Scripture Reference: Romans 8:1-2
What did Paul mean when he uses the word "law" in reference to both sin and the Spirit? When Paul uses the word "law" he is telling us how and why sin works through the flesh, and how the Spirit makes us free from the law of sin and death. Its the same with what is called "the law of gravity" which is a detailed explanation of why two different objects such as a golf ball and a bowling ball that is dropped at the same time from a certain height, both the golf ball and the bowling ball will hit the ground at the same time even though their weights are different. Using the word "law" means that it will happen every time no matter if you do it a hundred times; it will always react the same way each time without fail. Sin is a very powerful influence that is more powerful than the will of man. No man by the use of his own mental or physical abilities can overcome sin in his life. Sin has dominion over a man as long as he lives in a sinful and unconverted state, but to possess the power of God in ones life, sin then can and must be overcome and destroyed in our life. I John 3:8 tells us these words saying, "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."
Paul, in Romans chapter seven, explains how sin works in the flesh of an unconverted individual that has not come under grace, but is still under the law. What law is Paul referring to here? In Romans 6:14 we find Paul saying these words that says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Every unconverted sinner is under the condemnation of the Ten Commandment laws proving them to be in rebellion against God. What does it mean to be under these laws, and what has sin to do with them? Paul tells us in Romans 7:1 these words saying, "Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?" Let Paul prove to us that it is the ten Commandment laws that has power over the sinner as long as he lives in an unconverted state. To understand how these Commandment laws has power over the sinner, Paul uses the law of marriage between a man and his wife. Romans 7:2 says, "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband." The law of marriage tells us that a man is bound to his wife as long as she lives and its until death do they part. Its the marriage law that says they are to remain together as one flesh until one has died, and then that law is no longer binding to either spouse. Notice how the "law of the marriage" has power over them for as long as they live, but if one dies, then that law is no longer binding and they are free from that law. Now Paul says these words in Romans 7:4 that says, "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." Paul is now telling us that we become dead to the law (Commandments laws) by the body of Christ. What does Paul mean by becoming dead to these laws? To understand this Paul tells us these words in Romans 7:5-6 that says, "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." Paul saying that "the motions of sin" which were by the law, he is revealing that sin takes advantage of what those laws says and by them sin becomes very sinful in the life of the unconverted sinner.
The sinner, being yet under the law, sin can then use those laws to cause the sinner to do what the law is against. But when we come under the grace of God, by receiving Christ into our heart and life, sin can no longer take advantage of those laws, because sin no longer has dominion over us. This being true Paul asks, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." God forbids us to continue on in sin, because we now have power over sin and we are to put that sin to death and not let it reign in our mortal body, as Paul tells us in Romans 6:11-13 that says, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." We can do this only if we truly possess the Spirit of Christ in our heart.
In Romans 7:14-24 Paul explains perfectly how sin works in the flesh bringing man into its captivity. What Paul reveals here is only an explanation of sins power in a persons life before Christ intervenes in his heart to free him from sins bondage. The deceived confessing Christian world today has been led to believe that Paul never was free from sin in what he says in these scriptures, and they uses that as an excuse for their own sinful condition.. Paul was set free, because he was only describing his sinful condition before Christ came into his heart revealing how sin works in the flesh of the sinner. If Paul was not free from sins power and could not conquer it, then why does he tell his Roman converts in Romans 6 14 that sin shall not have power over them? Paul is certainly not saying that his converts has power over sin and that he does not. In Romans 7:14-24 Paul is clearly revealing that sin at that certain time had power over him and it was causing him to do things that was totally against the laws of God. What Paul explains here is the experience that every true believer will experience when they come to God seeking for salvation and forgiveness of sin. This truth will be explained in part- 2 of this study