The Law of Sin

When viewed as a system of philosophy the bible sheds immense light upon the human condition and experience. It shows how the law of God (His divine nature) is reflected in the consciousness of people (by design as made in God’s image) which is the foundation of ethics and government. (Rom.2:14-5, Gen.1:26-7) That is, moral laws which are compelling subjective inclinations that are revelations of God regarding how we should live and therefore are binding to our consciences. The essence of these pressing impulses in men’s hearts is the love of God and love of others. (Jam.2:8, Rom.13:8-10, Gal.5:14, Mt.22:36-40, Lk. 10:26-28) Yet there is another law in us, “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Rom.7:23 This is a presence of subjective inclinations pushing us towards self-will and self-gratification or “all manner of concupiscence”. (Rom.7:8) Described by a list of the “works of the flesh”. (Gal.5:19-21) This is the cause of evil in the world and the need for government.

Most of us think about sin as particular acts of disobedience or negligence; “sins of commission and omission”. (Jam.4:17, 2:9, Rom.14:23, 1 Jn.3:4) But the bible has a more comprehensive view of sin and also reveals the idea of sin as a state or a condition. It shows that there is a law of sin or presence of sin as a living impulse in the body or flesh (motions- Rom.7:5). Particular acts of sin are the fruit where the presence of sin is the root. “If we say that we have not sinned” versus “If we say that we have no sin”. (1 Jn.1:8,10) The idea is “in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing” and “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” and therefore “Ye must be born again”. (Rom.7:18, Jn.3:6-7)

Here is where the law of sin is revealed:

Gal.5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Rom.6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. v12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. v14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Rom.7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. v7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. v8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. v9... the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. v11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. v13 ...But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good... v17-18 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing...v20-21 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. v23-5 I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ... with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Rom.8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. v3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh... v4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. v5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh... v6 For to be carnally minded is death... v7-8 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. v10... the body is dead because of sin;

These verses show that the state of the body is “vile” (Phil.3:21) due to the presence of the law of sin and is in need of a resurrection. Because “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” (1 Cor.15:50) The “natural body” (v44) is from Adam and “is of the earth”. (v47) And so “this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality”. (v53) This body is weak, corruptible and dishonourable (v42-3) and in need of being quickened by the Spirit and swallowed up of the life of God. (Rom.8:11, 2 Cor.5:4) We must “mortify the deeds of the body” (Rom.8:13) crucify “the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Gal.5:24) and not let sin “reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof”. (Rom.6:12) From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? (Jam.4:1) Furthermore we learn from these passages that the natural body of flesh and blood is unfit for glory (Rom.3:23) and thus the kingdom of God. Yet the resurrected body is a body of flesh and bone (Lk.24:39, Phil.3:21, 1 Jn.3:2) apparently absent (1 Cor.15:50) the life of the flesh which is the blood thereof. (Lev.17:11,14)

This being the case “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 Jn.1:8) “Do not err, my beloved brethren.” “...every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (Jam.1:14-16) Self-deception is a product of the law of sin. Paul said “sin... deceived me” (Rom.7:11) and Hebrews 3:13 warns us to beware to not “be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Mt.24:12) And again “if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (3:15) The law of sin if permitted will cause us to become overcharged with self-will and lust to the point that our mind and conscience become defiled (Tit.1:15, Dan.5:20) by disregarding the revelation of God through scripture and conscience. Pride and lust become the cause of disagreement and contention in every area of life as well as every field of study and research. (Prv.13:10) Even to the very dividing of our selves internally so that we become “double minded” (Jam.1:8, 4:8) of a “double heart” (Psa.12:2, 1 Chr.12:33) and double-tongued (1 Tim.3:8). Integrity is the result of being internally integral with God’s law. Sin fractures internal unity and ferments dissimulation in the heart. Woe unto you... hypocrites!

The motions of sin give place to lapses in judgment where men do not consider things that are relevant “for their heart was hardened”. (Mk.6:52) As when Christ rebuked his disciples- “perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?” (Mk.8:17) For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. (Job 33:14) For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Mt.13:15 Even as Christians we can become dull of hearing (Heb.5:11) due to carnality and limit our own spiritual development. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1 Cor.3:1-3

This self-imposed spiritual limit we bind ourselves with by not being sincere and pretending to be more than we are puffing ourselves up results in self-deception. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 1 Cor.3:18 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. Gal.6:3 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Jam.1:22 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. V26 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 Jn.1:8

The lust of the flesh and eyes and pride of life (1 Jn.2:16) can cause you to be “deceived by a woman” (Job 31:9) or by wine and strong drink (Prv.20:1) that "thou shouldest ponder the path of life”. (Prv.5:6) The attention you give to that attractive person you tell yourself is ‘trying to help’ when you are not as anxious to ‘try to help’ the less appealing. (Jam.2:1-9) You do your Godly duties within the sight of others who you think will praise you. (Mt.6:1-6, 23:5, Jn.12:43, Rom.2:29, Gal.1:10) The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee. (Ob.1:3) You compromise truth to avoid persecution. (Gal.6:12, 2:11-14) You begin to consider ‘alternate paths’; ways that seem right to a man (Prv.14:12, 16:25) to justify indulging in the flesh and drinking iniquity like water. (Job 15:16) With all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thes.2:10) The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways. (Prv.14:14) His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. (Prv.5:22-3) All the while defiling his own mind and conscience, and nothing is pure to the defiled and unbelieving. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Tit.1:15-16) People are deceived because they love lies and false narratives which excuse their sin and aggrandize themselves. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. (Psa.36:2) This is why flattery and favor is successful in manipulating them. Meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. (Prv.20:19) A flattering mouth worketh ruin. (Prv.26:28) A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. (Prv.29:5) “Favour is deceitful”, “and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts”. (Prv.19:6, 31:30) This will increase in the latter days as men after their own lusts heap to themselves teachers who give them a “flattering divination”. (2 Tim. 4:3, Ezk.12:24)

The law of sin when flowing unrestrained through men collectively wrecks entire civilizations. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves...Having a form of godliness”. (2 Tim.3:1-5) The heart gets hardened to God and men as the swells of self-will overflow you causing you to disregard “the royal law” (Jam.2:8) and commit abomination.

2 Ki.17:14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks...

2 Chr. 36:13 ...but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel.

Neh.9:16-17 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. v29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

Prv.28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

The offering of the body of Jesus Christ destroys our body of sin. The resurrection of Christ sets us free from the law of sin and death. He being in the form of God (Jn.1:1, Phil.2:5-10) partook of the likeness of sinful flesh yet without sin (Rom.8:3, Heb.4:15, 1 Jn.1:1-2,4:2) so that we through his death and resurrection might be partakers of the divine nature, that is his Spirit, (2 Pt.1:4) or his life. (1 Jn.5:11-12, 4:15, Jn.1:4, 3:16, 2 Cor.4:11)

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Rom.6:6

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Rom.6:11-13

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. Rom.7:24-25

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Rom.8:2 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. V11 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. v13