Renewing Your Mind – "Sin’s Advantage in the Law"

Date: October 19, 2025
Host: Nathan W. Bingham
Speaker: Dr. R.C. Sproul
Theme: The Relationship Between God’s Law, Sin, and the Christian Life

Episode Overview

This episode dives into Romans 7, exploring the question, "What is the purpose of the law?" Dr. R.C. Sproul investigates the Apostle Paul’s discussion on the law’s role in revealing sin, intensifying our sinful desires, and ultimately pointing believers toward the need for the gospel. The message addresses common misconceptions about the law, clarifies the distinction between the law’s inherent goodness and our sinful response, and reflects on the ongoing struggle with sin in the Christian life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Law Reveals Sin (01:27–07:00)

• Purpose of the Law
  • Dr. Sproul underscores Paul’s question from Romans 7: “Is the law sin? Certainly not. On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law…” (01:27).
  • The law acts as a mirror, exposing not only God’s holiness but also our own sinfulness:

    “The law of God…is that mirror by which we not only see the glory and radiance of God’s perfection, but when we see ourselves against that backdrop, we see ourselves, warts and all.” (05:00)

  • We are ignorant of the depth of our sin until confronted by God’s commandment – specifically using covetousness as an example.

The Human Response to Law: Rebellion and Awakening (07:01–13:40)

• Sin’s Reaction to the Law
  • Rather than restraining sin, the law provokes a rebellious response, stirring up greater sinfulness:

    “Rather than the commandment restraining me from covetousness, rather my sin in response to the law of God was stirred to even greater covetousness, even greater sinfulness.” (08:40)

  • Sproul discusses the concept of “concupiscence” (intense evil desire) and debates surrounding its nature—whether desiring evil is itself sinful. He affirms the Reformation view:

    “An evil desire that gives birth to evil action is already sin.” (10:30)

  • Sin, described metaphorically as a “sleeping giant,” is awakened by the arrival of the law, revealing our true spiritual state.

Sin’s Deception: Pleasure vs. Happiness (13:41–18:50)

• The Lie of Sin
  • Dr. Sproul highlights how sin deceives us by offering pleasure masquerading as true happiness:

    “Let me tell you why sin is attractive. Here’s what sin brings you: pleasure. It brings pleasure, but never happiness. That’s the monstrous lie of the father of lies.” (15:32)

  • Temptation is always wrapped in the promise of fulfillment, but it leads only to spiritual death.
  • Sproul critiques popular culture’s view of personal rights and happiness, contrasting it with God’s standards.

The Goodness and Purpose of God’s Law (18:51–22:00)

• The Nature of the Law
  • Despite sin’s reaction, the law’s character is affirmed:

    “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” (19:58)

  • The problem lies not with the law, but with human fallenness; we tend to see restraint as unjust or unkind.

The Ongoing Christian Struggle with Sin (22:01–24:12)

• Romans 7: The Christian’s Battle
  • Dr. Sproul warns against doctrines promising perfection on earth, asserting that the battle between spirit and flesh persists for all believers:

    “What this part of Romans 7 does is dash into the dust all false doctrines of sanctification that promise you perfection this side of heaven.” (22:43)

  • He challenges the distinction between so-called “carnal” and “Spirit-filled” Christians:

    “There’s no such thing as a carnal Christian who is completely carnal. They’re not a Christian. Nor is there such a thing as a Christian who is carnal-less… each one of us fights with that.” (24:00)

  • The remnant of the flesh remains, necessitating constant spiritual vigilance.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Conviction of Sin (00:00)

  “Not until the Holy Ghost brought his conviction on you… did you feel for the first time in your life the weight of your guilt.” — R.C. Sproul (00:00)

• On the Deceptive Nature of Sin (15:32)

  “That’s the monstrous lie of the father of lies. Do this and you’ll be happy. No, never. It is impossible for sin to bring happiness to a child of God, cannot do it.” — R.C. Sproul (15:32)

• On Rationalizing Sin (21:00)

  “We don’t say I sinned, we say I made a mistake, I made a bad choice. Not that I offended the holiness of God. That’s normal, that’s natural for fallen humanity.” — R.C. Sproul (21:00)

• On the Christian’s Ongoing Battle (24:00)

  “The carnal disposition of your original nature is not destroyed. You have to fight against it from the day you’re converted till the day you enter the gates of heaven.” — R.C. Sproul (24:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:27 — Opening reflection: Pre-Christian guilt and the work of the Holy Spirit
• 01:27–07:00 — Paul’s rhetorical questions; law as revealer of sin
• 08:00–13:40 — The effect of the law on sinful desires; “concupiscence” and evil desires
• 13:41–18:50 — The deception of sin: pleasure vs. happiness; critique of personal rights
• 19:58–22:00 — The law’s goodness; human reaction to divine restraint
• 22:01–24:12 — The controversy over Romans 7; ongoing struggle with the flesh

Conclusion

Dr. Sproul’s exposition of Romans 7 illuminates the sometimes paradoxical purpose and impact of God’s law: it exposes sin, incites our fallen nature, and reveals our desperate need for grace. The law is good, holy, and just—yet, due to human depravity, it provokes rebellion and lays bare our inability to achieve righteousness on our own. The Christian life, as depicted here, is marked by continual warfare with the flesh, debunking notions of effortless sanctification or “higher living” for a spiritual elite. The ultimate hope is not in law-keeping, but in Christ’s saving work and the ongoing sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

Notable Closing Thought:

“May each of us be diligent in putting to death the deeds of the flesh. As John Owen wrote, ‘Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.’” — Nathan W. Bingham (24:12)