Sin Deceived Me Romans 7:11

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome he,“ was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died”, and he added, “and the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death”. In chapter seven and verse eleven of Romans, Paul told his readers, “sin...deceived me” where we read:

For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

The verse begins, “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, ...” Paul began with the words, “for sin” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore missing the mark, erring and being mistaken”, “taking occasion” which means “laying hold of, carrying, claiming and procuring a place from which a movement or attack is made or a base of operations” “by the commandment” or “through and by means of the order, charge, precept and injunction”. Paul recognized how “missing the mark and error” claimed a spot of attack within himself through the “order and precepts” of God.

The verse continues, “... deceived me, and by it slew me.” Paul added the words, “deceived me” or “seduced wholly and beguiled Paul” “and by it” which means “and through the order, charge, precept and injunction”, “slew me” or “killed, destroyed, perished, extinguished and abolished Paul”. Paul shared how “the commandment” “beguiled” and “destroyed” him.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how “sin”, because of God's “order and charge”, “destroyed” Paul and his confidence within himself. Paul thought himself to be “righteous” before “the law” came into his life, and when it did, his personal “righteousness” failed to meet God's standards. Jesus Christ is the only person who kept “the law of God” perfectly, and in doing so, when He died on the cross He paid the penalty of death for everyone's failure to keep God's “commandments”. May all who read these words realize the impact of the “command of God” which “beguiles” the best of people and slays everyone who dares compare themselves to it.

Next time Paul tells his readers how, “the law is holy”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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