The Spiritual Law

[Romans 7:14-20]

Look at Romans 7:14: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.” [(Contemporary Bible) “We know that the law is spiritual, but I am a man of flesh, sold as a slave to sin.”] This verse can be divided into three parts: (1) “For we know that the law is spiritual,” (2) “but I am carnal,” (3) “sold under sin.” Today, I would like to meditate on the third part: “sold under sin.”

Apostle Paul says, “… sold under sin” [(“sold as a slave to sin”)]. The word “sold” can also be found in the Old Testament. Look at 1 Kings 21:20: “Ahab said to Elijah, ‘Have you found me, O my enemy?’ And he answered, ‘I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord.’” The wicked king Ahab sold himself to sin. However, Apostle Paul is not saying that he sold himself to sin, but that someone caused him to be sold to sin.

Look at Psalm 51:5: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” [(Contemporary Bible) “I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.”] This Psalm is David's repentance Psalm. When did David write this Psalm of repentance? It was when he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and killed the loyal soldier Uriah to cover up his sin, yet was unaware of his sin. When God sent the prophet Nathan to make David aware of his sin, David repented, and this led to the writing of Psalm 51. David said that he was born in iniquity (born a sinner). Someone caused David to sin.

Apostle Paul, in Romans 7:14, says that he was “sold under sin”—meaning he was “sold as a slave to sin.” The phrase “a slave to sin” or “a servant of sin” at the time of Apostle Paul meant living a wretched life. Some slaves were born to slave parents and therefore became slaves themselves, while others were sold into slavery. Those who were sold into slavery had no rights or freedom. They were simply the property of their master. Since they were bought with money, they were treated as property, much like furniture, and their masters could use them however they pleased, sell them, or even discard them.

When Apostle Paul says that he was “sold as a slave to sin,” he is not saying that he was someone who sinned without understanding what sin or the law is. Rather, he is speaking as Paul, the Apostle of Christ, the one called by the Lord to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. At the time he wrote Romans, he was in the midst of his second missionary journey. Yet, despite his calling and his mission, he says that he was “sold as a slave to sin.” So, who sold Paul into slavery to sin? It was none other than the devil, Satan.

Not only the Apostle Paul, but also we, believing in Jesus, with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, calling God "Abba, Father" as His children while praying, are also sold under sin like Paul. However, many times we do not even realize that we are sold under sin. And while we are enslaved to sin, we often fall into sin, following where it leads. Even though we are born again and call God "Abba, Father," worshiping Him, we often live as slaves to sin without realizing it.

Let’s look at 1 Timothy 1:15: "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." [(Modern translation) "Here is a trustworthy saying that everyone can accept: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them."] The Apostle Paul confessed that he was "the chief of sinners" while in prison in Rome. That is, he confessed to being the worst of sinners while not knowing whether he would die (be martyred) in prison. Paul was admitting the great extent of his sin.

What about us? Do we have no sin? Are we far from sin? Right now, we are taking sin lightly. Even while committing sin, we may not realize that we are being sold as slaves to sin. Are we not living this way, in the midst of sin? The Apostle Paul understood the seriousness of sin. He knew that he was being sold as a slave to sin. Despite all the love and grace that had brought him this far, Paul was deeply troubled because he knew he was still a slave to sin. Peter had the same experience. In Matthew 26:74-75, the Apostle Peter denied Jesus three times. On the third denial, he "began to curse and swear, saying, 'I do not know the man'." (v. 74). At that moment, the rooster crowed, and Peter remembered Jesus' words, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." (v. 75). Peter went out and wept bitterly. According to tradition, every time the rooster crowed, Peter would kneel and repent.

What about us? Do we recognize the state of being sold as slaves to sin? Are we weeping and repenting, like the Apostle Peter did? Satan, who tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, leading them into sin and selling them as slaves to sin, is constantly attacking us whenever he finds the chance. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, armed with the Word and prayer, to fight and overcome Satan's attacks. We must have a serious awareness of sin and fight the good fight to the end, so that we may be victorious saints, receiving the crown of righteousness that has been prepared for us (2 Timothy 4:7-8).