OUR first inquiry must be, What law it is the apostle designs when he says, I am dead to the law? To this question we may obtain satisfaction, by consulting the context. There is the highest reason for us to conclude, that the law intended here, is the same he repeatedly mentions in the sixteenth verse of the chapter. Now, it is evident, that is the moral law; to which we are universally inclined to look for justification and life, though by it we can never obtain those invaluable blessings.
When a sinner is awakened out of carnal security, and his conscience alarmed with a sense of guilt; he naturally looks, either to some devout and penitential exercises of his heart, or to some pious and beneficent actions of his life. Some performances or endeavours of his own engage his attention, and yield a deceitful support for his hope. What shall I DO to be saved? is his language. –With this, the apostle was perfectly acquainted. He, 'therefore, repeatedly affirms, By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Rom. iii. 20. Gal. ii. 16.) This being an article of great importance, and the legal bias of our minds being so ready to lead us astray; he does not content himself with barely asserting that we cannot be justified by it; but he also assigns the reason. Affirming, that it is impossible for the law to justify any man; because it is become weak through the flesh, (Rom. viii. 3.) or, through the corruption of nature. Human depravity renders a perfect, personal conformity to the divine law, utterly impracticable; and, without a complete obedience, justification by it is absolutely impossible.
That it is the moral law which Paul intends appears from the opposition there is, between the works of that law concerning which he speaks, and the faith of Jesus. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law; but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Now, that law, and its works, to which the faith of Christ is directly opposed, must be the moral law; because the ceremonial institutes contained a principal part of the gospel of the antient church. Christ, in his person and offices; Christ, in his grace and work, was prefigured and signified by them. To him they had an invariable respect, and in him they had their final completion. –Yes, believer, that very Jesus whom you love and adore; that very grace in which you trust and rejoice; were exhibited in typical rites, as the hope of guilty sinners, and as the joy of enlightened saints. Consequently, the ceremonial law cannot be considered as placed in contrast, by the apostle, to Christ, and to faith in him.
It follows, therefore, that it is the moral law he intends, when he says, I am dead to the law. For it may, with strict propriety, be placed in such a contrasted view. The law, and the works of it are directly opposite to grace, and to faith in a Redeemer. For it makes not the least comfortable discovery to a miserable sinner. It knows nothing of pardoning mercy. It says not a word about atoning blood. Being the formula of that covenant which was made with man in a state of innocence, it makes not the least abatement, in point of duty; nor the least provision in a way of mercy, in case of failure. Perfect obedience is its constant demand; an obedience, personal and perpetual. Whatever mercy the sinner wants, whatever blessings God bestows, are provided in another covenant; are dispensed in another way.
That the moral law is here intended, appears from a parallel passage in the writings of Paul, relating, as here, to his own experience. I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. (Rom. vii. 9.) I was alive: I supposed myself righteous, and thought myself safe, in virtue of my own obedience. But I was then without the law: I was far from being acquainted with its vast extent, and its high commands. For when the commandment came, shining on my understanding in its purity, and operating on my conscience with power; sin revived, and I died to all self-righteous hopes. Thus, the letter, the law that was inscribed with God's own hand on tables of stone, killeth; (2 Cor. iii. 5, 7.) as the infallible author, in another epistle, asserts. Such then, is that law to which the apostle was dead. –However strange this doctrine may appear to any self-righteous professor, we may venture to affirm, that no man, after all his resolutions and all his efforts, can ever experience a sense of pardon, or enjoy peace in his conscience, can either live to God in holy obedience here, or have a well-grounded hope of glory hereafter; till he knows what it is to be dead to the law. This truth I shall endeavour to prove and illustrate in the following pages.