Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 7:12-13

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the primary purpose of the law according to Romans 7:12-13?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the primary purpose of the law is to show "the exceeding sinfulness of sin." He specifically states that "the fundamental error of the Jews was to think that [the law] was [a way of salvation]." Lloyd-Jones explains: "The law was never meant nor intended to be a way of salvation... it is to show the exceeding sinful character of sin." He points to Romans 3:20 where Paul says, "by the law is the knowledge of sin," indicating that the law's function is to give us an understanding of sin rather than to justify us.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain Paul's description of the law as "holy, just, and good"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul describes the law as "holy" because it is "the absolute antithesis of sin and evil" and "a transcript of the character of God." He says the law is "just" in two ways: it makes no unfair demands of humans, and it is perfectly just in the pronouncement and sentence it passes on sin. Finally, he explains that the law is "good" because "in all its purposes, in all its objects, and indeed in all its effects, it is something which is good." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "there is no better life than a life lived in conformity with God's law."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the main problem in Romans 7 regarding sin and the law?

The main problem Lloyd-Jones identifies is that sin, not the law, brings death. When asked "was then that which is good made death unto me?", Paul answers "God forbid" and explains that it was sin that produced death, using the law as its instrument. Lloyd-Jones explains: "It isn't the law that killed me. It was sin that killed me." Sin does this by taking the law, which is good, and perverting it, using it deceitfully to bring death. This reveals the "exceeding sinfulness" of sin - that it can take something holy, just and good and twist it into an instrument of death.

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what is Paul primarily concerned with in Romans 7?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Paul's primary concern in Romans 7 is to clarify the function and purpose of God's law, not to merely relate his personal experience. He states: "The fundamental object, the fundamental theme is this: What is the place and the function of the law in God's dealings with the human race? That's the question. And every detail must be considered in the light of that and of nothing else." Lloyd-Jones warns that "to start thinking that the object of Romans 7 is that Paul should give us his experience is to miss the whole point."

What is Dr. Lloyd-Jones' view on when Paul experienced the conviction of sin described in Romans 7:7-13?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests that the experience Paul describes most likely occurred between his Damascus road encounter with Christ and Ananias' visit to him three days later. He notes that Paul was "trembling and astonished" after seeing Christ, and then spent three days without eating or drinking. Lloyd-Jones suggests: "In those three days he suddenly saw how completely wrong he'd been about the law. He saw its spiritual character. He understood the meaning of coveting, and hell was let loose within him, and he saw his complete death, his complete failure and utter inability." However, Lloyd-Jones acknowledges this is somewhat speculative since Paul doesn't explicitly state when this occurred.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the transition between Romans 7:13 and the following section?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that verse 13 serves as a transition verse that connects both to the preceding section (verses 7-12) and to what follows (verses 14-25). He describes it as "one of these transition verses that belongs partly to both" with "a hook onto the previous one and a hook onto the one that is coming." He notes that the entire following section "is but an elaboration and an expansion of the theme of the section which we are now finishing." The transition maintains the focus on the law's purpose and how sin uses the law, while preparing for the more detailed psychological and spiritual analysis that follows.

What warning does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give about interpreting Romans 7?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns: "The secret of expounding Romans seven is to avoid and evade becoming lost in the details. There is no chapter in the whole Bible, I think, in which it is so easy to miss the wood because of the trees, as this 7th chapter of the epistle to the Romans." He emphasizes that readers must keep the fundamental theme in mind - the function of the law in God's dealings with humanity - rather than getting sidetracked by details or assuming Paul's primary purpose is autobiographical.