Romans 7:11, The Deceitfulness of Sin

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Romans 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

The Apostle Paul experienced the ravages of sin in his life before his conversion. It deceived him. Sin cast a snare in the sinner’s life. A clear example can be seen in the life of the first couple. Adam and Eve were enticed by the serpent to eat of the forbidden fruit.

Genesis 3:4-6 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Eve was deceived by the serpent, blinded, hoodwinked and suffered the consequence of sin – shame and death.

The commandment of God was very clearly given. Specific instruction to stay clear of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

This was what Eve understood of God’s commandment – Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

God did not say touching it would cause death. She had willingly misunderstood the Lord’s clear command. And so, when the serpent came for the kill, she took the bait and fell into sin. It was a conscious choice. She willingly by a wild imagination, deceived her own heart that partaking the fruit would give her special wisdom!

It was a grave error that caused her life. The Apostle Paul is sounding the warning of the deceitfulness of sin. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ is able to break the stranglehold of sin in a person’s life. When he repents of his sins and come to Jesus Christ, he finds forgiveness and cleansing. Thereafter, he is being given the power to reject the enticement of sin to live a holy life. Hallelujah, what a Saviour!