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Sermon #3119

The Purpose of the Law

A Sermon on Romans 7:7

Originally preached Oct. 2, 1959

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Scripture

Romans 7:7 ESV KJV
What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” (ESV)

Sermon Description

Is the law sin? After repeated chapters concerning the Christian’s death to the law, some listeners may have asked Paul if the law was in fact sinful. Paul’s reply is “By no means!” Those who argue that have completely missed what Paul was teaching; in fact, he was teaching the exact opposite. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones points out in the sermon on Romans 7:7 titled “The Purpose of the Law” that Paul’s response is a self-reflection to help others understand. Paul says that he had not known sin apart from the law. He was not aware of the real nature of sin until the law made it clear to him. It is the law itself that enables anyone to understand the true nature and character of sin. As an illustration, Paul says that he did not understand that his lust was a sin until the law told him so. The law, showing the desperate need for a savior, magnifies the gravity and weight of our sin. The law is merely concerned with the meaning and character of a person’s heart and their attitude toward sin. Therefore, the law is not sin but it merely shows sin and Paul thanks God for the law.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The context and setting of Romans 7 is crucial to understanding this chapter. Chapter 7 is a parenthesis explaining chapters 5 and 6.
  2. Chapter 7 explains why it's important we are not under law but under grace (Rom 6:14). The law cannot sanctify any more than it can justify.
  3. Section 1 (Rom 7:1-6): We are no longer under law but under Christ. This is so we can serve in the newness of the Spirit.
  4. Section 2 (Rom 7:7-12): The law is vindicated and shown to not be responsible for our failure. The law shows the nature of sin.
  5. Section 3 (Rom 7:14-25): Shows in experience how the law cannot deliver us but aggravates our problem. Yet there is hope in Christ.
  6. The objection in Rom 7:7 is that Paul's teaching makes the law out to be sinful. Paul says "God forbid!" This is a misunderstanding.
  7. The law shows the nature of sin (Rom 7:7). Paul didn't know sin except through the law. The law reveals the character of sin.
  8. The law shows the power of sin (Rom 7:7). Paul didn't know lust except the law said "Do not covet." The law reveals the power of sin in our lives.
  9. The law is not sin but reveals it. The law showed Paul the meaning and power of sin, especially lust. The law is glorious.
  10. To lust is to sin. Merely avoiding the act is not enough. Sin is a matter of the heart and mind, not just outward actions.

Sermon Q&A

What is the main focus of Romans 7 according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the main focus of Romans 7 is the Christian's relationship to the law. He states: "It is the chapter of all chapters about the law and the relationship of the Christian to the law." Lloyd-Jones explains that the apostle Paul is concerned with showing "that sanctification by the law is as impossible as was justification by the law." The chapter is not primarily about Paul sharing his personal experience, but rather about clarifying the believer's relationship to the law and demonstrating that the law cannot sanctify a person any more than it could justify them.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones divide Romans 7 into sections?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones divides Romans 7 into three main sections:

  1. Verses 1-6: A general statement showing our relationship to the law, illustrating through marriage that Christians are "no longer married to the law" but have "become dead to the law."

  2. Verses 7-12 (or 13): A vindication of the law itself, proving "that the law must never be held responsible for our failure." This section absolves the law from every charge of being responsible for our failure.

  3. Verses 14-25: A practical demonstration from the experiential standpoint of what was stated in the second section, showing "how the law can not only not deliver us, but actually aggravates our problem."

What does Paul mean when he says "I had not known sin but by the law"?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when Paul says "I had not known sin but by the law," he doesn't mean he was unaware of the fact of sin or that he had sinned. Rather, Paul means he "was not aware of the real nature of sin until the law made it clear to him."

Lloyd-Jones explains that the law has a particular function of revealing "the true character and nature and meaning of sin." He states that "the real trouble with everybody who's unregenerate is that such a person doesn't understand the truth about sin." The law performs the crucial task of bringing people to understand what sin really means in God's sight.

How does Paul defend the law against the charge that "the law is sin"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul defends the law against the charge that "the law is sin" in several ways:

  1. He responds with "God forbid" (better translated as "far be it from our thoughts" or "let it be unthinkable").

  2. He argues that the law serves a vital positive function: "I had not known sin but by the law." The law reveals the true nature of sin.

  3. He gives a specific example: "I had not known lust except the law had said, thou shalt not covet." The law helped him understand that internal desires (not just external actions) are sinful.

  4. He explains that the law showed him both that lust is sin in itself and revealed the power of lust in his own life.

As Lloyd-Jones summarizes: "A thing which does that cannot be evil. You mustn't say that the law is sin... it is the law that has brought me to see the meaning of sin and my own sinful condition."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the nature of lust and sin?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that lust (or coveting) is sin in and of itself, not just when acted upon. He explains that Paul and the Pharisees initially thought "of sin only in terms of external actions" and "as long as a man didn't do the thing, he was not guilty of sin."

However, the law revealed to Paul that "desires, coveting, lusts, evil thoughts and imaginations are sin." Lloyd-Jones references Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount where Christ taught that looking with lust is committing adultery in the heart, and harboring anger is related to murder.

Lloyd-Jones states clearly: "To desire to sin is sin. You can sin in your imagination, in your thought... in the sight of God, the one is a sin as much as the other." He contrasts this with Roman Catholic teaching and perfectionist views that don't regard lust itself as sin, emphasizing that "God seeth the heart" and judges internal desires as well as external actions.

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.