Thematic Bible: What the law is


Thematic Bible








Do we then conclude, that the law is the cause of sin? by no means; but I should not have had such a notion of sin, had it not been for the law: for I should not have known concupiscence was a sin, unless the law had said, "thou shalt not covet." but sin receiving strength by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. for before the law sin appear'd dead. then it was I once liv'd secure; but when the prohibition came, sin exerted it self, and I was in a dying condition: read more.
and the commandment which leads to life was instrumental to my ruin. for sin getting power by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. wherefore the law is holy; and the commandment holy, and just, and good. was it then good that brought death upon me? no, but it was sin, that sin might show it self by being able to bring death upon me by means of that which is good; that sin, I say, by the commandment might appear to be exceedingly destructive. for we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold a slave to sin. what I do I allow not: for what my mind leads me to, that do I not; but what I have an aversion to, that I do. if then I do what I in my mind am against, the consent of my mind is, that the law is right.

"To what purpose then was the law?" it was added as a check to transgressors, till the offspring should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels with the intervention of a mediator. now a mediator supposes two parties, of which God is but one. Is the law then opposite to the promises? by no means. for if there had been a law given, which could have given life, certainly justification should have been by the law. read more.
but the scripture has declar'd all guilty of sin, that the blessing promised on condition of faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. but before faith came, we were shut up together as prisoners under the custody of the law, 'till faith was to be revealed. so that the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. but now faith being come, we are no longer under a pedagogue. for you are all the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians. there is now no distinction of Jew or Greek, of bond or free, of male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. and if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's offspring, and his heirs by virtue of the promise.