What Does Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Nature of Sin in Romans 7:8?

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain sin as a power rather than just actions?

According to Lloyd-Jones, sin is not merely negative or the absence of good, but a positive, powerful force. In Romans 7:8, Paul writes about "sin taking occasion by the commandment" which Lloyd-Jones interprets as sin using the law as a fulcrum or base of operations. He explains: "You can't move weights with negatives. You can't lift weights with a mere absence of something." Sin is so powerful that it can even use God's holy law to accomplish its own purposes. Throughout Romans, Paul describes sin as something that "reigns unto death" (5:21), has "dominion" (6:14), and acts as a "slave master" (6:16-17). This positive power of sin contradicts modern notions that sin is merely the absence of good qualities.

What are the ways sin uses the law to produce concupiscence according to Lloyd-Jones?

Lloyd-Jones outlines three specific ways sin uses the law:

1. By arousing rebellion: Sin stirs up the natural rebelliousness in human nature. When the law comes with prohibitions, it triggers our innate antagonism to God. "The carnal mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). The very commandment provokes a desire to defy it.

2. By creating resentment: When the law condemns not just actions but also inner desires (like coveting), it produces resentment. People object to the idea that their inner thoughts are judged, saying, "This is going too far...this is unfair."

3. By introducing new ideas: Most critically, the law puts ideas into our minds that weren't there before. Lloyd-Jones explains: "There I was sitting down. Everything's all right. I suddenly am confronted by a law which tells me, don't do so and so. And it makes me think about so and so." The very prohibition introduces the idea of the sin and can kindle desire for it.

Why does Lloyd-Jones believe we must be delivered from the law to be sanctified?

Lloyd-Jones argues that deliverance from the law is essential to sanctification because the law, though holy, actually aggravates sin in our fallen nature. His fundamental proposition is "no men can be sanctified by the law" and "if you are not delivered out of that old relationship to the law, you will never be sanctified at all."

The proof is in how sin uses the law as a fulcrum to produce more sin. As long as sin remains in us, the law provides it with ammunition to make things worse. This doesn't mean the law is evil—it helps us recognize sin—but our relationship to it must change because sin manipulates it against us. Lloyd-Jones concludes that we must "die to the law and be married to another [Christ]" before we can be sanctified, as Paul teaches in Romans 7:1-6.

What does Lloyd-Jones say about modern approaches to morality education in light of this teaching?

Lloyd-Jones strongly criticizes modern approaches to sex and morality education based on this understanding of sin. He believes the contemporary idea that openly discussing sexual matters will prevent immorality completely misunderstands sin's nature. Referencing Titus 1:15 ("Unto the pure all things are pure, but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure"), he argues that introducing impure minds to sexual concepts only inflames desires.

He states: "Can't you see that what you're doing is to introduce them to it? You're telling them about it, and the more you tell them, the more they'll want it." He calls this approach dangerous because it fails to recognize how sin can use even well-intentioned instruction as a fulcrum to create new temptations in impure hearts.

Why does Lloyd-Jones believe Christian ethics are useless without Christian doctrine?

Lloyd-Jones contends that "the Christian ethic without the Christian doctrines is valueless" and "the most hopeless thing of all." He criticizes those who claim to embrace Christian morality while rejecting Christian doctrine, calling them "poor blind men" who "know nothing about sin."

His reasoning is simple: Christian ethics without Christian doctrine provides no power to overcome sin. Since sin is such a powerful force that it can even use God's holy law against us, mere moral instruction is insufficient. What we need is power—specifically "power that's great enough to counteract this other power." This power comes only through Christ: "There is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the lamb." Without the doctrines of Christ's atonement and our new life in Him, we have no hope of living out Christian ethics.