Romans 7:7

Verse of the Day Devotion:  Romans 7:7  

“What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” – Romans 7:7

Over the last ten daily devotions we looked at each of the ten commandments, one per day, listed in Exodus 20:2-17.  Should we follow what they say?  There is a belief system out there that says no, it is not necessary.  However, it is critical that we do, but not for the reason many people think.

There is a deception called “antinomianism” that says it is ok for us not to follow the law found in the scriptures.  The word antinomianism comes from two Greek words, anti, meaning “against”; and nomos, meaning “law.” Antinomianism means “against the law.” Theologically, antinomianism is the belief that there are no moral laws God expects Christians to obey. Antinomianism takes a biblical teaching to an unbiblical conclusion. The biblical teaching is that Christians are not required to observe the Old Testament Law as a means of salvation. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He fulfilled the Old Testament Law.  The unbiblical conclusion is that there is no moral law God expects Christians to obey.

The apostle Paul dealt with this belief in his letter to the Romans.  “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” Romans 6:1-2.  When we became a Christian, we died to sin.  Paul, in a rhetorical fashion basically is saying, “If sin has been the occasion of grace and favor, ought we not to continue in it, and commit as much as possible, in order that grace might abound? This objection the apostle proceeds to answer. He shows that the consequence does not follow; and proves that the doctrine of justification does not lead to continuing in sin.  So if we died to sin due to His grace and love, why would we want to continue and nullify His work in us.  “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.” Romans 6:9. 

And also, we show our love for God through following His commandments.  “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3.  It is not that following the law saves us, it is that we demonstrate our love for Him by obeying His laws.  We are not under the Old Testament Law; we are under the law of Christ. The law of Christ is not an extensive list of legal codes. It is a law of love. If we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we will do nothing to displease Him. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, we will do nothing to harm them. Obeying the law of Christ is not a requirement to earn or maintain salvation. The law of Christ is what God expects of a Christian.

Antinomianism is not what the bible teaches, in fact it is contrary to all that is taught in the scriptures. God desires and expects us to live a life of morality, integrity, and love. Christ freed us from the burdensome commands of the Old Testament Law, but this does not give us a license to sin. Instead, it is a covenant of grace. Our goal is to overcome sin and cultivate righteousness as our lifestyle.  And the only way we can do this is through the Holy Spirit. The fact that we are graciously freed from the demands of the Old Testament Law should result in living our lives in obedience to the law of Christ.  “By this we know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 2:3-6.

Therefore, I encourage everyone to obey His commands in all ways, for this shows you are a true follower of God.  If we take the path of antinomianism, then we show we do not truly love Him as we profess.  And this is the reason we obey His commands, not to be saved, but in essence to show that we are truly saved.  He has freed us from our slavery to sin.  Let us prove it by the Godly life we live.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.