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"I would not have known sin except through the law..."

Text: Romans 7:7

GREAT SKILL NEEDED

Paul was fully aware of the fact that he was treading on “thin ice”. On the one hand, he must never denigrate the law of God. On the other hand, he must proclaim what he understood as special revelation from God! The salvation that God wrought had changed all things. That included how the law should be understood and interpreted.

“On the contrary, I would not have known sin except
through the law. For I would not have known covetousness
unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.'”
Romans 7:7b

1. I would not have known sin except through the law

a) What this phrase does not mean?

i) This does not mean that sin did not exist.

ii) This does not mean that there is no knowledge of sin before the law.

b) What it does mean

i) The law identifies the nature of wrong doing.

ii) The law calls sin for what it is.

iii) The law brings awareness of the nature of sin.

iv) The law highlights the nature of sin.

v) The law points out the gravity of the nature of sin.

2. I would not have known covetousness

a) What it does not mean

It does not mean that covetousness did not exist prior to the existence of the law.

b) What it does mean

i) The nature of covetousness is not better understood.

ii) The law merely identifies it as a sin, but provides no answer.

iii) The letter of the law pronounces a prohibition.

iv) The letter of the law can penalize a sinner dreadfully.