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Romans: The Power of the Gospel Message 83 of 150
God's Impossible Standard
Pastor Anthony King· May 12, 2024
Romans 7:7-10
God has given us rules to live by, but as sinners we can't keep them. This sermon looks at the impossible standard of God's law and what it reveals about our hearts.
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”
Romans 7:7
The series
Verse by verse through Paul’s letter to the church at Rome: the Gospel of God’s righteousness, from our ruin in sin to life lived as a living sacrifice.
Self-righteousness is unattainable.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.Isaiah 53:6
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.Romans 3:10-18
The Law defines our sin.
The Law lets us know when we’ve crossed a line.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.Exodus 20:12-17
The Law reminds us that being close isn’t good enough.
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.Matthew 5:48
The Law only declares us guilty, it cannot save.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.Romans 3:20
The Law stirs up rebellion.
The Law, though good, can stir up our sinful nature to rebel.
For 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.Romans 7:5
Our fallen human nature is prone to desire what is forbidden.
The Law informs our ignorance.
We assumed we were okay, until we saw clearly where we stood with God.
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.Matthew 5:21-22
The Law brings death.
We thought obeying rules made us good, but these rules condemned us.
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;Titus 3:5
The Law exposes our sinfulness and inability to keep it perfectly.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.Romans 7:18-19
The Law shows us the futility of trying to be a “good person.”
Violating the Law results in spiritual death and separation from God.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:Romans 5:12
Rules are good. Legalism is bad.
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?Acts 15:10
Holy Spirit conviction is good. Guilt after repentance is bad.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9
The more mature you become, the deeper you see your depravity. This should drive us to God’s grace.
7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. Romans 7:7-10
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