Satan's Lie About the Law

Scripture: So as far as I was concerned, the good law which was supposed to show me the way of life resulted instead in my being given the death penalty. Sin fooled me by taking the good laws of God and using them to make me guilty of death. But still, you see, the law itself was wholly right and good. But how can that be? Didn’t the law cause my doom? How then can it be good? No, it was sin, devilish stuff that it is, that used what was good to bring about my condemnation. So you can see how cunning and deadly and damnable it is. For it uses God’s good laws for its own evil purposes. Romans 7:10-13

Observation: In considering the law, Paul differentiates between the law and sin. The law is good, as it is God's perfect instruction in how to live. Sin is anything that violates the law. No one can actually achieve a sinless, perfect life, and thus we all sin. However, there is a third element at work, and that is evil ... which influences us through our response to both the law and sin. Some respond to the law as if it is a death penalty, for they know they cannot comply. Some respond to sin with great guilt, frustration, and doom, seeing it as their destruction.

The original law addressed this. While some extreme sin carried with it a punishment of death, the vast majority did not. Certain acts were inevitable, and required a response from the individual ... a period of time, a washing, a sacrifice, a presentation to a priest, etc. There wasn't an idea that sin resulted in permanent damnation, but rather that violating the law resulted in acknowledging such and then taking the prescribed step to return to God's company.

In Jesus, this prescribed step is now simply faith. We should still pray for forgiveness as part of acknowledging our sin, but Jesus is the sacrifice - the ceremony - we rely upon for return us to God's company.

It is the evil enemy that makes us hate the law, and then to despise God for thinking that the law creates both an unattainable goal and condemnation both/either on earth or for eternity. It is this lie that turns people against that which is clearly intended to help all people live a wonderful life, and it is this lie that turns people against the Lord due to a perception of him being full of judgmental wrath.

Application: Hosea reminds me today that the truth about God goes even beyond this truth about sin and the law ... that the Lord desires my love, not my sacrifices; He wants a relationship with me, not compliance from me.

The law will guide me to living a great life. When I sin, I'm the one really hurt, because I'm missing out on something better. Yes, I need forgiveness of that sin, but no one should live in fear and guilt.

Harder still it must be for non-believers in our society who believe this warped lie about God's nature and "rules". They think their options are either to believe there is a God who judges their current lives and hates them for it, or to reject the idea that God exists. The liar of this world has told them this great lie about 'the law' and they have no life-giving way forward into God's truth ... this love, mercy, and free gift of salvation.

I don't want depression in my life anymore. One solution will be to live better into the great life God has designed for me. I hope I can help others realize the same.

Prayer: Lord, I pray it again today, please permanently remove depression from my life. I know it is real and it impacts me and my family. You know I cannot find the strength to seek help. We both know that all I really need is you and your healing love. May I live in your law now, without guilt of missteps, but instead with joy found in your grace through Jesus Christ. Amen.