The Deceiving Work of Sin

Sept. 21, 2003                                                                                                                                   Northwest Bible Church

Worship service                                                                                                                                Alan Conner

 

Rom. 7:11-13

The Deceiving Work of Sin

 

INTRO

 

Paul’s Jewish opponents took offense at his teaching on the law (7:5) and accused him of saying that the Law was sin.  Paul’s response is:

1) the law is not sinful but holy because it reveals sin (7b).

2) it was my sin, not the law that produced in me coveting of every kind (Rom. 7:8).

3) it was my sin that both deceived me and killed me (Rom. 7:9-11).

4) therefore, the law is holy, righteous and good (Rom. 7:12).

 

Let’s review Paul’s reasoning in 7:9-11 -

 

I once thought that I was alive, not having any great conviction of my sin,

then the commandment came,

and sin deceive me and stirred up coveting of every kind,

then I died as I saw the reality of my great sin before God.

 

 

A.  SIN’S NATURE IS TO DECEIVE.

 

Deception and deceit is one of sin’s most effective methods to gain control in our life.

 

Heb. 3:13 - the “deceitfulness of sin.”

Eph. 4:22 – “lusts of deceit”

2 Thess. 2:10 -  “deception of wickedness”

Jas. 1:26 –“deceives his own heart”

1 Jn. 1:8 -  If we say we have no sin “we deceive ourself”

Rom. 7:11 – sin taking opportunity through the commandment deceived me and killed me.

 

 

 

B.  HOW SIN USES THE LAW TO DECEIVE US.

 

 

1) Sin deceives us about our own righteousness.

 

 

 

 

2) Sin deceives us by a selective memory of the law.

 

 

 

3) Sin deceives us by using Scripture to justify our breaking of God’s law.

 

 

 

 

4) Sin deceives us about the attractiveness and consequences of sin.

 

 

 

 

 

5) Sin deceives us by making us lose hope of forgiveness or escape.

 

 

 

 

6) Sin deceives us by the antinomian argument.

 

 

 

 

7)  Sin deceives us by persuading us that God’s laws are not good.

 

 

 

 

 

C.  THE SINFULNESS OF SIN (Rom. 7:13).

 

In the summary of v. 13, it was sin that effected my death through that which is good.  Sin proves itself to be utterly sinful in how it perverts and twists the good and righteous and holy law of God so that instead of bringing life it brings death.  Sin is utterly sinful in that it manipulates the holy law of God to deceive and damn people.

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION – There is hope in Christ.

 

Be aware of the deceitfulness of sin.  It never stops trying to justify itself, cameoflauge itself, convince you that you are right to do whatever you want, persuade you that you can sin and not suffer the effects.  “The heart is more deceiftul than all else, and is desperately sick; who can understand it?”  Jer. 17:9

 

Christ is greater than your sin.    Rom. 5:20.