Bible Question:
Rom 7:9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; I'm just a little curious on this one. It seems to challenge the doctrine of "original sin" as I normally hear it taught, which, as generally accepted doctrines go, I think is a little weak anyway. To me, it's not a big big deal, (which is cool) but it makes me wonder if Paul, when he said "all have sinned" didn't intend for us to include the very young, or even perhaps the mentally incompetent. Don't you think you have to understand what "sin" is before you can place faith in a savior? What does it mean to you, Berean, (or anyone else of course)that you were once alive, but then at some later time sin became alive in you and you died? My thinking is that by the time I could feel guilty for doing something wrong or hurtful, I was a sinner. Thanks, Rob |
Bible Answer: Hello, Rob. Actually, Romans 7:9 affirms the doctrine of original sin rather than denies it. He previously made this statement: "For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death." --Romans 7:5 He writes that our sinful passions were AROUSED by the Law. The actual presence of the Law caused sin to find an outlet. The Westminster Catechism teaches that sin is "any want [lack] of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God." In other words, sin only makes sense in the context of God's commandments. What Paul is saying here is that when those in the flesh (non-Christians) hear God's commandments, their natural inclination is to want to break it or not comply with it. Therefore, our sinful nature rebels against the law of God to produce actual sins. The verse you asked about is in response to a hypothetical objection that could be raised, since Paul has just said that the law causes more sins: '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." But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.' --Romans 7:7-8 So is the Law sin if it produces sin in us? Paul answers emphatically that the law is not sin. But, we know sin (i.e. become intimately familiar with it) therough the Law. Hearing the commandment not to covet makes the sinful person say "Aha! Coveting is against God's moral code; therefore, I shall covet!" Notice that Paul says that sin "takes the opportunity"; our indwelling sin sees an outlet through which the sinful person can rebel against a holy God. The result? Coveting of every kind! How rebellious and hateful toward God we were before in His grace He condescended to rescuing us! We then get to Romans 7:9, which describes in more detail the effect of God's holy Law on sin. The commandment came, making sin alive (stirring it up in us) and as a result, death (Romans 6:23). He goes on in the following verse to say that the commandment, through keeping of which we would live, produces death when our sinful nature becomes aware of it. The law is not sin; but it is a catalyst for our sinful natures to do acts of unrighteousness. God does this to make us aware of our sinfulness, so that sin will be made "utterly sinful." This is why proclaiming God's law is so important in evangelism; if the person does not see his utter hopelessness in sin, he is not going to realize his need for a Savior. Your post does raise an interesting question, however. Do we have to actually hear the commandments of God in order to be sinners? I think the answer is "no," based on Romans 1:18 ff. which talks about the rebellion of man against the general revelation of God (the "light of creation"), and Romans 2:12-16 which talks about the moral sense God has given all human beings. While there may be an age of accountability for those who are not able to apprehend the world around them yet or recognize their "conscience," the doctrine of original sin is a very well-developed one in Scripture. --Joe! |