What Law?

But what law? This is explained in Romans 7. So next I read: "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law" -- or, in the plainer English of the Moffat translation: "Why, had it not been for the Law, I would never have known what sin meant!" In other words, the Law defines sin. Sin is breaking the Law. But what Law? Continuing, same verse: "for I had not known lust, except the Law had said, Thou shalt not covet" (Rom_7:7). There we are told plainly what Law it is sin to transgress. It is the Law that says: "Thou shalt not covet." That Law IS the Ten Commandments. It is sin to break the Ten Commandments. In verses 12 and 14 of this same 7th chapter of Romans you will read that the Law is holy, just and good, and that it is a spiritual -- a Law of spiritual principles of living! : "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" (Rom_6:1). You are now under grace -- undeserved pardon! You deserved only death. You didn't earn forgiveness -- pardon from the death penalty. You received it by grace through Jesus Christ. Now, shall you continue in sin -- that is, continue transgressing the Law? The answer is "God forbid" (Rom_6:2).