need my sin exposed before I will see my need. I can be comfortably unaware of my sin, excusing or not recognizing it; but the law exposes it. And this exposing, painful as it is, is necessary: it shows me my sin, and so my need of the grace you provide. Keep me from resenting the law's exposing of my sin, as though it were merely condemning; its revealing of my sin is meant to show me my need of grace. Let the law do its work of exposing my sin, Lord, that I may see my need and flee to the grace you provide.