Romans 7: No Sin without Law, but Law Is 'Only the Messenger'?

@mythociate (21437)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
April 20, 2013 3:47pm CST
I've 'meditated on this Scripture' (i.e. rehd it, slept &/or distracted-myself for a while, then remembered it), and I see that it's kinda saying "we wouldn't know sin except for the law, but the law doesn't MAKE the sins but only shows us how sinful we are" (or something like that) ... But when I first rehd it, obviously the question above came up. Thinking about it, I also think about Lucifer---the former-archangel whose name means 'light-bringer,' who probably mostly got demoted for showing us too much of the truth ... so much 'truth' that we couldn't hear it and then go back to 'serving the Lord,' but not enough to understand that 'serving G*d' is HIGHLY-PREFERABLE to 'taking responsibility for the entire kingdom of G*d.' So what Romans 8 says is basically that 'the law follows the sin' (& not the other way around). That sound `bout right?
5 responses
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
I think a law points out that something is wrong and allows for punishment and no longer allows a person the excuse that since there is no law he can't be convicted.
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
I had this scripture in mind when I made my comment: Galatians 3:19 Amplified Bible (AMP) 19 What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added [later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt] because of transgressions and [to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin; and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should come, to and concerning Whom the promise had been made. And it [the Law] was arranged and ordained and appointed through the instrumentality of angels [and was given] by the hand (in the person) of a go-between [Moses, an intermediary person between God and man].
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
Which translation do you like?
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
21 Apr 13
I don't trust the AMP ... too speculative for me. Do they include some long section verifying who interpreted it?
• Philippines
20 Apr 13
Don't be carried by the flowery words used. This is our modern world now with almost everything to use in learning and understanding things surrounding us. Yes there is no sin without laws because sin was the violation of the laws that was set. The problem is what is LAW. The law can be construed as rules set by our conscience and the laws set by the society surrounding us. Just when it was written on the Ten commandments the Seven venial sins. These are laws the we must follow for us to live a peaceful life. Without laws to be followed then there will no sin at all.
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
20 Apr 13
But I thought 'ignorance of the law does not make the ignorant one innocent'---e.g. if I don't know it's illegal to steal something from you, my stealing something from you (as it STILL hurts you whether I know it or not) is STILL illegal, no?
• United States
20 Apr 13
Aren't we responsible for the things we could have known but didn't take the time like not reading the drivers manual so we flunked the test?
@urbandekay (18278)
21 Apr 13
"Lucifer---the former-archangel whose name means 'light-bringer,' who probably mostly got demoted for showing us too much of the truth" Were do you get that from? all the best, urban
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
Reading something with a not in can reverse the meaning and make two not’s sound right I guess, if you know what I mean? – Don’t read that one twice! The truth is Lucifer did not give a truth, he gave a lie. He put God in question and at fault. In doing so tried to elevate himself higher than God. It is a lie because he is wrong. The letter was written to the Romans to attempt to show them that regardless how perfect you think a law is it is never as good as the spirit of the law. Mankind wants something to follow and so we have laws but they are never perfect. What Romans 8 is saying and thanks for having this discussion because it made me read it once again ... is that laws are only words but our heart is a better companion. In our legal system we practice law, that is we try to enact justice fairly based on a history of cases and common sense. I think if a person does something wrong they already know this inside of them.
22 Apr 13
For me, what is written in I Timothy 1:8-10 will add meaning to the discussion. Overall, in this whole wide world as far as preacher/teacher of religion is concerned, I would consider only 2 of its kind; 1. Preacher of Righteousness - obedience to these laws (cf. Matthew 5:17-19). 2. Preacher of lawlessness - either total disregard or partial of these laws (cf. Malachi 2:9). It is a question of whom to follow.