Purpose of This Lesson:
To give a working understanding of the definition of "sin", and how sin has changed everything.
Watch This Video: "Sin" - The Bible Project
Read Together Romans 7:7- 25
God’s Law Reveals Our Sin
7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8 But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. 9 At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10 and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. 11 Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. 12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.
13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.
Struggling with Sin
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Discussion Questions:
In verse 9, Paul says that "the power of sin came to life". What do you think the power of sin is? For a deeper reference see these scriptures if needed: Gen. 3:4-7 & 4:1-7; Galatians 5:16-18
In verse 17, Paul says that sin is living in him. Discuss what you think he means when making this claim. Do we have sin "living" in us? How do we know this?
What principle of life should we learn from verse 21? How can we apply this principle to our daily journey as a disciple?
The answer to our sin problem is Jesus Christ our Lord (v. 25). Discuss how Jesus is the answer to our sin. Take a moment to ponder deeply just how wonderful the sacrifice of Jesus was for you personally, and then for the world. How will you share this beautiful truth with your friends this week?
Prayer Points:
Pray for each other that we truly understand just how terrible of a problem sin is in our lives.
Pray that we each lean even more into real community so that we can die to our sin nature together so that we can bring glory to Jesus.
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