Is the Law Sin?

Thinking about Romans 7:7.

Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." (Romans 7:7)

Paul pointed out in Romans 5:20 that “the law entered that the offense might abound.”

He also said that “sinful passions” were “aroused by the law.” (Romans 7:5).

The question that would arise in the minds of some of Paul’s audience - especially the Jewish Christians was, “So, is the Law sin?”

The Law is not sin.

Paul responded to the question of if the law was sin in the strongest possible way - “Certainly not!”

Any attempt to blame the law as the cause of sin is patently false. - Wacaster, Studies in Romans, 258

Paul had already pointed out that sin existed before the Law of Moses was given. The law was not the cause of sin. James also wrote about this same idea.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)

The law is not to blame for an individual’s sin. So then, what is the connection between sin and the law?

The Law taught about sin.

Paul pointed out that he knew what sin was through the law.

The law defined and condemned sin. - Whiteside, Commentary on Romans, 149

Paul used the example of coveting and said he knew covetousness to be a sin because the Law of Moses said so.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's. (Exodus 20:17)

The Law of Moses (including the Ten Commandments) was not sin. It merely taught what sin is.