God’s Law and Commandments
Theological Definition
God’s law in Scripture refers to God’s revealed commands and instruction, given to guide life and expose what is wrong. The Bible can speak of the law as good and holy while also saying it cannot, by itself, fix the human problem of sin. Readers differ on how the law’s ongoing role relates to different stages of God’s plan, but Romans treats it as both a witness and a boundary-marker that cannot replace faith.
Key Occurrences in Romans
4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet," and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
10Love doesn`t harm his neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
12For 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.
13For it isn`t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified
14(for when Gentiles who don`t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.
19Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
20Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
31Do we then make the law of no effect through faith? Certainly not! No, we establish the law.
20The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly;
21that as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
13Did then that which is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.
14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin.
7What will we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! However, I wouldn`t have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn`t have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
8But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
9I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10The commandment, which was to life, this I found to be to death;
11for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.
12So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.