Salvation by Faith Alone: The Book of Romans

Who is the Man of Romans 7?

Lesson #8 for November 25, 2017

Scriptures: Romans 7.

1.    In this chapter Paul described the terrible struggle that sinners go through in abandoning the sinful lifestyle and becoming true Christians. Scholars have debated at length about whether it is a description of Paul’s own personal experience. If it is a description of Paul’s own personal experience, was he talking about the struggle before his conversion-which, presumably, he would date to the Damascus road experience? Or, was he talking about the struggle with sin even after he became a Christian? Did he have any twinges of conscience before the Damascus road experience? Or, was that a lightening bolt out of the blue? What was Saul/Paul’s response to the stoning of Stephen? (See AA 112,113.) At first, Saul/Paul became more determined to destroy Christians. Then, Paul had a “fruit basket upset.” It is possible that Paul had memorized a large portion of the Old Testament in Hebrew. After Damascus, it was time to rethink the entire meaning of Scripture. So, Paul went to Arabia for about 3 years.

2.    In Romans 5:1[1], we read that we can have peace with God. But, that certainly does not guarantee peace with anyone else, especially the Devil!

3.    In Romans 6 we are told that baptism is to represent the burial of our old ideas and ways of living. We are supposed to rise to a new life. But, we soon discover that the Devil is alive and well and so are our old habits. In fact, if we are trying to live a new life, a Christian life, the Devil will become even more active!

4.    But, Paul stated his belief clearly in Romans 6:14[2] by saying: “We are not under law but under grace.” Shouldn’t that take care of it all? Does it? Paul proceeded to say in Romans 6:23 (GNB) that, “Sin pays its wage: death.” God does not kill people. The second death is a consequence of separation from God, not a penalty. (Genesis 2:17)[3] God needed to prove that the consequences of sin are death, and that is the reason for the very costly death of Jesus. Satan had claimed-and would do anything to prove-that the wages of sin are not death! So, we can see that the stakes are very high. Satan claims that everyone who dies belongs to him. But, by rising from the dead in His own power, Jesus broke open the grave and destroyed Satan’s claims. (John 10:18; John 2:19; Matthew 26:61)[4] Do we believe that “sin pays it wage: death”? Notice that Jesus said, “God, why are you forsaking Me,” and not “Why are you killing Me.” (Matthew 27:46)[5]

5.    So, what is the solution to this dilemma? For many Christians it is the process of “justification” which means that we are “declared righteous” by God. That raises several questions. If God can “declare us righteous” without any change actually taking place in us, how does that relate to this struggle with sin? If God declares us righteous, shouldn’t that take care of everything? And shouldn’t that take care of everyone so that everyone is saved? If that is true, why does He delay His second coming? Why doesn’t God just “set everyone right” and come back? If we have a new attitude toward God, is that a real change? Is God more concerned about our past or about our future? (Compare Luke 15.) Is there any choice involved? Does love require a choice? If God could suddenly transform us without any consent on our part, why didn’t He do that to Lucifer in the beginning?

6.    Justification and sanctification together produce salvation. But, if we want to be “saved” or “healed,” then is some change actually necessary? Do you agree with these words?

Bible students differ on whether Romans 7 was Paul’s experience before or after his conversion. Whatever position one takes, what’s important is that Jesus’ righteousness covers us and that in His righteousness we stand perfect before God, who promises to sanctify us, to give us victory over sin, and to conform us to “the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29). These are the crucial points for us to know and experience as we seek to spread “the everlasting gospel” to “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Rev. 14:6).—Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Sabbath, November 18. [Bold type is added.]

7.    Here we see a conflict in metaphors. If our own behavior does not matter and Christ’s righteousness covers us completely, then we should not be talking about the struggle with sin. But, the Bible leaves us with this quandary: We are saved by our faith; (Acts 16:31)[6] but, we are judged by our works. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Revelation 20:12-13)[7] Does God intend for us to struggle with this dichotomy throughout our Christian experience?

8.    Read Romans 7:1-6[8]. Does salvation come by keeping the rules? Paul tried to explain our relationship to the law by describing the experience of a woman who is married and whose husband dies. Once the husband is dead, she is free to remarry without committing adultery. This illustration would fit perfectly if it was the law that died. But, who died in this story? Paul made it very clear that he-not the law-is the one who died. That, of course, confuses things. We do not have any human illustrations of a woman who dies and then remarries! So, what actually happens? if God is the one who kills, then His forgiveness is sufficient. But, if sin pays its wage, then someone else cannot reap the consequences. (See Ezekiel 18; 33.)[9]

As the death of her husband delivers the woman from the law of her husband, so the death of the old life in the flesh, through Jesus Christ, delivers the Jews from the law they had been expected to keep until the Messiah fulfilled its types.

Now the Jews were free to “remarry.” They were invited to marry the risen Messiah and thus bring forth fruit to God. This illustration was one more device Paul used to convince the Jews that they were now free to abandon the ancient system.—Ibid.* Sunday, November 19. [Bold type is added.]

Is that what Paul was saying?

9.    So, now we are faced with several challenging questions. Who or what actually died in this illustration? Paul later said that he died. What did Paul ask the Jews to abandon? Were they trying to keep the law as a way of being saved? (See Jeremiah 7.) Does life go better when we do things God’s way? Or, is it better to live without law? As we know, our Christian friends have used these verses to say that the “law” has been done away with; it is dead. They believe they are now free to worship Christ as they see fit. Of course, they do not want to abandon any part of the moral law of Ten Commandments except the Sabbath. Is there any hint that Paul was trying to get rid of the Sabbath? Or, is it anywhere else in Scripture? They believe Christians should observe the other nine commandments! Is that a valid interpretation of this passage? Is there any evidence that Paul ever had such an idea in mind?

The apostle Paul, in relating his experience, presents an important truth concerning the work to be wrought in conversion. He says, “I was alive without the law once”-he felt no condemnation; “but when the commandment came,” when the law of God was urged upon his conscience, “sin revived, and I died.”

Then he saw himself a sinner, condemned by the divine law. Mark, it was Paul, and not the law, that died.—Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy,* book 4, 297.1. (1884); Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary,* vol. 6, 1076.7. [Bold type is added.]

10.    What law was Paul talking about in Romans 7? As we are well aware, there have been several different definitions of law. Perhaps the narrowest definition is one suggesting that the law refers to the Ten Commandments only. To a faithful Jew like Paul, the law would typically refer to the five books written by Moses and known as the Torah. But, Jesus pointed out that sometimes the word Law was used to refer to the entire Old Testament. (John 10:34; Psalms 82:6)[10] So, what did Paul have in mind in this passage? Or, was he talking about the whole idea of law? Does Paul give us any hint? No legal system will ever save anyone.

11.    Read Romans 7:7[11]. We immediately recognize that Paul was referring to the tenth commandment in this passage. Wouldn’t that suggest that in the previous passage the law that “died” would be the Ten Commandments? Or, can law die? How do you teach your children to obey? Do you follow the directions in the manual for your new car? Why? How did your children learn to brush their teeth? Was it because of fear of punishment? Do they still brush their teeth? Why?

12.    Seventh-day Adventists have explained their understanding of this passage as follows: The moral law is a direct reflection of God’s character and is summed up by the two great commandments that Jesus Himself quoted in [Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12.28-34; and Luke 10.25-28][12]. It is based on eternal principles that will never change. But, the books of Moses describe a great number of other laws and rules and statutes that no longer applied to people after the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

13.    Why do you suppose Paul discussed the tenth commandment? It is interesting to note that in the books of Moses, there is a death sentence associated with the breaking of every commandment except the tenth! Why was that? Is it possible to take someone to court and prove that he has been coveting? Covetousness is not apparent externally; it is only in the mind. So, as human beings, we are really only able to recognize covetousness in ourselves. The tenth commandment actually forbids any evil desire. One must break it before he breaks any other commandment. It is completely internal, in our minds. That goes along with 1 John 3:4 which actually says, “Sin is rebelliousness.” It fits also with all of Jesus’s expansions of the law in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5-7)

14.    Before his experience on the Damascus road, Paul had believed that he was doing well in the eyes of God. As a Pharisee of the Pharisees, no doubt, he would have claimed as did the rich young ruler: “Ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments.” (Matthew 19:20; Mark 10:20; Luke 18:21[13], GNB) Paul’s external behavior met the criteria the Pharisees had set up to measure the performance of a good Jew. But, when Paul looked at the tenth commandment, he recognized that it was a commandment that forbade even thinking wrong thoughts. It made him angry. He was willing to do what he believed God required him to do; but, he thought it was an intrusion into his privacy for God to tell him what he was allowed to think!

15.    But, after considering the issue as a Christian, Paul came to a very different conclusion. He recognized that in virtually every case, we as human beings break the tenth commandment before we break any of the others. Thus, if God wants to create a perfect society in heaven and invite some of us to live there, He can only take people to heaven who do not even want to sin! Thus, the tenth commandment specifically becomes a guarantee of future safety in the heavenly kingdom and in the earth made new.

16.    Before his Christian experience began, Paul was quite comfortable with his external behavior. He could read the first nine commandments and feel quite smug. So, what should our attitude be toward this whole issue?

17.    Before Paul wrote Romans, he wrote Galatians. In Galatians 3:24[14], he stated clearly that the law is our “babysitter” to protect us until we learn to do right because it is right.

18.    The Bible study guide goes to some length in pointing out an important principle. The law is necessary because it points out sin. Without it we would not know what sin is. But, the law was never intended to be the cure for sin. It is not a means of salvation. Thus, the law performs an important and essential function; but, it can do nothing for our salvation.

19.    Read Romans 7:12[15] (GNB). Thus, Paul concluded by saying that “the Law itself is holy, and the commandment is holy, right, and good.” The law serves very well to do what it is supposed to do, pointing out sin!

20.    Read Romans 7:13-15[16]. What does it mean to be “a slave of sin”? (See Jeremiah 17:9[17].)

21.    How is it that sin uses law to bring about our death? Evil is using something good to bring about something evil. Is the law at fault? Or, is it sin that is using the perfectly good tool or instrument of the law to do its evil work? Sharp knives are very useful; but, they can also be dangerous!

22.    Read Romans 7:14-20[18]. All of us would agree that the requirements of the Ten Commandments or the moral law are reasonable and good. But, having concluded that, we have to admit with Paul that it is not natural for us to obey them. In fact, it is impossible for us to obey them in our own strength. Paul described his condition as being a slave of sin. He was not able to do what he wanted to do-what he knew was right-because sin operated in his body. Does the Devil make us do it? Does the Devil make us overeat? (James 1:14)[19]

23.    At what time in Paul’s life did he face the struggle described in Romans 7:14-25[20]? Was that before conversion? At the time of conversion? Or, after conversion? Have you ever found yourself in that struggle? Which commandment was it that led Paul finally to understand the real meaning of the commandments? What changed in his thinking? What should be the function of the commandments?

24.    In Romans 6 and 7, Paul gave two illustrations of what it means to live lives under grace: 1) Like a new babe in the truth, having put to death the old man of sin; and 2) Like a woman who is bound to her husband so long as he is alive; but, when he dies, she is free to marry another.

25.    Paul pointed out the truth that he must have learned in his days as a Pharisee: Trying to earn salvation by keeping the law never works. The law just keeps on pointing out our sins and failures. So, Paul told us that we must give up on that old way of trying to prove that we can live righteous lives in our own strength under the law, and instead, accept God’s way of righteousness which is to focus on the life of Christ until “by beholding we become changed.” (GC 555.1)

26.    But, then Paul admitted that when we do this, Satan and his evil angels come out against us in full force. By continually reminding us of our weaknesses and old habits-our failures to keep the law-Satan hopes to discourage us until we give up on living the Christian life. The law is not what is at fault; it is Satan’s use of the law to remind us of our sins that may prove discouraging.

27.    Some Christians hide behind Paul’s description in Romans 7. They are having trouble with the struggle to live a good life. So, they abandon that struggle and say it does not matter anyway because Christ can take care of it all. Is that what Paul intended?

28.    Paul seemed to have been trying to divide up the body and the mind. Can that be done? What did he mean when he talked about “my members” or “the body”? What did he mean when he talked about “my inner self” or “the mind”? What part of Paul wanted to do good? What part of Paul found it impossible to do good? Were there actually two conflicting powers in Paul’s body? Or, in his mind?

29.    What is “the law of my mind” that Paul talked about? What is “the law of my body”? What is “the law of God”? What is “the law of sin”? Do we believe that there is a conflict or even a war going on inside us? Where does the great controversy actually take place? Can we identify personally with these experiences of Paul?

30.    Sometimes, we have represented this conflict between good and evil as two angels, one good angel and one evil angel, tempting us to go in different directions. How do the Devil’s temptations enter into this struggle? We know that there is no way in which the body can, in fact, contradict the mind. All of this conflict takes place within the mind. Do we understand how these different forces interact within our brains?

31.    Our minds are the battlefield in the great controversy! Paul kept talking about two different aspects of our lives: the old man of sin vs. the new babe in Christ; the mind vs. the body; etc. People cannot be divided like that; but, we all know about the two forces that are at war in us.

32.    At the end of his discussion of this controversy, Paul said: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24, KJV) The word wretched that Paul used to describe himself in this verse is talaiporos which is used in only one other place in the New Testament-in Revelation 3 to describe the Laodiceans!

33. In what sense could Laodiceans be wretched? Aren’t we the faithful, tithe-paying, healthreforming, Sabbathkeeping saints in the church of God? Could all of our efforts be wasted? God said that the Laodiceans made Him nauseated! (Revelation 3:16) Nauseated enough to vomit. (That is the real meaning of the Greek word emeo.) Why is that?

Christ declares that pretentious piety is nauseating to Him. To the ones so full of self-sufficiency He says, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot.” [Revelation 3:15] Their works are opposed to the holy principles of God’s word.—Ellen G. White, Special Testimonies, Series B,* No. 2, 20.1.

A lifeless profession is nauseating to God. Christ can not present before the Father those who are lukewarm. [She then quoted Revelation 3:16-17.]—Ellen G. White, General Conference Bulletin,* April 6, 1903, par. 27. [Content in brackets is added.]

34. In any sense are we like the Jews referred to in Romans 2:19-20[21]? Don’t we claim to be “A guide for the blind, a light for those who are in darkness, 20an instructor for the foolish, and a teacher for the ignorant”?

35. Do we not sometimes feel that we are “worn out from hard work” one of the meanings of the word wretched in Greek? Is that the result of trying to earn our own salvation by keeping the law, paying tithe, etc.?

36. As Seventh-day Adventists, we should be known for our picture of God and our explanation of the great controversy. Instead, we are thought of as legalists for our Sabbathkeeping, etc. Are we legalists? Or, do we present to the world a correct understanding of the plan of salvation?

37. This is not to suggest that there is no effort to be put forth to be saved. Note these words from Ellen White about Paul:

The life of the apostle Paul was a constant conflict with self. He [Paul] said, “I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31. His will and his desires every day conflicted with duty and the will of God. Instead of following inclination, he did God’s will, however crucifying to his nature.—Ellen G. White, Ministry of Healing* 452.4. Compare ST,* September 12, 1878, par. 8; 4T* 299.2 (1879); YI,* August 24, 1899, par. 3; 8T* 313.3; LS* 237.1; NL* 60.3; IHP* 26.3; RC* 291.8; RH,* October 15, 1908, par. 13. [Content in brackets is added.]

38.    Our efforts need to be focused on developing and maintaining a close relationship with Christ through Bible study and prayer and not just on trying to keep the law. So, there is a struggle going on in the life of a true Christian.

The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give.—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ* 30.1; 5T* 337.2. [Bold type is added.]

39.    Do we still have a way to go in our struggle against pride, selfishness, and covetousness?

Jesus had presented the cup of blessing to those who felt that they were “rich, and increased with goods” (Revelation 3:17), and had need of nothing, and they had turned with scorn from the gracious gift. He who feels whole, [Think of all the bad things he doesn’t do, i.e., the man who feels reasonably whole.] who thinks that he is reasonably good, and is contented with his condition, does not seek to become a partaker of the grace and righteousness of Christ. Pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He Salvation by Faith Alone: The Book of Romans- #8 - page 5 of 6 came to give. There is no room for Jesus in the heart of such a person.—Ellen G. White, Mount of Blessing* 7.1; SD* 301.4. [Contents in brackets is added.]

40.    If we are serious about being Christians, then we still have work to do. God can only admit to heaven people who really want to be loving and kind all the time!

Your energies are required to co-operate with God. Without this, if it were possible to force upon you with a hundredfold greater intensity the influences of the Spirit of God, it would not make you a Christian, a fit subject for heaven. The stronghold of Satan would not be broken. There must be the willing and the doing on the part of the receiver. There must be an action, represented as coming out from the world and being separate. There must be a doing of the words of Christ.—Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times,* December 28, 1891, par. 2; Ibid.,* May 18, 1904, par. 9; MB* 142.1; HL* 304.5. [Bold type is added.]

41.    God will never try to force us to do His will. Salvation means healing. If we refuse God’s medicine, there is nothing more that He can do for us.

The effort to earn salvation by one’s own works inevitably leads men to pile up human exactions as a barrier against sin. For, seeing that they fail to keep the law, they will devise rules and regulations of their own to force themselves to obey. All this turns the mind away from God to self. His love dies out of the heart, and with it perishes love for his fellow men. A system of human invention, with its multitudinous exactions, will lead its advocates to judge all who come short of the prescribed human standard. The atmosphere of selfish and narrow criticism stifles the noble and generous emotions, and causes men to become self-centered judges and petty spies.—Ellen G. White, Mount of Blessing* 123.1.

42.    So, what about us? Are we developing characters like that of Christ?

It is the will of God that each professing Christian shall perfect a character after the divine similitude. By studying the character of Christ revealed in the Bible, by practicing His virtues, the believer will be changed into the same likeness of goodness and mercy. Christ’s work of self-denial and sacrifice brought into the daily life will develop the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. There are many who wish to evade the cross-bearing part, but the Lord speaks to all when He says, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24.—Ellen G. White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students Regarding Christian Education* 249.1; see also GC* 555.1. [Bold type is added.]

43.    Do you agree with Paul’s conclusion? Is it possible to “serve God’s law only with my mind, while my human nature serves the law of sin”? Can we at the same time serve more than one law? Can we serve more than one master?

44.    In Romans 7, Paul struggled to try to describe a difficult and very personal conflict. He wanted us to understand clearly what the problem is before he gave his final solution in Romans 8. Some Christians, after reading Romans 5:1 and 6:14, for example, want to leave all of the work to Christ. They do not believe that they have any individual responsibility. But, Paul held no such illusion. He pictured our battle as a very real one.

45.    Do we understand these issues clearly? Are we ready to “fight the good fight of faith”? (2 Timothy 4:7) In light of the great controversy over God’s character and government, do we clearly understand our role and God’s role in winning this battle?

1-(Rom 5:1 ESV+) R1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, R2weN1 have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2-(Rom 6:14 ESV+) For R10sin R11will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

3-(Gen 2:17 ESV+) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil R12you shall not eat, for in the day that you eatN1 of it you R13shall surely die.”

4-(Joh 10:18 ESV+) R26No one takes it from me, but R25I lay it down R1of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and R2I have authority to take it up again. R3This charge I have received from my Father.”

(Joh 2:19 ESV+) Jesus answered them, R26“Destroy this temple, and in three days R1I will raise it up.”

(Mat 26:61 ESV+) and said, “This man said, R24‘I am able to R25destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’”

5-(Mat 27:46 ESV+) And about the ninth hour Jesus R10cried out with a loud voice, saying, R11“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

6-(Act 16:31 ESV+) And they said, R24“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you R25and your household.”

7-(Ecc 12:13 ESV+) The end of the matter; all has been heard. R23Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.N1

(Ecc 12:14 ESV+) For R24God will bring every deed into judgment, withN1 every secret thing, whether good or evil.

(Rev 20:12 ESV+) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and R17books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is R18the book of life. And R19the dead were judged by what was written in the books, R20according to what they had done.

(Rev 20:13 ESV+) And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, R21Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, R20according to what they had done.

8-(Rom 7:1 ESV+) Or do you not know, brothersN1—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?

(Rom 7:2 ESV+) For R5a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.N1

(Rom 7:3 ESV+) Accordingly, R6she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

(Rom 7:4 ESV+) Likewise, my brothers, R7you also have died R8to the law R9through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, R10in order that we may bear fruit for God.

(Rom 7:5 ESV+) For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work R11in our members R12to bear fruit for death.

(Rom 7:6 ESV+) But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the R13new way of R14the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.N1

9-(Eze 18:1 ESV+) The word of the LORD came to me:

(Eze 18:2 ESV+) “What do youN1 mean R19by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, R20‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’?

(Eze 18:3 ESV+) R21As I live, declares the Lord GOD, R22this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.

(Eze 18:4 ESV+) Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: R23the soul who sins shall die.

(Eze 18:5 ESV+) “If a man is righteous and does R24what is just and right—

(Eze 18:6 ESV+) if he R25does not eat upon the mountains or R26lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, R1does not defile his neighbor's wife R2or approach R3a woman in her time of menstrual impurity,

(Eze 18:7 ESV+) R4does not oppress anyone, but R5restores to the debtor his pledge, R6commits no robbery, R7gives his bread to the hungry R7and covers the naked with a garment,

(Eze 18:8 ESV+) R8does not lend at interest R8or take any profit,N1 withholds his hand from injustice, R9executes true justice between man and man,

(Eze 18:9 ESV+) R10walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; R11he shall surely live, declares the Lord GOD.

(Eze 18:10 ESV+) “If he fathers a son who is violent, R12a shedder of blood, who does any of these things

(Eze 18:11 ESV+) (though he himself did none of these things), R13who even eats upon the mountains, R14defiles his neighbor's wife,

(Eze 18:12 ESV+) oppresses the poor and needy, R15commits robbery, R15does not restore the pledge, R16lifts up his eyes to the idols, R17commits abomination,

(Eze 18:13 ESV+) R18lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; R19his blood shall be upon himself.

(Eze 18:14 ESV+) “Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise:

(Eze 18:15 ESV+) he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife,

(Eze 18:16 ESV+) does not oppress anyone, R20exacts no pledge, R21commits no robbery, R22but gives his bread to the hungry R22and covers the naked with a garment,

(Eze 18:17 ESV+) withholds his hand from iniquity,N1 takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, R23and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; R24he shall surely live.

(Eze 18:18 ESV+) As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, R25behold, he shall die for his iniquity.

(Eze 18:19 ESV+) “Yet you say, R26‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done R1what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, R2he shall surely live.

(Eze 18:20 ESV+) R3The soul who sins shall die. R4The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. R5The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, R6and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

(Eze 18:21 ESV+) R7“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does R8what is just and right, R9he shall surely live; he shall not die.

(Eze 18:22 ESV+) R10None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.

(Eze 18:23 ESV+) R11Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

(Eze 18:24 ESV+) R12But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? R13None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for R14the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

(Eze 18:25 ESV+) R15“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

(Eze 18:26 ESV+) R12When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die.

(Eze 18:27 ESV+) Again, R16when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.

(Eze 18:28 ESV+) Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

(Eze 18:29 ESV+) Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

(Eze 18:30 ESV+) “Therefore R17I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. R18Repent and turn from all your transgressions, R19lest iniquity be your ruin.N1

(Eze 18:31 ESV+) R20Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and R21make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! R22Why will you die, O house of Israel?

(Eze 18:32 ESV+) R23For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; R18so turn, and live.”

(Eze 33:1 ESV+) The word of the LORD came to me:

(Eze 33:2 ESV+) R20“Son of man, speak to R21your people and say to them, If R22I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their R23watchman,

(Eze 33:3 ESV+) and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and R24blows the trumpet and warns the people,

(Eze 33:4 ESV+) then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, R25his blood shall be upon his own head.

(Eze 33:5 ESV+) R26He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life.

(Eze 33:6 ESV+) R1But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, R1that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.

(Eze 33:7 ESV+) R2“So you, R20son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. R2Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.

(Eze 33:8 ESV+) R3If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, R3and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, R3that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

(Eze 33:9 ESV+) R4But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, R4that person shall die in his iniquity, R5but you will have delivered your soul.

(Eze 33:10 ESV+) “And you, R6son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and R7we rot away because of them. R8How then can we live?’

(Eze 33:11 ESV+) Say to them, R9As I live, declares the Lord GOD, R10I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; R11turn back, turn back from your evil ways, R11for why will you die, O house of Israel?

(Eze 33:12 ESV+) R20“And you, son of man, say to R12your people, R13The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, R14and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, R13and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousnessN1 when he sins.

(Eze 33:13 ESV+) Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet R13if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.

(Eze 33:14 ESV+) Again, R15though I say to the wicked, R16‘You shall surely die,’ yet R17if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right,

(Eze 33:15 ESV+) if the wicked R18restores the pledge, R19gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks R20in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

(Eze 33:16 ESV+) R21None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.

(Eze 33:17 ESV+) “Yet R12your people say, R22‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just.

(Eze 33:18 ESV+) R23When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it.

(Eze 33:19 ESV+) And R24when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this.

(Eze 33:20 ESV+) Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, R25I will judge each of you according to his ways.”

(Eze 33:21 ESV+) In the R26twelfth year R1of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, R2a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, R3“The city has been struck down.”

(Eze 33:22 ESV+) R4Now R5the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the fugitive came; and he had opened my mouth by the time the man came to me in the morning, so my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.

(Eze 33:23 ESV+) The word of the LORD came to me:

(Eze 33:24 ESV+) R6“Son of man, the inhabitants of these R7waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, R8‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but R9we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’

(Eze 33:25 ESV+) Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: R10You eat flesh with the blood and R11lift up your eyes to your idols and R12shed blood; shall you then possess the land?

(Eze 33:26 ESV+) R13You rely on the sword, R14you commit abominations, and R14each of you defiles his neighbor's wife; shall you then possess the land?

(Eze 33:27 ESV+) Say this to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: R15As I live, surely those who are in R16the waste places shall fall by R17the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to R17the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in R18strongholds and in caves shall die by R17pestilence.

(Eze 33:28 ESV+) R19And I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and R20her proud might shall come to an end, and R21the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that none will pass through.

(Eze 33:29 ESV+) R22Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed.

(Eze 33:30 ESV+) “As for you, R6son of man, R23your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.’

(Eze 33:31 ESV+) R24And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for R25with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

(Eze 33:32 ESV+) And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and R26playsN1 well on an instrument, for R1they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

(Eze 33:33 ESV+) R2When this comes—and come it will!—R3then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

10-(Joh 10:34 ESV+) Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in R25your Law, R26‘I said, you are gods’?

(Psa 82:6 ESV+) R3I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;

11-(Rom 7:7 ESV+) What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, R15I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if R16the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

12-(Mat 22:34 ESV+) R2But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced R3the Sadducees, they gathered together.

(Mat 22:35 ESV+) R4And one of them, R5a lawyer, asked him a question R6to test him.

(Mat 22:36 ESV+) “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

(Mat 22:37 ESV+) And he said to him, R7“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

(Mat 22:38 ESV+) This is the great and first commandment.

(Mat 22:39 ESV+) And R8a second is like it: R9You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

(Mat 22:40 ESV+) R10On these two commandments depend R11all the Law and the Prophets.”

(Mar 12:28 ESV+) R21And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

(Mar 12:29 ESV+) Jesus answered, “The most important is, R22‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, R23the Lord is one.

(Mar 12:30 ESV+) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

(Mar 12:31 ESV+) R24The second is this: R25‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment R26greater than these.”

(Mar 12:32 ESV+) And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that R23he is one, and R1there is no other besides him.

(Mar 12:33 ESV+) And to love him with all the heart and with all R2the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, R3is much more than all R4whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

(Mar 12:34 ESV+) And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” R5And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

(Luk 10:25 ESV+) R15And behold, a R16lawyer stood up to R17put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to R18inherit eternal life?”

(Luk 10:26 ESV+) He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

(Luk 10:27 ESV+) And he answered, R19“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and R20your neighbor as yourself.”

(Luk 10:28 ESV+) And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; R21do this, and you will live.”

13-(Mat 19:20 ESV+) The young man said to him, R15“All these I have kept. What do I still lack?”

(Mar 10:20 ESV+) And he said to him, “Teacher, R25all these I have kept from my youth.”

(Luk 18:21 ESV+) And he said, R24“All these I have kept from my youth.”

14-(Gal 3:24 ESV+) So then, R18the law was our R19guardian until Christ came, R20in order that we might be justified by faith.

15-(Rom 7:12 ESV) So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

16-(Rom 7:13 ESV) Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

(Rom 7:14 ESV) For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

(Rom 7:15 ESV) For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

17-(Jer 17:9 ESV) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

18-(Rom 7:14 ESV) For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

(Rom 7:15 ESV) For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

(Rom 7:16 ESV) Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.

(Rom 7:17 ESV) So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

(Rom 7:18 ESV) For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

(Rom 7:19 ESV) For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

(Rom 7:20 ESV) Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

19-(Jas 1:14 ESV) But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

20-(Rom 7:14 ESV) For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

(Rom 7:15 ESV) For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

(Rom 7:16 ESV) Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.

(Rom 7:17 ESV) So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

(Rom 7:18 ESV) For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

(Rom 7:19 ESV) For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

(Rom 7:20 ESV) Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

(Rom 7:21 ESV) So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.

(Rom 7:22 ESV) For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,

(Rom 7:23 ESV) but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

(Rom 7:24 ESV) Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

(Rom 7:25 ESV) Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

21-(Rom 2:19 ESV) and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

(Rom 2:20 ESV) an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

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