We welcome the chains of law every day. Signs tell us the speed limit for a stretch of road. We expect speed limits to promote general safety and well-being. The law is good, and it is also bad. I wouldn’t know what speeding is except for that sign proclaiming the legal limit.
In Romans chapter 7, Paul explains that while the law is good and holy, it also awakens sin in us. “What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! But, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet. And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again and I died. The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.” (Romans 7:7–11, CSB)
This is where we can get confused and blame the law for our sin. The law is good and perfect. From a Psalm of David, “The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.” (Psalm 19:7–11, CSB) We can’t blame the law for our sin; it is perfect and blameless.
And yet the law binds us with inescapable chains. Earlier in Romans 7, Paul explains that the law has authority over us until our death. “Since I am speaking to those who know the law, brothers and sisters, don’t you know that the law rules over someone as long as he lives? For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. So then, if she is married to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she is married to another man, she is not an adulteress.” (Romans 7:1–3, CSB)
There is an answer coming that breaks the inescapable chains of the law of sin and death. But that is for another day.
Romans Applied. When people discover the chains of the law, there are two responses. We either rebel against the law directly or through rationalization. Or, we repent before God. Even after accepting Christ, we still confront the law, although in a vastly different way. There is God’s Law, although much is fulfilled in Christ. There are civil laws to consider. And the rules we put on ourselves and our household. Much can be said about the relations between Christians and law. Some running towards lawless freedom; others towards severe law-keeping to the point of squashing grace.
The path of Christ, however, gives us a higher law and a new motive. Looking further ahead in Romans, we read, “Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:8–10, CSB)
- Romans Applied – The Chains of Law - June 17, 2026
- Proverbs – Strong Tower - June 15, 2026
- Romans Applied – Slaves - June 10, 2026
