Anyone else out there a rubric fan? You know, someone who absolutely LOVES a rubric… an exact description on how to get that A+… As a student, I would get so much joy in having a clear answer as to how to get 100% in class. If I knew the expectation, I could ensure I did exactly the right amount of work to meet the standard. The Israelites had the law as their rubric. The problem was, the law was essentially impossible to follow in its entirety to “get an A” with God. Enter, Jesus.

In Romans 7 Paul describes how the law interacts with sin and God’s grace. Though Jesus had already fulfilled the law, Paul is reiterating how the law still carries value when it comes to experiencing life and deliverance through Jesus Christ. How exactly does this work? It is through the law that sin is revealed in our lives – the law recognizes sin as sin, which is ultimately death (v.13). Sin is what keeps us from life, and if we do not know what sin is, how will we know what to avoid or rid ourselves of?

Paul’s personal confession provides a vulnerable look at the reality we ultimately all experience – “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (v.18). Even with a rubric, Paul was incapable of rising to the standard due to the sinful nature in his own life. This is the same for every Christian in all of history! Even at our closest to perfection, we are simply never going to be above a C average.

BUT, thanks be to GOD, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord (v. 25)!

From my perspective, this is the tension that every Christian walk holds: I am a sinner, yet I am redeemed. There must be humility and confidence in my identity; the recognition of the death that comes from sin allows for the opportunity of salvation through my Savior. These seemingly conflicting truths are our reality as born-again Christ followers. Thanks be to God indeed!