BEREAN.AI ← Ask a Question

Paul's Conclusion on Law and Sin in Romans

Paul's Epistle to the Romans systematically addresses the relationship between the Mosaic Law and sin, ultimately concluding that the Law, while holy and good, cannot justify humanity but rather highlights the pervasive nature of sin. The apostle begins by establishing that all people, both Gentiles and Jews, are "under sin" [7]. Gentiles, though without the written Law, demonstrate its "work...written in their hearts" through their conscience, showing that they are not "altogether blind as to the rule of life" [13, citing Romans 2:14-15]. Those who have sinned without the Law will perish without it, and those who have sinned under the Law will be judged by it [3].

A central tenet of Paul's argument is found in Romans 3:20: "Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin" [1]. This verse encapsulates Paul's conclusion that the Law's primary function is not to provide a path to righteousness, but to reveal the extent of human transgression [6]. Matthew Henry notes that Paul "infers that it is in vain to look for justification by the works of the law, and that it is to be had only by faith" [6].

Paul directly confronts the potential misinterpretation that the Law itself is sinful. He asks, "What shall we say then? Is the law sin?" and immediately answers, "May it never be!" [9, citing Romans 7:7]. Instead, he explains that sin "took occasion by the commandment" [8]. The Law, by prohibiting certain actions, made sin evident and, in a sense, intensified its power by defining it. This dynamic is vividly described in Romans 7:23, where Paul speaks of "a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members" [2]. This internal conflict illustrates the struggle of the believer, where the desire to do good is present, but the power to overcome sin is lacking apart from divine intervention.

The Law, therefore, serves as a "guide" rather than a "covenant" for justification [8]. It exposes the depth of human inability to perfectly fulfill God's righteous demands. John Calvin explains that while God destroys the "dominion of sin" in believers through the Spirit, "sin, however, though it ceases to reign, ceases not to dwell in them" [11]. The "remains of sin survive, not to have dominion, but to humble them under a constant sense of their own imperfection" [11].

Paul's conclusion culminates in Romans 8, where he declares, "So now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" [5, 9]. This triumphant declaration follows the preceding chapters' arguments that neither sin nor the Law can prevent believers from having eternal life [5]. The Law of sin and death is deprived of its power to enslave believers, and the "holy law of God receives in them the homage of a living obedience" [9]. This does not mean the Law is abolished; rather, Paul asserts, "Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law" [4]. Through faith in Christ, the righteous requirement of the Law is fulfilled in believers, not by their own efforts, but by the Spirit [9]. Augustine, in his anti-Pelagian writings, also emphasizes that believers are "not under law, but under grace," drawing on Paul's teaching [10].

Sources

  1. Romans “Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin. -- Romans 3:20”
  2. Romans “but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. -- Romans 7:23”
  3. Romans “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. -- Romans 2:12”
  4. Romans “Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law. -- Romans 3:31”
  5. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 8:1: 8:1 So now there is no condemnation: Paul concludes from the argument of chs 5–7 that neither sin (ch 6) nor the law (ch 7) can keep believers from having eternal life (ch 5). Paul can triumphantly proclaim that those who belong to Christ Jesus need not fear that they will be condemned for their sins.”
  6. Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 3:19: From all this Paul infers that it is in vain to look for justification by the works of the law, and that it is to be had only by faith, which is the point he has been all along proving, from Rom 1:17, and which he lays down (Rom 3:28) as the summary of his discourse, with a quod erat demonstrandum - which was to be demonstrated. We conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law; not by the deeds of the first law of pure innocence, which left no room for repentance, nor the deeds of the law of nature, how highly soever improved, nor the dee”
  7. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 50: The Apostle, especially in his Epistle to the Romans, begins with a regular process of proof, that all, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under sin. Until this fact is admitted and acknowledged, there is no place for and no need of the Gospel, which is God’s method of saving sinners. Paul therefore begins by asserting God’s purpose to punish all sin. He then shows that the Gentiles are universally chargeable with the sin of impiety; that although knowing God, they neither worship him as God, nor are thankful. The natural, judicial, and theref”
  8. Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 7:7: To what he had said in the former paragraph, the apostle here raises an objection, which he answers very fully: What shall we say then? Is the law sin? When he had been speaking of the dominion of sin, he had said so much of the influence of the law as a covenant upon that dominion that it might easily be misinterpreted as a reflection upon the law, to prevent which he shows from his own experience the great excellency and usefulness of the law, not as a covenant, but as a guide; and further discovers how sin took occasion by the commandment. Observe in particular,”
  9. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 8 (introduction): CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE ARGUMENT--THE GLORIOUS COMPLETENESS OF THEM THAT ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. (Rom. 8:1-39) There is therefore now, &c.--referring to the immediately preceding context [OLSHAUSEN, PHILIPPI, MEYER, ALFORD, &c.]. The subject with which the seventh chapter concludes is still under consideration. The scope of Rom 8:1-4 is to show how "the law of sin and death" is deprived of its power to bring believers again into bondage, and how the holy law of God receives in them the homage of a living obedience [CALVIN, FRASER, PHILIPPI, M”
  10. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 13 [VIII.]--THE FIFTH CALUMNY,--THAT IT IS SAID THAT PAUL AND THE REST OF THE APOSTLES WERE POLLUTED BY LUST. (part 2): law, but under grace."[11] And again in another place: "Know ye not, brethren (for I speak to them that know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man so long as he liveth? For the woman which is under a husband is joined to her husband by the law so long as he liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is freed from the law of her husband."[12] And a little after: "Therefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 58: of sin. In regenerating his people God indeed accomplishes this much for them; he destroys the dominion of sin, 312 312 Latin, “Reatus.”—the imputation of sin. by supplying the agency of the Spirit, which enables them to come off victorious from the contest. Sin, however, though it ceases to reign, ceases not to dwell in them. Accordingly, though we say that the old man is crucified, and the law of sin is abolished in the children of God ( Rom. 6:6 ), the remains of sin survive, not to have dominion, but to humble them under a cons”
Ask Your Own Question
About Terms Privacy Contact

© 2026 BEREAN.AI. All rights reserved.