“And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.”
(Romans 7:10)
The Law of God is a reflection of His virtue, goodness, and holiness. When He gave it, it was designed to bring life. Adam, created in holiness, was given a commandment of life—a law that, if kept, would secure eternal communion with God for him and all his descendants (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 7:10). The Law promised life because it set forth the path of perfect righteousness, a path that led to eternal fellowship with God.
But Adam failed to keep God’s Law. And with his failure, the Law’s promise of life turned to death.
Adam was not just the first man; he was the representative covenant head of all humanity. And this explains why His perfect obedience would have secured life for all, and why his subsequent disobedience plunged the world into ruin. His fall cursed the whole of creation itself (Gen. 3:17-19), and so every child born of Adam since has entered the world guilty, condemned, and spiritually dead (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12). The Law that should have been life for us now stands as our condemnation.
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Gal. 3:10)
Rather than securing our salvation, the Law exposes our sin. It acts as a mirror, revealing the true state of our soul. As Romans 3:20 declares: “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
This is where so many stumble. They believe the Law is their ladder to heaven, and that by striving hard enough, they might earn God’s favor. But the Law was never given to save—it was given to condemn. It was given to show us the impossibility of self-righteousness, to crush all hope in ourselves, and to drive us to Christ (Rom. 3:19; Gal. 3:24).
The 1647 Westminster Shorter Catechism explains in Question 44: “What doth the preface to the Ten Commandments teach us?” Answer: “The preface to the Ten Commandments teaches us, that because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all His commandments.”
That is to say, we are still bound to perfect obedience—but we cannot fulfill it. Our only hope is for another to keep the Law in our place, which is the glory of the Gospel.
Christ did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He fulfilled the Law perfectly—not for His own sake, but for ours. He bore the curse we deserve. His obedience became our righteousness. His death paid our debt. His resurrection secured our life.
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” (Gal. 3:13)
Through union with Him, the curse is lifted, and the Law that once condemned us now testifies to our justification. We are no longer under condemnation but are declared righteous before God (Rom. 8:1).
“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.” (Rom. 8:3-4)
The Law once led to death, but through Christ’s sacrifice, death has led us back to life.
Contemplations:
- The Law That Condemns Me. Lord, Your Law is perfect and righteous, but it exposes my sin. It demands perfection, and I fall short every day. Do I truly see my need? Or do I still rely on my own works to earn Your favor? Teach me to see my sin rightly, that I may flee to Christ alone.
- The Death I Deserve. Father, Adam’s sin brought death to all, and I am no exception. By nature, I stand condemned. But do I fully grasp the weight of my lost condition? Do I realize that apart from Christ, I have no hope? Break my heart over my natural rebellion against You.
- The Perfect Righteousness of Christ. Jesus, You lived the life I could never live. You obeyed the Law perfectly—every commandment, every requirement. Your righteousness is now mine through faith. Help me live each moment in the full assurance of this truth that I may rest in Your finished work.
- The Curse Removed by the Cross. Lord, You bore the curse that was meant for me. You took the punishment in my place. Does my life consistently reflect my gratitude for Your unspeakable sacrifice? Do I live in light of the cross? Do not allow me to forget the price You paid for my redemption.
- Walking in Newness of Life. Father, now that I am free from condemnation, am I walking in the Spirit? Does my life reflect the holiness of one who has been redeemed? Let me walk in joyful obedience, not to earn my salvation, but rather to glorify the One who saved me.
Prayer:
O Lord, the Law was given for life, but through sin, it became my death sentence. Its righteous demands condemn me, and in my flesh, I have no hope of fulfilling them. Left to myself, I would perish under the weight of Your justice.
But You, O God, in infinite mercy, did what I could never do. You sent Your Son to bear my curse, to keep the Law in my place, to die the death that I deserved, that I might live! How great is Your grace, how wondrous Your love, that You would provide such a remedy for my sin.
I confess, Lord, that my heart is often prone to self-righteousness. I sometimes forget that Christ alone is my righteousness, and I look instead to my own works and performance. But You have declared that by the works of the Law, no flesh shall be justified. Forgive me for ever thinking I could earn what only Christ could accomplish.
I thank You, Father, that through Him, the curse is lifted. I no longer stand before You as condemned, but as justified. I no longer labor under a law that brings death, but I walk in the freedom of life in the Spirit. Your Word declares:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1)
Let me live in light of this truth. Let me daily die to sin, knowing that I have already passed from death to life. Let me walk in joyful obedience, not to earn Your love, but as a child already loved, already redeemed, already clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
And on that final day, when I stand before You, let me come not in fear, but in the full assurance that Christ has already fulfilled the Law for me. That where I failed, He obeyed. That where I sinned, He was perfect. And that through His work alone, I am declared righteous in Your sight.
To You alone be glory, honor, and praise, now and forever.
In the name of Christ my Redeemer,
Amen.
Further References for Romans 7:10:
Deut. 30:15-16; Gal. 3:10-13; Rom. 3:19-20; Rom. 10:5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:1-5.
