Romans 7

Romans 7:7-8 “ What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting.”

Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor “

Romans 7:7-8 “For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting.”

Apostle Paul actually uses a phrase twice.

Romans 7:8 “But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting.”

Romans 7:11 “For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.”

This is the battle we can’t win – There is a sinful desire dwelling in us that creates all sorts of wicked feelings

Romans 7:14-20 “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”

He separates THE SIN LIVING IN US FRON THE IDENTITY OF WHO WE ARE:

^17 “As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.”

^20” Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”

Romans 7:21-22 “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me”

James 1:13-15 “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

We must realize:

• There is a war raging on inside of everyone of us.
• It is a battle for the control and devotion of your heart.

This is the battle we must win – The battle for which side is the decision maker of our life