Is it Possible to Obey the Law?
Countless Christians have been taught that since the law is spiritual and we are carnal (Romans 7:14), no human being will ever be able in this life meet the requirements of the law so there is point in trying. Is this true? Has it been given by God as some idealistic impossible goal toward which converted souls should struggle but never be able to attain? Is it possible to love God and man perfectly? Romans 8:3-4 says, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Paul gave light to these verses in Romans 7. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. No, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, You shall not covet.” (v.7) “…For without the law sin was dead.” (v.8) “Wherefore the law is holy, and the Commandment holy, and just, and good.” (v.12) “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (v.18-19) “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (v.24-25)
Put more simply, Paul desires with all his heart and mind to obey the law but in the flesh he still fails. But by the grace of God through faith in Christ, and sincere repentance, he is seen by God as righteous. However, knowing God’s law and having no intention or desire to obey it is wilful sin and hence cannot have genuine repentance. We need to take the following passage very seriously as it says that there remains NO more sacrifice for deliberate sin.
Hebrews 10:12-26, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;… 14 For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified… 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, … 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”
