Deadly Nature of Sin: Romans 7:7-12
“7) What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8) But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9) And I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10) and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11) for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12) So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” Romans 7:7-12
This text helped me understand how sin can use the Law to entice the flesh into violation. Paul shared how he had no problem with coveting until he read in the Law, “Thou shall not covet.” Sin used the Commandment to produce coveting of every kind within him.
The same can be said for the rest of the Ten Commandments. Where there is no law there is no consciousness of violation. Sin is almost personified in these verses. It is like the warning God gave to Cain about his anger, “And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door, and it’s desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7)
This is very similar to Psalm 36:1 which says; “Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.” Verse 4 goes on to say; “He plans wickedness upon his bed; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he does not despise evil.” This is a picture of sin putting an evil thought or temptation into the mind and the flesh takes over to fantasize all kinds of wickedness.
James 1:13-16 fills in the colors on the picture. It says; “13) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14) But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15) Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16) Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:13-16)
This is only to familiar because it happens to all of us. As long as we live in a fleshly body, sin lurks in the shadows. If you think you are immune, you are a fool. The thing that makes Romans seven so profound is that Paul is confessing his own battles with sin. The battle continues all the way through chapter seven, and then Paul points the way to victory in chapter eight.
Nearly every Christian brings sinful strongholds or bondage into the Christian life. Do not be discouraged, failure is not your destiny. Read on because God has a plan for freedom.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
