The Nature of Sin
A Sermon on Romans 7:5-6
Originally preached May 15, 1959
Scripture
5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness …
Sermon Description
What is the next greatest power after God himself? In the sermon from Romans 7:5–6 titled “The Nature of Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues that it is the power of sin. As he breaks down Paul’s message in Romans, Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several key terms and defines them in the context of the message. It is essential for the reader to understand the terms in order to understand the apostle’s argument and doctrines of the law, salvation, and sanctification. For instance, the term “flesh” can be defined many ways but Dr. Lloyd-Jones believes that Paul uses this term to refer to the opposite of what it means to have life in the Spirit. Those who are in the flesh are unregenerate and cannot please God. When Paul refers to the “motions of sin,” he is talking about passions, affections, and lusting. All natural appetites were created and given by God, but the law aggravates these appetites and sinners allow them control, which lead to sin and death. However, Christ is working for His people and they died with Christ and to the power of sin.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is explaining why it was necessary for Christians to die to the law in order to be joined to Christ.
- Verses 5 and 6 constitute one statement with verse 5 being the negative aspect and verse 6 being the positive aspect.
- The term "in the flesh" refers to being unregenerate and dominated by sin. It is the opposite of being "in the Spirit".
- There are only two possible spiritual conditions: in the flesh or in the Spirit. Everyone is in one or the other.
- The "motions of sins" refer to sinful passions, affections and lusts that arise from natural appetites that have become disordered and controlling due to the Fall.
- The law stirs up and inflames these sinful passions. The law was not meant to deliver us from sin but rather to define it and show our need for a Savior.
- These sinful passions work inwardly and powerfully, influencing our thoughts, imagination, and actions. They produce "fruit unto death".
- This verse shows the terrible nature of sin, the limited value of moral teaching, the true purpose of the law, and our absolute need for Christ.
- Only the power of the Spirit of Christ can overcome the power of sin. Christ alone can save us from sin and death.
Sermon Q&A
What Does it Mean to be "In the Flesh" According to Romans 7:5?
Based on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Romans 7:5-6, here are answers to key questions about this important biblical concept.
What does Paul mean by the phrase "in the flesh" in Romans 7:5?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "in the flesh" in this context means two things primarily:
- It refers to being unregenerate or unconverted - the opposite of being "in the Spirit"
- It means being "under the law" rather than under grace
Lloyd-Jones explains: "To be in the flesh is to be unregenerate. It is the natural state of man in sin, in which sin has dominion over him. It means that the evil principle of sin is controlling the whole of his life... he hasn't the new life. He hasn't the new nature. It's the old nature, the old, corrupt nature."
How does Lloyd-Jones distinguish this meaning from other ways "flesh" is used in Scripture?
The term "flesh" in Scripture has several meanings that shouldn't be confused: - Sometimes it means the whole of mankind ("All flesh is as grass") - Sometimes it refers to the physical body - Sometimes it means the sensuous part of our nature - In Romans 7:5, it means our unregenerate state under the law
Lloyd-Jones clarifies: "Being in the flesh means also to be under the law... there are only two possible positions. Everybody in this world at this moment is in one of these two conditions. They are either in the flesh and under the law, or else they are in the spirit and are under grace."
What are the "motions of sins" or "passions of sins" mentioned in Romans 7:5?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains these as:
"Any feeling that you have that is driving you and prompting you and urging you to commit an act of sin."
He emphasizes that these are not the natural appetites themselves, which God created, but rather the corrupted and disordered versions of those appetites. The natural appetites themselves are not sinful - that would be an error that leads to false asceticism.
How does the law relate to the "motions of sins" according to Romans 7:5?
In a remarkable insight, Lloyd-Jones notes that Paul teaches the law actually stirs up or inflames these sinful passions:
"The law stirs them up, arouses them, in a sense, inflames them... it has the ability even to frustrate, as it were, the law of God. The power of sin in the unregenerate men is so strong that the law of God can't deliver him. It does the opposite, says Paul. It produces, it aggravates the passions and the motions and the lusts."
What does this teach us about moral teaching and how to overcome sin?
Lloyd-Jones draws a powerful application:
"According to the apostle's teaching here, [moral teaching] may be a positive danger... because it inflames the passions. It encourages them. It stimulates them."
"The way to overcome sin is not to teach morality. It is to preach the gospel."
Why is Christ's work necessary according to Romans 7:5?
This verse shows the absolute necessity of Christ's work because:
- The depth of sin is so great
- The law is completely unable to deliver us from sin (it actually aggravates it)
- Nothing else could save mankind from this condition
As Lloyd-Jones concludes: "It was because of this he came. He had to come. There was no other way. This verse proves it. The condition of men was such that nothing and no one else could save."
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.