WHAT EVER BECAME OF SIN?

(ROMANS 7:7-13)

…Dr. Karl Menninger, founder of the world-renowned Menninger Clinic, asked this very question in the title of his best selling book.  His answer was simple – sin has been __redefined__.

… We have been studying the 10 Commandments and have discovered God’s moral law…it is timeless.  This law shouts to each of us that we are __sinners__…in need of a Savior.

…Paul, in writing to the Roman Christians, tells of the __value__ of the 10 Commandments…

THREE GOOD THINGS THE LAW DOES EVEN THOUGH IT IS POWERLESS TO SAVE US.

I.                     THE LAW REVEALS TO US OUR SIN AS __SIN__. (V. 7)

A.      We have two problems here:

1.       If left to ourselves, we would __never__ think we are sinners…

…Genesis 6:5, who of us would believe “only evil all the time?”

…Romans 3:10-12 “None good,” none of us would believe this.

2.       Even if we would admit we have done some bad things, we are not able to recognize those things as “sin” unless we can be shown that they break __God’s __ Law.  THIS IS WHAT THE LAW DOES FOR US…IT SHOWS US AS SINNERS!

B.      Paul gives his own personal testimony…”covetousness”...the 10^th Commandment drove home the truth of his own sinfulness.  He had thought he was the __model__ of virtue.  (Philippians 3:6)

II.                  THE LAW STIMULATES US TO EVEN __MORE__ SIN. (V.8)

…This shows us how __bad__ sin really is, it is sin’s sad use of God’s good law.

A.      Sin, seizing the opportunity given by the Law creates a surge of rebellion in our hearts.

1.       This rebellion has been there __all__ the time…

2.       When the law is really heard, this dormant rebellion is aroused.

B.      Sin, seizing the opportunity given by the commandment, creates a desire to sin in ways that were __not__ even thought of before.  (Boice, firecracker)

…The Commandments provoke the __evil__ that lurks within our hearts!

III.                THE LAW BRINGS US TO THE __END__ OF OURSELVES. (9-12)

…It is designed to “RUIN” sinners.

A.      Paul wrote, “I once was alive apart from Law, but when Law came, sin sprang to life and I died.”

B.      In what sense had Paul been “Alive?”

1.       When he thought he was in __good__ standing before God…

2.       But when the Law really came to him with understanding, he:

…knew he was guilty of __breaking__ it.

…knew that it was his nature to instead of keeping it, he actually desired to break it.  He saw his __hopeless__ condition.

LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:

1.       The Law can never save anybody, it was never designed for that.

2.       We must teach others the 10 Commandments to awaken the sin in their own hearts.

3.       It is only when you really know you’re lost in sin that you’ll ever seek a savior.

4.       The Law was given to drive out self-righteousness. 

5.       Today I urge you to come to the understanding that you are a sinner under judgment.  Christ died to pay the only price for sin. Repent and receive Christ as your Savior.