Romans 7:7-13

Read Romans 7:7. It shows us the law reveals our sin and shows us the sinfulness of sin and hopefully leaves us convicted of our sin. Paul then gives us an example in the end of verse 7. He would not have known what it means to covet if the law would not have said "you shall not covet." To covet means to desire something that is not yours. The object of your desire is on something other than God meaning idolatry. Who is free of these? We are all guilty.

Read Romans 7:8. The law stirs up sin. It reveals the sinfulness of sin; the deep-seated rebellion, independent spirit, "don't tell me what to do" mindset in us. Just tell a two year old to share a toy and you'll get the idea. The essence of sin is independence from God. So the law reveals sin and stirs up sin. The Bible is clear that the problem is not the law but our sinfulness.

Read Romans 7:9. "I was once alive apart from the law" - meaning complacent, self-satisfied, self-righteous, thought he was fine. "but when the commandment came" - conviction of sin. "sin came alive and I died" - realized his sin, his guilt, and knew he was spiritually dead. The law condemned him, it condemned his sin. The law condems sin. So the law: reveals sin, stirs up sin, and condemns sin.

Read Romans 7:10-11. Note very carefully in verse 11 that the culprit is not the law but sin. "Sin deceived me and killed me." So going back to verse 7, "Is the law sin?". NO WAY. Read Romans 7:12. The law is completely good and blameless, it is holy. An x-ray machine is not bad because it exposes tumors. So likewise, the law is never responsible for my failure to keep it. The problem is sin. Read Romans 7:13. The law exposes the sinfulness of sin, the deep-seated rebellion against our maker and independence from God. "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way." Isaiah 53:6

Discussion Questions
1. What exactly is the law in Romans 7? Is the word sometimes used in other ways in the Bible?
2. Jeff talked about some of the purposes of the law. Are there other purposes that he did not discuss?
3. How might we define sin? Is there a good verse that gives the essence of what sin is? What sin or rebellion in your life is God challenging you about?
4. In what ways do you struggle with the law-keeping mentality or a performance mentality in the spiritual life? What can you do to combat this mentality?
5. What are the implications that we have been set free of the law?