Our chapter today clarifies a key misconception in the Christian world: how we ought to look at the law. Some Christians go to the extent of describing the law as something Christians ought to avoid, justifying this with what Romans 6:14 instructs: “you are not under law but under grace”.  Given this current outcome of being “under grace”, some even think that God made a mistake instituting His law in the Old Testament in the first place. This misconception is particularly driven by the common phrase “law vs grace”, which pits them against each other.  When we take a closer look at Romans 7, we will see this is not to be so. Knowing that he was writing “to those who knew the law” (Romans 7:1), Paul set out to correct misconceptions about the law. What did Paul write about the law? How should we understand what the law is? 1. The law is not sin. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not!” (Romans 7:7a) The law does not fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). It is not something God wishes to distance Himself away from.  2. The law sets the righteous standards of God, so that through it we understand what sin is, and by contrast, what God’s holiness is. ‘ I would not have known sin except through the law . For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”’ (Romans 7:7b) Elsewhere, the Bible states, “ the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24) The law helps us—and the Jews—to know Jesus Christ and His holiness, that we can believe in Him and follow Him. 3. The law is not evil, wicked, or sinful. In fact, it is holy and good. “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” (Romans 7:12) The law is “what is good” (Romans 7:13). And again, “the law is spiritual” (Romans 7:14). Seeing how many times Paul reiterated this fact, it’s clear that he strongly believed in this. 4. God intended the law to bring life, but our sinful nature causes us to die instead.  “Did that which is good [the law], 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.” (Romans 7:13 ESV) “For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.” (Romans 7:5) The problem is sin.  5. Without the law, sin cannot exist. “ For apart from the law sin was dead .” (Romans 7:8b) Without the law, sin cannot exist, because there are no righteous standards for one to fall short of. Yet we cannot destroy the law just because we want to get rid of sin (Matthew 5:17-18). Without absolute standards of righteousness instituted by God, how then will we know if Christ is good, or if someone is evil?  All this might make us feel drab and hopeless, especially if we’re currently fighting against sin that we are struggling to overcome in our lives. But Paul speaks to our struggle, especially through the narrative frame his chapter takes.  The chapter begins with the analogy of marriage. Through her husband’s death, a woman is free from the law of her husband. Likewise, through the death of Jesus Christ, we are free from the law, yet still called to be righteous, for we must “bear fruit to God” (Romans 7:4), At the chapter’s end, Paul personalizes that analogy into his own statement of faith, where he sees his victory over sin: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25) Truly, our God has a marvelous plan beyond our imagination.  He prepared the law to teach us God’s holiness and lead us to Jesus while executing just judgment on the wicked (1 Timothy 1:9). At the same time, knowing our weaknesses, He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from a sinful nature we cannot flee on our own, so that we can still be saved (John 3:16). What can we do next? If you have not done so, repent and have your sins forgiven by (Acts 2:38).  Allow Jesus to work in your heart and circumcise it. This journey of victory over sin is a lifelong one where we keep God’s commandments, love Him with all our hearts and souls, and walk by the power of His grace (Romans 7:6; Romans 2:25-29; Deuteronomy 30:6).

Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;  To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79) When the first Adam gulped down the forbidden fruit wheels of destiny began to turn slowly Man Unable to escape the shackles of time Each day that we lived Brings us a day closer to death Death’s dark tentacles writhe and sway Along destruction’s broad, decaying way Each fleeting thrill, each wild delight Draws the soul into endless night Eating only leaves you hungrier Drinking only leaves you thirstier Indulgence and wild revelry lead only to deeper emptiness O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? The last Adam sacrificed His life Through death He destroyed devil who had the power of death For us who were under the dominion of darkness He opened a path of salvation filled with light To gain life First lose life The baptism of living water washed me away to the foot of the cross The noonday sun cast its slanting rays shining upon the precious blood of Jesus Only me and Him His blood dripped down onto my heart I died But I know I’m living Died to sin But living to God Left, right, or ahead Friend, may you too find that narrow path to eternal life Grace waters the journey faith lights the path may every step led by the Lord bloom with life!

On serving God full-time.

Have you felt ever that you’ve sinned too much for God to love you?  Perhaps your heart feels insecure and ashamed. I’m a Christian, I serve God in church, but why am I still falling to temptation like this? Or perhaps you don’t get what it means, really means, to have a close-knit, loving relationship with a father or a friend. What does it mean that God is my heavenly Father if my earthly father is so harsh and distant? No matter where we’re at, we can cling to God’s love through meditating on God’s actions for us. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8) God loved you so much that gave His only begotten Son to die for you (John 3:16). He loved you not after you had impressed Him with glowing obedience, but while you were still weak, a powerless sinner falling to the same darkness again. Jesus washed your feet too. He was willing to touch and clean even the dirtiest part of you. Because you’re baptised into His blood, today when you repent, He cleanses even the filthiest sins you cringe to think about (1 John 1:9). Hanging on the cross, He already knew the ways you’d fall. He loved you at your worst. Knowing how you cannot save yourself, He offers you the gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17). Knowing how easily you return to sin, the Holy Spirit makes His home in you, strengthening you in the fight against your sinful nature. Every day, God is on your side.  Knowing how your heart can lie to you, the Holy Spirit pours God’s love right into your heart (Rom 5:5). Not trickles, not drips. Pours .  Our God is rich in mercy. He knows you want to cling to His love. You can pray:  Lord, I want to experience Your love. Lord, I want to know You. Lord, pour out Your love into my heart. Keep me close to You. God loved you then. Today, He loves you still.  Gather with your family or church brethren in Jesus’ name. Together, read John 13, the Bible’s recording of Jesus washing His disciples feet. Pay special attention to John 13:1’s mention of Jesus’ deep love: the context of His actions. Prepare basins of water, towels, and chairs. Take turns to wash each others’ feet, where one person remains seated on the chair. You may wish to play some hymns in the background. Afterwards, reflect on the following questions: For a deeper analysis of this chapter, read our Bible study guide ( and ).

Be Continuously Credited Righteous By Faith How can we be continuously credited righteous by faith? Not only at the beginning, but also throughout, our life of faith? In Romans 4, Paul introduces the idea of being “credited as righteousness by faith” (4: 3). This idea is probably the most obvious when we first come to Christ. Before we have any good deeds, Jesus has already died for us. Salvation is gifted to us. By believing in God and in His power to save, we are deemed righteous before Him. Certainly, as Elder James has explained, a body without the spirit is dead, so is faith without deeds (James 2:26). To declare our faith, we must therefore receive water baptism, pray for the promised Holy Spirit, and study and practice God’s words in our everyday life.  Does that mean being ‘credited righteous by faith’ stops here? I want to further understand how this idea continues to work in our life of faith after coming to Christ. Here, I try to think through three case studies: Moses, David, and Job. What if God allowed Moses to enter the land of Canaan? After all, Moses’ merit in life far exceeded that one single venting. What if God did not spare David for his transgressions? Because they were notoriously outrageous. What if Job did get all the answers to why he suffered? After all, he was indeed just.  If all these ‘what ifs’ were true, we may forever believe that the goodness of one’s life, such as health, prosperity, and companionship, is a result of us ‘being good’. We may also believe that people suffer or ‘fail’ in life because they are ‘being bad’ or inadequate before God. Subsequently, when we encounter hardship and suffering ourselves, we question God’s faithfulness. If Christians have done their best in all things that are required of them, why do they still suffer like anyone else?  Sufferings are God’s constant reminder that we need to be credited righteous by faith everyday throughout our entire life. In sufferings, we want to continue to believe: By continuing to believe and to hold fast to God even in the face of trials and tribulations, we are credited righteous by faith in God’s eyes.

While doom-scrolling on Tik Tok (don’t follow my example!), there was this video I saw of an old TV series where they had a kindly, elderly judge who would carry out judgements in his small courtroom.   And the people that stood before him had always interesting reasons as to why they are being charged in court and how he dealt with each one of them was very entertaining. There was one particular episode - where his childhood friend stood before him, charged with an offense. The courtroom held its breath. Would the judge show mercy? Or enforce the law? He did both. He pronounced the man guilty—because he was. But then he stepped down from the bench, took off his robe, and paid the fine himself. Justice. Mercy. One act. One heart. That story echoes the very heartbeat of Romans 3:25–26 (NIV) : “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith… so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Let that soak in for a moment. God is the judge. And He’s also the one who takes the punishment. The law had to be fulfilled. Sin had to be dealt with. If God had ignored it, He wouldn't be just. But if He destroyed us because of it, how would we ever know His love? So, in an act that still makes angels rejoice in awe, God did both. He upheld justice and unleashed mercy. He sent Jesus to the courtroom— not as the lawyer, but as the one who would stand in your place . Can you imagine that courtroom scene? The gavel pounds. Guilty. Your list of charges is long: pride, envy, impatience, every time you rolled your eyes in traffic or withheld forgiveness one more day. The law is clear. The fine is steep. The sentence is death. But just as you’re led away, Jesus stands. “I’ll take it,” He says. And the Judge—who is also your Father—lets Him. Justice is satisfied. Mercy is magnified. And you? You walk out free. Who does that? Who both judges and justifies?  Only God. Only grace. You were guilty. But Jesus stood in. You were condemned. Now you are called righteous—because the Judge took your sentence and gave you His Son. And that changes everything.