ROBERT@kontu.utu.fi (Robert W. Johnson) (03/22/91)
I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7.7. God knows who I am; he knows that from head to foot I am full of sin; he knows that in the matter of pleasing Him I am weakness incarnate, that I cna do nothing. The trouble is i do not know it. I admit that all men are sinners and that therefore I am a sinner, but I imagine I am not such a hopeless sinner as some. While I may agree I am weak, I wholly do not believe it, so God has to use something to convinve me of the fact. That is why He gave us the Law, for the more we try and meet its demands, the more our failure becomes manifest. It was through the Law that Paul came really to understand himself--the law which begins"Thou shalt not covet." Whatever might be his experience with the rest of the Law, it was the tenth commandment, which literally translated, is "Thou shalt not desire," that found Him out. It brought him face to face with a holy God. ----- Robert W. Johnson Computer center, The University of Turku, Turku Finland robert@kontu.utu.fi (InterNet) robert@firien.bitnet (BITNET) The preceeding is my opinion and may not express the opinion of my employer and furthermore has nothing to do with my employment.