When the Sinner Meets the Law

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Romans 7:7-13

7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

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When the Law Meets the Sinner — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 7:7-13
Sermon Series: Romans (46th sermon)
March 14, 2021

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   What questions have you had up to this point about sin and the law?  How does this passage help in answering those questions?
2.   Why does Paul focus on the tenth commandment when explaining how the law brings the knowledge of sin?  What does it mean to covet?
3.   How does the law result in the activation of sin in the sinner?  Where have you seen examples of this in action?
4.   Why does Paul use these three words in v12 to describe the law?  What is the relationship between God and his law?
5.   As Paul upholds the character of the law, how does he also draw attention to its positive purpose at the end of v. 13?

References:  Ephesians 5:20; Romans 6:14; Romans 3:20; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5; Leviticus 20:26; 2 Chronicles 12:6; 30:18-19; Romans 3:23; Hebrews 4:15.