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Friday 20 July 2012

Romans 7:7,8 - Law and Sin

So we are not to serve in the old way of the written code (v6). This applied to the Jews, it applies as a general principle to all Churches. If you think that by adopting a system, a methodology, a structure, you or your church will then manage to serve God better you are deluded. 
So what does this mean? Does it mean the Law was bad? Does it mean we should never have systems or structure? Certainly not! The Law was good, the problem was people. Systems and structures can be good, but the problem is people (which includes you and includes me, just in case you think that "people" excludes you and means everyone else is to blame). We need systems and structures, we can no doubt improve on systems and structures we have, but we need to be fully aware of where the root of the problem lies. If the root is not tackled we are wasting our time.
The Law showed Paul what was wrong, but it had a perverse effect as well. It enabled sin to to produce evil desires as well. See here the root and awfulness of sin. Now remember that Paul had been a Pharisee. He would have been highly respected and considered to be a godly man, yet he knew full well that sin was alive in him. Sin is rebellion against God. The Law taught what was good and pleasing to God. So the converse is that if you do the opposite you do what is displeasing to God. We need to be aware how deeply rooted sin is in our lives. That is why we need the radical surgery of the cross and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

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