Edenic Law and the Book of Romans – Part 4

Law motivates us to sin, and grace motivates us to be righteous.

How do you solve the problem of sin? The temptation can be throwing more laws at sin until it sticks. We say, surely, if there are enough rules of behavior and if I try my best to abide by those rules, then I can overcome sin. However, the experience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden tells us that the law does not work.

In fact, Paul tells us the problem is worse than just the fact that the law cannot save us. He tells us that there is a very real sense in which law causes us to sin! He hints at it at the end of Romans 5, where he writes, “Now the law came in to to increase the trespass” (v. 20).1 Then, in chapter 6, he writes, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (v. 14), suggesting that if we are under law, it means sin will have dominion over us.

The answer to the predicament is grace, but that is counterintuitive. Again, we think that if only we had a strict enough law, it would enable us to avoid sin and be righteous. God, being gracious to us, seems to turn a blind eye to sin. However, as Paul outlines in Romans, the opposite is true. Law motivates us to sin, and grace motivates us to be righteous.

The Process of Salvation

Consider the structure of the text in Romans 6 and the beginning of Chapter 7. In Romans 6:3, 16, and 7:1, Paul repeats the rhetorical question, “Do you not know?” This divides the text neatly into three sections. 

The first “Do you not know?” section runs from the beginning of Chapter 6 to verse 15. In this section, Paul talks about death and life. We are “baptized into his death” (v. 3) and “united with him in a death like his” (v. 5) and then “united with him in a resurrection” (v. 5). So, we must consider ourselves “alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (v. 11). It is a very doctrinal section. It reminds us that God has provided us with animal skins to cover our sinfulness.

The second section contrasts sin with righteousness from verse 16 to the end of chapter 6. How we need to turn from being “slaves…of sin” (v. 16) to “slaves of righteousness” (v. 18). This describes the reaction we ought to have after being provided with the animal skins—repentant living.

The final “Do you not know?” section is in the first few verses of Chapter 7, where Paul contrasts those who “bear fruit for God” (v. 4) with those who “bear fruit for death.” (v. 5). Fruitfulness is the aim of God being gracious to us. As we saw in a previous article, it’s like planting a seed and seeing it grow to bear fruit. This is the power of grace at work in our lives.

Another way of looking at the first two sections is under the headings of justification and sanctification (Romans 6:19). 

Consider the differences between the two terms in the chart that appears at the top of the next page:

The first section, justification, is about who we are—our status in Christ. The second section, sanctification, is about what we do—our walk in Christ. The third section, fruitfulness, is about who we are—our identity in Christ.

Law cannot enable this process of salvation; only grace works.

King Sin and King Righteousness

The first two sections of Romans 6 are also bracketed with the metaphor of reigning kings. Chapter 5 ends with the words, “As sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness” (v. 21), and then in Chapter 6, Paul counsels us, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body” (v. 12) so that, “sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (v. 14).

With this metaphor in mind, think about the opening question of this article, “How do you solve the problem of sin?” 

Adam and Eve’s solution was to sew fig leaves together and make themselves loincloths. In Romans and elsewhere, Paul defines this solution as the legalistic attempt at solving sin by law. Instead, the solution comes through God’s grace and the provision of animal skins. We see a direct correlation between the faulty and real solution and the first two kings of Israel. Consider the parallels:

Paul based his “King Sin” metaphor on Saul. He tells us that those under King Sin are “slaves of sin,” and Samuel said the same thing regarding Saul— “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you… you shall be his slaves.” (1 Samuel 8:11, 17). 

Saul was a man steeped in law. For instance, in 1 Samuel 14, Saul put his army under a curse not to eat or drink anything until they won the battle. After they won the battle, he was incensed to find them eating the spoil without draining the blood, something against the Law of Moses. Yet, despite Saul’s strictness regarding the Law, he did not listen to God. Not only that, but he commanded eighty priests of Yahweh to be killed and persecuted the man after God’s heart. His legalism did nothing to affect his character or actions.

Law Causes Sin

In fact, not only is it a mistake to think that law can solve the problem of sin, but there is a sense in which law causes sin. 

In Eden, the conversation between Eve and the serpent revolved around the law. The serpent questioned Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’’” (Genesis 3:1) and Eve responded, “God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden.’” (v. 3). This conversation now fixed Eve’s mind on the object of that law, the forbidden fruit. 

Paul picks up this dialogue in Romans 7. First, consider the intimate connection he makes between sin and law. In Romans 6:2, he says we are dead to sin, and then in 7:4, we are dead to law. Then, in the next verse, Paul writes, “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.” 

How can the law arouse our sinful passions? Paul goes on to explain himself in the following verses. He says, “If it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.” (v. 7). In other words, the Law highlighted sin. In Eden, if God had never said, “Don’t eat from that tree,” they wouldn’t have given the tree a second thought; it would have just been one of many other trees with nothing special to draw attention to. But, when the commandment came, suddenly, the tree became an object of focused attention, hence the conversation between Eve and the serpent. Paul goes on to say, “Sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness.” (v. 8). When the law says, “Do not covet that thing,” immediately we wonder what is so special about that thing. Then, our natural desires take over when the thing becomes attractive to our senses.

Look at the parallels between Romans 7:9-11 and what happened in Eden:

It is important to note that the problem is not with the Law itself. As Paul says, “The law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” (Romans 7:12). The problem is when the law interacts with the flesh. The law highlights sin and brings it to our attention, while grace focuses our minds on righteousness.

Richard Morgan,
Simi Hills Ecclesia, CA