Romans 7

Read Romans 7.

            Whether Paul means “the law of Moses” or the more generalized “law as the command and will of God” that we learned about in catechism class doesn’t matter that much in chapter 7. (I still think it’s primarily the former.) His main point stands, “Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.” The law makes us aware of sin. It shows bad behavior for what it is. Sin takes the opportunity and becomes stronger. Because we are sinners, born in Adam’s corruption, a knowledge of right and wrong doesn’t always make the it easier to do the right thing.

            I often get questions about Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit, questions that range from, “Why’d they do it, with all the other trees to eat from?” to “Why’d God put that tree there in the first place?” To the second question, I think the answer is that untested obedience isn’t yet mature obedience. To the first, the answer is that “sin seized the opportunity afforded by the commandment.” Look how easy it was for the serpent to convince them that the fruit was “good to eat and for gaining wisdom.”

            I’ve thought about this a lot with the way we Christian parents talk about sex. We’re pretty firm with our children, “Wait for marriage!” Which is the right message. But I worry that it just makes it all the more enticing. I don’t know what that particular solution is; I don’t know how to talk about sex in a way that encourages right behavior without making the sin more intriguing. It’s just a case where I see Romans 7 playing out.

            No wonder, then, that Paul expresses such frustration over sin! “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out!” Such is the power of sin in the human life. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Hold on to that last line. Tomorrow we’ll look at chapter 8, one of the great expressions of the Gospel in the Bible!