Commentaries:
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Romans 7:7
Law shows us our duties. In reference to God, it awakens us to a consciousness of sin. Through law, we become aware of the contrast between what we ought to do and what we actually do. Our civil legislators enact laws, and thus they tell us what is ethical, right, and good in a particular, secular area of life.
Instead of calling a transgression of the state's laws "sin," we call it "crime." Many crimes are also sin. The difference between secular law and God's law is that God's law relates directly to the divine. It reveals our duties to Him.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The First Commandment (1997)Related Topics: Consciousness of Sin | Crime | God's Law | Law | Law Illuminating Sin | Law, Purpose of | Secular Law | Sin, Consciousness of
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What Does Romans 7:7 Mean?
Relating to Romans 7:7, the law is not sin but serves to reveal it. The law awakens a consciousness of sin by showing the contrast between required duties and actual actions. While civil laws define ethical behavior in secular life, labeling transgressions as crimes, God's law pertains directly to the divine, highlighting duties toward Him. Through this divine law, awareness of sin emerges, as it makes clear what is right and wrong in relation to God. Just as the law in Romans 7:7 teaches about covetousness by stating, "You shall not covet," it functions to expose sin, making it known where it would otherwise remain unrecognized.