https://youtu.be/vgSChl1Fd20
In our verse by verse study of Romans last time we completed our Expanded Translation of Rom 7:7; "Therefore to what conclusion are we forced? Is the law sin? Definitely not on the contrary, I was not cognizant of the sin nature, except through the law: for instance, I did not understand the lust pattern, except the law kept on saying, You will not covet."
This verse explains that covetousness requires an origin or source. It isn't necessarily an origin or source but it implies that there is an origin or a source. Since covetousness or lust is prohibited by the 10th commandment the obvious conclusion is that the trends of the old sin nature are to be restrained and inhibited.
The first nine commandments of the Ten Commandments are overt, while the tenth commandment is the missing link between the old sin nature as the source of the thoughts an intents and the actual production of personal of sin, human good, and evil.
The genetically formed old sin nature constantly has desires that are inordinate. The old sin nature throws out temptations. Some of them are directed toward human good, some are directed toward evil, and some toward personal sin.
The old sin nature continuously sends out desires or what other people have in every category, people, property, possessions, authority, power, recognition, and approbation.
Having discovered lust through the law as the first marriage counselor, Paul became cognizant of the first marriage to the old sin nature. He became aware of the fact that it occurred at physical birth.
So lust is the link between personal sin and its origin, the old sin nature, lust is the link between human good and its origin, the old sin nature and lust is the link between evil and its origin, the old sin nature.
This means that the sin nature has to be restrained controlled and inhibited. The laws of divine establishment and the filling ministry of God the Holy Spirit are the spiritual power systems that accomplish that.
Rom 7:8; "But sin, taking opportunity through the commandments." The postpositive conjunctive particle "de"(but) is used to connect two clauses where contrast is intended.
Plus the nominative singular subject from "hamartia" (sin), in this case referring to the old sin nature, with the definite article "ho" (the) that makes it monadic so it refers exclusively to the previous reference of the old sin nature.
This references the old sin nature as the ruler over biological human life through spiritual death. Then we have the aorist active participle from the verb "lambano" (take hold of or grasp). The aorist tense is a dramatic aorist that expresses a present reality as something that has already happened.
This is an idiom that is used for emphasis to describe a situation that has just happened, or a result that has just been accomplished or is at the point of being accomplished.
The active voice: the sin nature produces the action of the verb. The participle is circumstantial. With this is the object of the participle, the accusative singular direct object of "aphorme" (opportunity) referring to the starting point or the base camp of a military operation or expedition.
It also implies having the resources that are needed to carry out the undertaking so it can also be translated capital or headquarters but generally the word describes an occasion or something that sets up an opportunity for advance.
"But the sin nature, having taken the opportunity." The prepositional phrase "dia" (through) with the genitive of "entole" (commandment) with the definite article" ho" (the) so we have "through the commandment" It is monadic so it is referring specifically to the tenth commandment of the ten commandments of the Mosaic Law "produced in me coveting of every kind" the aorist middle indicative of "katergazomai" (produced) means to achieve, to accomplish, to bring about, produce, or create.
Plus the prepositional phrase "en" (in) "ego" (me) translated "in me." Paul is describing himself as an example of the situation. This was his experience in the past but he is now a mature believer under the ministry of the Spirit writing these things so he describes himself as having experienced this situation of coveting.
But the sin nature, having grasped the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me." In other words, first you see the commandment that you are not supposed to lust. Then the next thing you do is go out of your own free will and you covet.
So there is the grasping of the opportunity. The aorist tense is the culminative aorist that views the function of the old sin nature in its entirety but emphasizes the existing results of the coveting.
The middle voice is a deponent verb, middle in form but active in meaning. The old sin nature produces the action. The indicative mood is declarative representing verbal action from the viewpoint of reality.
He is describing the doctrine using himself as an example. Before we knew the commandment we lusted but now because of the commandment we are aware of the problem so we know it is wrong but we still covet. The difference is that we now know what we are doing is wrong.
We did it before because we wanted to; we still do it now because we want to do it. But we know what we are doing now and we know that there is something inside of us that producing this.
Paul is presenting the battle that is being waged between the two husbands, the old sin nature and Jesus Christ.
Coveting or lust is the missing link between all sin, but it is not just sin that is involved because it also applies to the production of human good and evil. Coveting or lust is the motivation the old sin nature uses to influence our volitional choices. Temptation is not a sin but unlawful acquisition is. Heb 4:15;
Rom 7:8; Next we have the accusative feminine singular from the adjective "pas" (all or every kind), plus "epithymia" (coveting) "every category of coveting." "But the sin nature, having grasped the opportunity through the commandment (the 10th commandment), produced in me every category of coveting."
Paul explains that the old sin nature uses the prohibition of the 10th commandment to assert its authority over mankind through sponsoring disobedience to the 10th commandment. All corruption comes from this principle.
As a marriage counselor the Law says to mankind, Do not covet. But the first husband, the old sin nature says, covet in every category. The law, by prohibiting coveting is a good marriage counselor for the unbeliever.
When the old sin nature as the first husband demands coveting it is an evil authority that rules through the tyranny of spiritual death. Every category of coveting refers to the trends of the old sin nature, the first husband. Coveting or lust as the trend to sin includes covetousness, lasciviousness, and murder.
Coveting is also a trend toward human good and evil including approbation lust, power lust and self denial, self justification and projection motivated by a guilt complex.
The old sin nature is genetically formed in the cell structure of the biological human body, including the brain indwells the physical body.
The old sin nature is aggressive and belligerent, but the Law commands us to cease and desist from coveting. Using the 10th commandment as an opportunity to flaunt its power over biological human life the old sin nature produces in the biological human being every category of covetousness.
Therefore, the old sin nature uses the 10th commandment to exercise its authority over biological human life through the function of coveting. 1Cor 15:56;
Rom 7:8; The sin nature as the first husband impregnates mankind with covetousness. The 10th commandment of the Law says you will not covet. The old sin nature says you will covet.
This means that the Mosaic Law defines the relationship with the old sin nature as a bad marriage, a marriage that results in spiritual death from the moment of physical birth.
"For apart from the law sin was dead" - the explanatory use of the conjunctive particle "gar" (for), plus the adverb "choris" (apart from or without) is used as an improper preposition, followed by the genitive singular of "nomos" (Law). "For apart from Law."
Then the phrase "hamartia" (sin) "nekros" (dead) "sin dead"; Again "hamartia" (sin) in the singular referring to the old sin nature, the first husband from physical birth through the real imputation of Adam's original sin to the genetically formed old sin nature at physical birth.
There is an affinity between Adam's original sin and the sin nature. Adam's original transgression of cognizance is the origin of the old sin nature and the basis for its genetic transmission and the basis of the corruption of the entire human race.
The word "is" is not in the original it is supplied in the English translations for readability. The next word in the Greek is the predicate nominative feminine singular from the adjective "nekros" (dead), used here in the sense of being unknown.
It does not literally mean death here, it means unknown or unaware. Death is used literally to describe physical death, but death is used figuratively for retroactive positional truth or divorce. Death is used for carnality, and in this case death used for ignorance. What you do not know you are dead to.
The principle is that a problem cannot be solved until you are aware that there is a problem. The sin nature was dead in the sense of being unknown or unrecognized as a problem.
The Mosaic Law and the 10th commandment revealed the problem of the old sin nature and spiritual death to mankind. Paul discovered that his spiritual death came from within him, not from any sin he was committing or had committed because the Old Sin Nature resided in his body from his physical birth.
Overt sin and the trend toward sin is the result of having the old sin nature. The old sin nature is the culprit not the Mosaic Law. The Law is not the problem it reveals the problem.
Expanded Translation Rom 7:8; "But the sin nature, having seized the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every category of covetousness. For apart from the law the sin nature is dead (unknown).
We see from this verse that like all of us, Paul acquired the old sin nature at birth. Like everyone else, Paul, was ignorant of the marriage or the presence of the old sin nature until the Mosaic Law revealed it.
When the Law dispelled Paul's ignorance he became aware of the residence of the old sin nature and the resultant problem of spiritual death. You cannot solve a problem until you are aware of that problem.
The two real imputations at physical birth are unknown to all of us when we are born and for a long time thereafter. Ignorance must be replaced with cognizance.
This can only occur in two categories: #1, the communication of the Mosaic Law to the unbeliever; #2, the communication of pertinent Bible doctrine to the believer under the teaching ministry of God the Holy Spirit.
This is why the Mosaic Law is the marriage counselor of the first marriage and the Holy Spirit is the marriage counselor of the second marriage.
Both marriage counselors are perfect. One marriage counselor is from God the other is God.
The Law is limited to counseling the first marriage because its content deals with the old sin nature, its function of covetousness and its trends toward sin, human good and evil.
The Law also presents the Gospel of believing in Jesus Christ as the solution to the spiritual death of the first marriage to the old sin nature.