"SAUL" WAS SLAIN

Romans 7:7-11 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. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

It seems that Paul is using himself as an example to further explain the previous teaching in this seventh chapter of Romans. It is especially true of verse five which says, 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. Taken out of context, this verse seems to intimate that the law, itself, brought about, or encouraged mankind to sin. Using the word "we," Paul includes himself with those to whom he wrote this letter - the Church in Rome. Prior to their conversion to Christ they were in the flesh, meaning they were without the guidance of the gospel of Christ. Outside the body of Christ, they remained under laws of God that had been abolished at the death of Jesus Christ. Whether under the Mosaic Law or the Patriarchal Law, it was a law of carnal nature that could never bring the hope of salvation, and could only result in eternal death.

Verse 7, of the lesson text, seems to reflect back to verse 5 by asking the question, Is the law sin? Did the motions (the tendency or inclination) of sins cause our members (our physical minds and bodies) to sin and bring forth fruit unto death? Paul's answer was an emphatic NO - God forbid! The law of God is not sin, but, rather, identifies the thoughts and actions of mankind that are sinful in the eyes of God. Paul gives further clarification with a personal example. His knowledge of sin came when he studied God's law. For instance the human, lustful desire to have the possessions of others is sinful in the eyes of God. Therefore, so all mankind would know His will, God enacted a law saying thou shalt not covet. The sin was lust; God's law identified it.

Obedience to God's law will cover, or prevent, all manner of concupiscence. A multitude of sins, such as lying, stealing, adultery, and even murder, will occur unless the lustful desire, or appetite, of mankind is controlled. God's law defines His will, and allows the recognition of covetousness as a sin. Without the knowledge that it is sinful, it cannot be controlled. As an example, with reins the rider controls the actions of a horse. God's laws are the controlling reins by which mankind governs his or her actions in order to obey the will of our Creator. It is by this obedience that we have the hope of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. "Thou shalt not," to an adult, and "don't" to a child, does not create errant behavior or sin, but, rather, identifies it as an action that we should not take - an action, that if taken, either could, or would, bring harm, or severe reprimand. In all cases, with God, and in most cases with parents, the reprimand or punishment also defines a sinful behavior.

Paul confessed, ...without the law sin was dead. This does not mean that the sin did not exist, but that men and women did not recognize it as something sinful. He was alive without the law. In other words, Paul's conscience did not convict, or trouble him, of the sinful nature defined by God's Holy Word. However, once he learned God's commandments, Paul said sin revived, and I died. This knowledge of God's will, caused Paul to realize he was a sinner; it convicted him of sin. God gave His commandments that we might gain eternal life. Gaining understanding of God's will, Paul recognized that he had broken His commandments and found (them) to be unto death. Through the word of God, we too, like Paul, can gain knowledge that we are sinners.

Without knowledge of God's will, Paul became the lowest of sinners, persecuting the very body of Christ through which God offers salvation. He confesses that sin ...deceived me.He actually thought he was serving God, when he was violently opposing the establishment of the church of Christ, through which God's plan of salvation was to be made known to the world. Paul tells us that the revelation of God's will slew me. Saul was slain in order that Paul could be born again. Knowledge of God's commandments will have the same effect on all that study them, accept them, and let them govern their lives.