July 10 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Romans 7:7–12

Devotional

Paul writes that he was once alive without the law. When Paul mentions “once,” he is referring to the days when he belonged to the Pharisees, who, not feeling like they had enough in the law of God, added many commandments to it. During his days as a Pharisee, Paul did not despise the law of God. On the contrary, he was very zealous. So Paul’s statement, “I was alive without the law once,” amazes us. He seemed to live by the law to the very letter.

Nevertheless, Paul still says, “I lived without the law.” But that was really true. With all his outward obedience to the law, Paul had never seen himself in the mirror of the law. With all his external duties, he had only covered up the source of his sinful existence, just as flowers cover the ugliness of the grave. Paul thought that everything was well with him. Together with other Pharisees he stood in the temple giving thanks to God that he was not like other people. He offered God a list of all his good works. He was not indebted to God, but he acted as though God should be indebted to him because he was so strict and obedient.

Paul was self-righteous until heavenly light fell on him on his way to Damascus. He saw that he had always lived without the law. Although he knew God’s holy law well, he had never taken its words to heart. God’s law had never showed him his sin. Although he had the law, in essence he lived without it.

Here we see a picture of man in his natural condition. He is alive without the law. And where there is no law, man does not see his sinfulness. Secretly Paul incorrectly leaned on a list of virtues and duties to assure him of his salvation. He had a wrong understanding of the law. Without the correct view of the law he could not believe that he was wicked. He reasoned that God accepted him because he had done good things. Would God not appreciate these good things? As a Pharisee he compared himself to other people and thought he was quite good.

As long as God’s law does not enter a man’s life he is able to cover the filthy fountain with works of righteousness. But when God’s law touches a man’s heart, sin becomes vivid and all his righteousnesses become filthy rags. The law uncovers his sin and he stands naked before God. His lost condition is visible and God’s justice is honored.

Do you see your sin? Do you see your guilt? Many will realize that they have some degree of sin and guilt in their life. Everyone knows he makes mistakes. But we must look deeper and see that we have sinned gravely. We sin against a holy God who demands punishment for our wrongs. If you cannot see this, then you live without the law. And if you have to die without the law, what will happen? You do not want to find out too late that God’s law must condemn you according to justice.

Once Paul lived without the law and then sin was dead; sin was not a reality to him. But Paul died to the law and then sin lived. Paul’s eyes were opened to the truths of the law and it showed him his sin. And that is something we all have to experience. But then the miracle of grace is, that there is a living Surety for those who die to the law.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.