Law of Sin

Relevant Bible Verses

1) Romans 7:21-24 I find then the law with me who wills to do the good, that is, the evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God according to the inner man, But I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and making me a captive to the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death?

2) Romans 8:1-2 There is now then no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death.

Sometimes we need a "kick in the butt" or a "knock on the head" to get us going again. Sir Isaac Newton experienced this "knock" or "kick" when an apple fell on his head which triggered the theory of the universal law of gravitation. Probably the more correct version of the story is that Newton, upon observing an apple fall from a tree, began to notice the acceleration of the fall was due to earth force (gravity).

Suppose we hold an apple up in the air with our hand. Based on the theory, you are actually holding the apple against the gravitational force. You may be able to withstand the gravitational pull for an hour. But after two hours you will feel tired, and after the third hour your hand will no longer obey you. Eventually, you will let go of it. Gravity never tires out, but your hand does. The unceasing operation of the natural law of gravity will eventually prevail.

In Romans 7:21-24, Paul's eyes were opened. He saw that the enemy he was dealing with within him, was the law of sin. He was very disappointed when he saw that sin was a law, and that was why he said "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death?" He realized that it was impossible for him to prevail over sin by his will.

The will is man's own choices. It is what man wants, determines, and decides to do. Once we have decided to do something, we begin to carry it out. We can create power if the task is carried out successfully. But we have a problem. When the will comes in conflict with the law of sin, which one prevails? The will usually prevails at the beginning, but ultimately sin prevails.

The same principle (apple vs gravity) applies when you try to overcome sin with your will. The will can stand against sin for a short while. But the power of sin far exceeds the power of the will. Sin is a law, it cannot be destroyed by the resistance of man's will. Our will cannot persist forever, but the law of sin is always active.

But Romans 8:1 shows us the more superior law. It is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ that can free us from the law of sin and of death.

God is great!