Day 575: Nullify or Uphold the Law?Romans 3:31
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Thoughts for Today:Have you ever noticed how a "Don't" sign almost always makes you want to test the prohibited behavior? Not long ago I was walking with my daughter Amanda down by the train station in San Juan Capistrano when we came upon a railing with a "Don't Touch -- Wet Paint" sign. What do you think Amanda did? That's right she touched the railing. After she showed me the wet paint on her fingers, I asked her: "Why did you do that?" Her answer: "I wanted to see if it was wet."
In Romans 7:7b-8a, Paul tells us the result of the Law is a lot like this "Don't Touch -- Wet Paint" sign: "Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'Do not covet.' But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire."
Paul poses a rhetorical question: "Should we then nullify the Law?" (In our example, it would be the same as taking down the "Don't Touch -- Wet Paint" sign.) Of course not. We all know without the "Wet Paint" warning sign we could inadvertently lean against the railing and ruin a perfectly good shirt. Therefore, the Law (like the sign) is meant to protect us from activities which are not only harmful, but also possibly unknown. Paul's solution: We should learn by faith to obey/respect the Law as it only exists for our own good.
Questions to Ponder:Let me pose some questions: If Jesus died for our sins (past, present and future), then why do we need to observe the Law? If we break the Law and Jesus forgives us -- why not break all the Laws? If we do then don't we magnify God's generosity and grace? After all God can then forgive even more sin thereby proving just how much He loves us. Does this sound strange yet somewhat rational? This argument and more will be addressed by Paul in Chapter Four of Romans.
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Thoughts for Today:Have you ever noticed how a "Don't" sign almost always makes you want to test the prohibited behavior? Not long ago I was walking with my daughter Amanda down by the train station in San Juan Capistrano when we came upon a railing with a "Don't Touch -- Wet Paint" sign. What do you think Amanda did? That's right she touched the railing. After she showed me the wet paint on her fingers, I asked her: "Why did you do that?" Her answer: "I wanted to see if it was wet."
In Romans 7:7b-8a, Paul tells us the result of the Law is a lot like this "Don't Touch -- Wet Paint" sign: "Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'Do not covet.' But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire."
Paul poses a rhetorical question: "Should we then nullify the Law?" (In our example, it would be the same as taking down the "Don't Touch -- Wet Paint" sign.) Of course not. We all know without the "Wet Paint" warning sign we could inadvertently lean against the railing and ruin a perfectly good shirt. Therefore, the Law (like the sign) is meant to protect us from activities which are not only harmful, but also possibly unknown. Paul's solution: We should learn by faith to obey/respect the Law as it only exists for our own good.
Questions to Ponder:Let me pose some questions: If Jesus died for our sins (past, present and future), then why do we need to observe the Law? If we break the Law and Jesus forgives us -- why not break all the Laws? If we do then don't we magnify God's generosity and grace? After all God can then forgive even more sin thereby proving just how much He loves us. Does this sound strange yet somewhat rational? This argument and more will be addressed by Paul in Chapter Four of Romans.
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