Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The Apostle Paul described himself as “carnal”. It means “fleshly”, with the tendency to satisfy the flesh, implying sinfulness, sinful propensity. The “sold under sin” means figuratively, of becoming enslaved to sin, personified as a master who gains control. The Apostle Paul shows us that a born-again believer can struggle against the dominion of sin in his or her life in his own strength.
The Apostle Paul declared that the law of God is holy, just and good. He explained that the indictment of the law against the sinner for transgressing it, should by no means diminish the highest regard accorded to it. The law of God showed to man his sinfulness. He ought to be grateful that God did not left him without knowledge of his fallen estate but revealed the law to show his sinfulness so that redress can be made!
The Giver of the law is the thrice holy God. Therefore, it is clear that the law given by a holy God, cannot be tainted with sin. It fact, the Apostle Paul tells us, God’s law is holy, just and good. It is void of the filth of sin. It is right and fair. It is good, a blessing to all who obey and live by it.
The Apostle Paul has been making it clear that man’s sad plight of falling into sin is due to his sinful nature. The law of God showed him his sinfulness. It arouses in him the understanding of the uncontrollable working of sin in his life. It is made him feel miserable by the knowledge his propensity and inclination to sin without recourse.
Matthew 26:36-46 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
The Apostle Paul is sounding the warning of the deceitfulness of sin. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ is able to break the stranglehold of sin in a person’s life. When he repents of his sins and come to Jesus Christ, he finds forgiveness and cleansing. Thereafter, he is being given the power to reject the enticement of sin to live a holy life. Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
(1) Sweet Hour of Prayer
– A Song Carved in the Darkness
William Walford was an obscure lay preacher who owned a small novelty shop in the village of Coleshill, England. Although he had seen many “seasons of distress and grief,” his optimism and bright spirit always uplifted those who visited his shop.
The Apostle Paul discovered at a turning point in his spiritual journey that the commandments of God showed to him his inadequacy, his inability to meet the demands of the law. It slays him. Whereas in the past, by a superficial obedience, he thought he had met the requirements of the law but was stunned when he came to the realization that the commandment was meant to rebuke him of his sin. He drove him to receive Christ.
The Apostle Paul before his conversion did not truly understand the significance of the moral law. He thought he could keep the law and be saved by it. He was mistaken. After his conversion, he realized the law was given so that the sinful nature of man is aroused causing him to sin. The law, properly applied, was meant to expose one’s sinfulness. This would cause the person to realize his inability to be saved through keeping the law and come to Christ.
Man in the fallen state is unable to keep the commandments perfectly. In fact, the commandments rebuked him. It shows him how incapable he is to keep it when he makes a truthful assessment by God’s standard. Jesus did not introduce the Law to show the young man how to be saved but to show him that he needed to be saved. The Law is like a mirror that reveals who we are (James 1:22), sinners through and through before we are saved.
1 Kings 21:1-29 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. 3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.